Is this sexual abuse?

Duration of activity: 45 min

Learning objectives:

Understand the mechanism and dynamics of sexual violence
Understand the impact of sexual violence on young people’s relationships
Empower young people to react to sexual abuse

Materials needed:

‘This Is Abuse – Bedroom’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vQ2KiNNQqk
Abuse in Relationships: Would you Stop Yourself?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzDr18UYO18
LGBT sexual assault awarenesshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y71hzlUhQds
Italy-survivor’s testimonyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=Tg2btL2fa5U&feature=emb_logo

Recommended prior reading:

Section 5.2 Dealing with our own prejudices as trainers
Section 5.4: Creating a safe, comfortable and inclusive space
Section 5.6: Teaching about sensitive and controversial issues
Section 5.7 : Dealing with difficult questions
Section 5.8: How to respond to disclosure of violence
Section 5.9: Further facilitate participants’ path to safety
Section 7.4: Tips for engaging participants online (if applicable)
Section 7.2: Creating a safe, welcoming space for participants online (if applicable)

Step by step process of the activity:

Introduction: In this activity we will try to identify whether some situations constitute sexual abuse and explore the dynamics that come into play when sexual abuse takes place.
Content warnings could be useful prior to showing the videos so as participants can be prepared beforehand and pace themselves if they need to. A possible way to deliver a content warning is by saying something along the lines of: ‘Much of what we will watch in the videos can be emotionally challenging to engage with. Some videos present some graphic content of violence which could be considered as intense for some people. Following our group agreement in the beginning of the workshop, we have tried to make this classroom a safe space where we can engage bravely, empathetically, thoughtfully and respectfully with sensitive content. I’m reminding everyone of their right to ‘pass’ if they feel that the material may be too challenging to work with. I also invite you to maintain confidentiality and to avoid judgement of any feelings or reactions that may arise during the discussion of the videos. I will be here to further discuss any aspects of the videos after the workshop, if anyone of you feels the need to discuss them further.’
You can go about showing the videos in different ways. One way would be to show a different video in each group, taking into account there are tablets/mobile phones young people can use to watch the videos. The groups can then discuss the questions underneath each video in the facilitation questions (you can give them printed out to them as a handout). Alternatively, you can show the videos one by one in plenary, ask the young people to discuss them in pairs/triads for 5 min and then open the discussion in plenary before you move to the next one.
Following the discussion of the different videos it is important that you open the discussion on how young people can support other young people (friends, acquaintances, partners etc.) who may have experienced sexual assault. The recommendations provided in Module 7 (Breaking the Cycle of SGBV) can come in handy when opening this discussion. If there is time, it can also be useful if you can follow up this activity with one of the activities in module 7 (section 14.2).

Facilitation questions for reflection and debriefing:

As they appear in the worksheet below for each video.

Tips for facilitators:

The video from Italy in particular is a very intense video and it may bring out some very strong emotions in participants. For younger groups it is better that is avoided. You can also decide not to show it at all regardless of the target group, if you don’t know your group very well and you’re afraid of how they would react or if you’re feeling unsure of how to handle strong emotional reactions in the group.

If you feel you can cope as a facilitator in case your group has an emotional reaction to the video, it would be beneficial to show the video because it helps young people understand what survivors of sexual violence are experiencing. The fact that you’re also asking the participants to engage in mental process of reflecting on their experience of watching the video and answer some questions, helps ground their feelings. The video also ends with a positive, empowering messages that it would be useful for young people to hear and discuss. There is important learning that can take place from giving space for emotion in the group and responding to it with sensitivity; it not only creates empathy but it can act as a motivating push forward for young people to take action.

Adapting the activity for online implementation

● If you’re running this activity as an ad-hoc online session, it will not be advisable to use the videos in lieu of the sensitive content. It is best that you opt for a different activity that deals with issues of sexual violence. Despite the other activities in this module, you can find scenarios on sexual violence that you can use under other activities such as 10.5 (some scenarios), 10.7 (story 5), 11.4 (scenario 3), 13.1 and 13.2.

● However, if you’re using this activity as a part of a longer-term training program that you’re running with the same group over different consecutive sessions and you would like to use it, remember to include a content warning prior to showing any of the videos. The decision whether the videos would be appropriate to use would depend on the level of safety that has already been created in the group and any sensitive issues that may have already arisen in the previous sessions

● Lastly, exit strategies in this activity are easier if you work in plenary rather than small groups.