Sexual torture begins with forced nudity, which in many countries is a constant factor in torture situations. An individual is never as vulnerable as when naked and helpless. Nudity enhances the psychological terror of every aspect of torture, as there is always the potential of abuse, rape or sodomy. Furthermore, verbal sexual threats, abuse and mocking are also part of sexual torture, as they enhance the humiliation and its degrading aspects. The groping of women is traumatic in all cases and is considered to be torture.
Sexual assault is clearly not simply a physical assault on the individual, but in many instances it is the psychological insult that is most injurious. Often, sexual assaults will be accompanied by direct or implied threats. In the case of women, the threat may be one of becoming pregnant. For men, those inflicting the torture may also threaten (incorrectly but usually deliberately) that the victim will become impotent or sterile. For men or women there may be the threat of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and often the threat or fear that sexual humiliation, assault or rape will lead to ostracism from the community and being prevented from ever marrying or starting a family. Sexual assaults can be categorised as:
- Assaults to the genitals
- Electric shocks to the genitals and anus
- Forced sexual acts on themselves or on/with others
- Object inserted into the vagina (in women)
- Object inserted in the urethral meatus (in men)
- Object inserted through the anus
- Penis forced into the mouth
- Penis forced through the anus
- Penis forced into the vagina (in women).
The term ‘rape’ refers to the last of these, but in many jurisdictions it can mean one or more of the others. Thus if the term is used, the act should also be specified.
There are some differences between sexual torture of men and sexual torture of women, but several issues apply to both. Rape is always associated with the risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases, particularly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).[1] Currently, the only effective prophylaxis against HIV must be taken within hours of the incident, and may not be available in countries where torture occurs routinely. In most cases, there will be a lewd sexual component, and in other cases torture is targeted at the genitals. Electricity and blows are generally targeted on the genitals in men, with or without additional anal torture. The resulting physical trauma is enhanced by verbal abuse. There are often threats of loss of masculinity to men and consequent loss of respect in society. Prisoners may be placed naked in cells with family members, friends or total strangers, breaking cultural taboos. This can be made worse by the absence of privacy when using toilet facilities. Additionally, prisoners may be forced to abuse each other sexually, which can be particularly difficult to cope with emotionally. The fear of potential rape among women, given profound cultural stigma associated with rape, can add to the trauma. Not to be neglected are the trauma of potential pregnancy, which males, obviously, do not experience, the fear of losing virginity and the fear of not being able to have children (even if the rape can be hidden from a potential husband and the rest of society).
Children may also be victims of rape and sexual assault. Even older children may be unaware of what happened to them, and may not be able to give a coherent account of their experience. Using drawings and, if available, dolls may help them explain where they do not have the necessary language or understanding. It is even more important that the examination is performed by someone who is experienced in this field.
If in cases of sexual abuse the alleged victim does not wish the event to be known due to sociocultural pressures or personal reasons, the physician who carries out the medical examination, investigative agencies and the courts have an obligation to cooperate in maintaining the victim’s privacy. Establishing a rapport with torture survivors who have recently been sexually assaulted requires special psychological education and appropriate psychological support. Any treatment that would increase the psychological trauma of a torture survivor should be avoided. Before starting the examination, permission must be obtained from the individual for any kind of examination, and this should be confirmed by the alleged victim before the more intimate parts of the examination. The individual should be informed about the importance of the examination and its possible findings in a clear and comprehensible manner.
Review of symptoms
A thorough history of the alleged assault should be recorded. There are, however, some specific questions that are relevant only to an allegation of sexual abuse. These seek to elicit current symptoms resulting from a recent assault, for example bleeding, vaginal or anal discharge and location of pain, bruises or sores. In cases of sexual assault in the past, questions should be directed to ongoing symptoms that resulted from the assault, such as urinary frequency, incontinence or dysuria, irregularity of menstruation, subsequent history of pregnancy, abortion or vaginal haemorrhage, problems with sexual activity, including intercourse and anal pain, bleeding, constipation or incontinence.
Ideally, there should be adequate physical and technical facilities for appropriate examination of survivors of sexual violation by a team of experienced psychiatrists, psychologists, gynaecologists and nurses, who are trained in the treatment of survivors of sexual torture. An additional purpose of the consultation after sexual assault is to offer support, advice and, if appropriate, reassurance. This should cover issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, pregnancy, if the alleged victim is a woman, and permanent physical damage, because torturers often tell victims that they will never normally function sexually again, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Illustration of sexual assault – sodomy with a truncheon. (Courtesy of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey)
Illustration of sexual torture involving squeezing of the testicles. (Courtesy of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey)
[1]I. Lunde and J. Ortmann, “Sexual torture and the treatment of its consequences”, Torture and Its Consequences, Current Treatment Approaches, M. Başoglu, ed. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1992), pp. 310-331.
