Introduction: unpacking the shroud of silence

Green and Ward argue that, although often undertaken as a way to press for information, torture serves to silence through humiliation and degradation (2004; see also Scarry, 19885; Rejali, 2007; Kelly, 2012). Interestingly, although this is recognized in torture literatures, as we can see thus far little emphasis is placed on sexualized torture and silence. This is despite the prolific evidence presented by feminists that demonstrates sexualized violence to be a tool to silence, and that is in and of itself socially silenced (Kelly, 1988; Ahrens, 2006; Canning, 2011a; Jordan, 2012). Even in my own experience, throughout the duration of this fieldwork I was regularly informed by participants and other members working in the centres I visited that this area was under-researched, and that sexualized violence was not always (or for some, often) specifically addressed, even though survivors of sexualized torture had been supported by staff. As mentioned in Chapter 4, I have even been informed that I had created an ‘air of suspicion’ for asking questions related to sexualized violence generally, and sexual torture specifically – a further indication of its sociopolitical sensitivity, even among those who challenge some of the most silenced forms of violence.

As one interviewee put it, sexualized violence may be “one of many traumas”. This perspective is perhaps understandable given multifarious forms of torture that some practitioners support people to work through. Yet the context of such violence, which is shrouded in stigma and silence (Ahrens, 2006; Canning, 2011b; 2014; Jordan, 2012), can lead to outright exclusion for some survivors. That is not to say that other forms of torture do not induce humiliation, but that this is not often as taboo or stigmatized as sexual violence generally or sexual torture specifically, including for male survivors of sexualized torture.

This chapter therefore draws from practitioner perspectives, survivor perspectives, and my own experience in working with survivors. Some of these insights develop from conversations with people working in criminal justice which have forced me to reflect on how torture is construed, but also how sexualized violence is discussed in some professional spheres.