Gender-based violence (GBV) encompasses a wide range of human rights violations and can be directed at adult women and men and male and female children. GBV takes the form of rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women, girls and boys and several harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation/cutting, early marriage, bride inheritance and many others. It is pervasive in times of peace. In times of crisis, GBV may become more extreme. In armed conflict, one form of GBV, sexual violence, can become so widespread and systematic that it is considered a method of war and can escalate into a crime against humanity, a war crime and an aspect of genocide.
What this shows is that, while civilian protection is founded on government and non-state actor engagement, involvement of civil society and upholding of human rights, during armed conflict, this protection all too frequently fails. During a natural disaster, emergency response that does not take into account gender-specific vulnerabilities and capacities can further expose individuals to risk. Programming to address GBV involves coordination, prevention and response with a multi-sectoral approach (eg. health and community services, shelter and site planning, water/sanitation, food security and nutrition, non-food item procurement and distribution, education and schools and community education, safety and security/rule of law).
Programming should be survivor-centered, ensuring safety of the survivor, confidentiality, and respect for the survivor’s and their right to informed choice. Ensuring women’s and adolescent girl’s full participation, as well as engaging men and young people, is fundamental to promoting civilian protection. Information campaigns and advocacy can help to raise awareness of the issue, initiate discussions in the community, reduce stigma, and encourage survivors to report incidents and seek care.
Effective campaigns involve men and promote reflection about cultural attitudes and gender inequities that perpetuate violence against women. Cultural taboos and fear of reprisal may prevent victims of sexual violence from talking about it outside their own families, even to doctors and nurses. Laws and protocols ensuring the protection of survivors are an important first step in encouraging survivors to come forward to receive the care they need and for reinforce accountability frameworks. Training for health workers, police and judges is critical to help them respond sensitively and appropriately.