IASC Guidelines for Gender Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings

1. IASC Guidelines for Gender Based ViolenceInterventions in Humanitarian Settings "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

2. All humanitarian actors must take action, from the earliest stages of any emergency to prevent sexual violence and provide appropriate assistance Gender Based Violence is especially problematic in the context of complex emergencies and natural disasters, North Darfur, Aboushok Camp Market "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

3. Gender-Based Violence • GBV is a violation of universal human rights, protected by international human rights conventions, including • the right to security of person, • the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, • the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, • the right to life "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

4. Definition of GBV • No agreed upon definition • “GBV” • “SGBV” • “GBV including SV” • ….

5. Types of GBV • Sexual violence • Often common in acute emergencies • underreported • Rape, SEA, sexual slavery • Trafficking • Domestic Violence • reported in natural disasters and post conflict settings • Harmful traditional practices • FGM, forced, early marriages • Can be increased in post-conflict, reconstruction and recovery phases Most reported incidents involve female survivors/victims and male perpetrators, but men and boys are also affected particularly when in detention or subjected to torture "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

6. Examples • Burundi Sexual Violence survey. 1575 women surveyed – 19% experienced sexual violence • Rwanda: 250,000 to 500,000 survivors of rape and 67% of them became infected with HIV. • DRC 5% of the population was HIV positive before the war in 1997. In 2002 it was 20% in the East of DRC. • After Hurricane Mitch, 27% of female survivors in Nicaragua told surveyors that woman battering had “increased in the wake of the hurricane in the community.” "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

7. Measures to Prevent and Respond to GBV New IASC Guidelines, that recommend key interventions for preventing and responding to GBV in humanitarian emergencies "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

8. Background to developing the guidelines • IASC WG November 2003 • Ongoing and increasing concern about SV in humanitarian settings • IASC TF on Gender and Humanitarian Assistance asked to develop guidance • UNFPA took the lead "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

9. Process of developing the Guidelines • Initial wide-ranging discussions • Guidance exists but implementation is lacking • Integrate GBV considerations in all humanitarian planning and programming • Only multi-sectoral responsibility with mutual accountability will have an impact • Dedicated focal points took off “agency hats” • Wide participation of field-based colleagues • Financial contributions from TF member agencies "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

10. IASC Matrix "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

11. Matrix: Protection sector "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

12. Action Sheets • Written and reviewed by HQ and field subject experts • Focus on prevention of and response to SV in emergencies • Outline minimum required interventions to avoid morbidity and mortality due to SV • Summarise existing "best practices“ • Integrate SV considerations into day-to-day sectoral emergency work • Do not introduce „new skills“ for which a new catagory of staff have to be trained "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

13. Dissemination • Guidelines + Matrix poster + CD with resources • Translated into French, Spanish, Arabic • Available electronically (IASC and agency websites) http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/ "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

14. Fieldtesting Peer review of technical contents • Step 1 • Step 2 • questionnaire • Step 3 • Implementation support • Training • Meetings and workshops Field review of user friendliness Field feedback on implementation and usefulness in practice “Final” document "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

15. Exercise • THE SITUATION • 20,000 people have been displaced by an earthquake and are moved to an improvised camp in a mountainous region. Some 1000 are still arriving each day • A few health centres are scattered in the district • The nearest town with a hospital is 20 km away. • Women fetch water in a river close to the camp • Cooking fuel is a problem but there are some woods approx 1 km away • There are reports of rapes and abductions. • THE RESPONSE • YOU are part of a team that has come to assist. • You are participating in a GBV coordination meeting (the first). What do you do? How could you prevent further GBV cases and help the people that have been affected? • Using the matrix, you have 30 minutes to conduct this meeting, playing yourself. • STATISTICS • 5,000 women • 4,000 children • STI often reported "UNFPA - because everyone counts."

16. Implementation • Accessibility to at risk population • Dissemination of and familiarization with tools • Accountability for taking action • Resources needed • Awareness at global level