Viable justice: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and/or torture amongst South Sudanese refugees living in settlements in Northern Uganda

What is it about?

This British Academy and Leverhulme-funded research investigated the experiences of men and women refugee survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and/or torture pursuing social justice. Interviews were carried out with 41 women and 20 men refugee survivors living in settlements in Northern Uganda. The researchers also interviewed 37 key informants including from refugee welfare councils, UN, community-based, non-government, and government organisations. Thematic analysis resulted in the following themes: No hope of formal justice for atrocities that occurred in South Sudan, Insecurity, and lack of confidence in local justice processes in Uganda Refugee Settlements, Abuse and Loss of Freedom in Refugee Settlements and Lack of Access to Health and Justice Services in Refugee Settlements. A survivor-focussed integrated model is recommended for achieving social justice for refugee survivors of SGBV and/or torture. Improvements in refugee survivors’ dignity, resilience and recovery is dependent upon active engagement of refugees themselves using a human rights approach. The provision of a ‘survivor-focussed integrated approach’ ensures refugees who have experienced SGBV and/or torture and their families feel validated which assists them to utilise their resilience and agency in the process of recovery. The research findings are original as they recommend an approach that integrates formal and survivor-focussed health and justice services to meet refugees’ needs. This enables a response that listens to and responds to the needs of refugee survivors in a way that continues to build their resilience, agency and restores their dignity.

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