SSO get ready to speak at the UN General Assembly

Shameem Sadiq-Tang is our Survivor Activism Manager and works closely with the Survivors Speak OUT (SSO) network, as well as other survivor activist groups at Freedom from Torture. In the run-up up to one of the network's most high-profile events ever, she reflects on her hopes, fears and why making the most of this opportunity is so important.

On Tuesday 24 September, a female member of the Survivors Speak OUT network will stand up in front of an audience of hundreds of diplomats, United Nations staff, NGO personnel and international media at the United Nations in New York. She is set to deliver a stirring speech in support of the UK government's Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative as part of a side-event during this year's UN General Assembly. She will be joined by William Hague, Foreign Secretary, who is heading this intiative, and Zainab Bangura, the Special Representative to the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Like all members of Survivors Speak OUT she is a survivor of torture. She will not be there to speak as an individual but will instead represent the views of a network of survivors who have first-hand experience of some horrific acts at the hands of other human beings.

As Freedom from Torture's Survivor Activism Manager and someone who has worked closely with the network for many years, I am both incredibly excited and a little anxious. I am excited because this is an amazing opportunity for survivors of torture to speak directly to government officials who, if they really want to, have the power to influence meaningful action within their countries by putting an end to sexual violence and ensuring that its perpetrators are held to account. My nervousness comes from the thought of a survivor having to stand up in front of 500 people, many of whom I suspect will be men, and tell them about the impact of torture. I am reassured, however, by the fact I know that throughout the trip she will be accompanied, and supported, by Kolbassia – the SSO Coordinator.

This is a great opportunity for Surivors Speak OUT to let decision makers know what needs to happen to prevent sexual violence from occurring and how, and why, they should support its survivors so that what has happened to many of the network's own members, does not happen again.

"... our network members have experienced a horrible ordeal at the hands of those that were supposed to protect us - either in or outside of conflict. The journey has been tough as we have been left to save ourselves."

You can watch SSO speak at the UN on Tuesday 24 September at 14.30 New York time or 19:30 UK time on the Freedom from Torture website