Inter-Agency Standing CommitteeInter-Agency Standing CommitteeGuidelines for Gender-based Guidelines for Gender-based

Violence Interventions in Violence Interventions in Humanitarian SettingsHumanitarian Settings

Focusing on Prevention of and Focusing on Prevention of and Response toResponse to

Sexual Violence in EmergenciesSexual Violence in Emergencies

Inter-agency Standing Inter-agency Standing Committee Committee

FAOFAO OCHAOCHA UNICEFUNICEF UNDPUNDP UNFPAUNFPA UNHCRUNHCR WFPWFP WHOWHO

Standing InviteesStanding Invitees InterActionInterAction ICRCICRC ICVAICVA IFRCIFRC IOMIOM OHCHROHCHR Rep of SG on Human Rights Rep of SG on Human Rights

of IDPsof IDPs Steering Cmte for Steering Cmte for

Humanitarian ResponseHumanitarian Response World BankWorld Bank

The IASC was established in 1992 in The IASC was established in 1992 in response to General Assembly response to General Assembly Resolution 46/182 which called for Resolution 46/182 which called for strengthening coordination of strengthening coordination of humanitarian assistance. humanitarian assistance.

The resolution set up the IASC as the The resolution set up the IASC as the primary mechanism for facilitating primary mechanism for facilitating interagency decision making in response interagency decision making in response to complex emergencies and natural to complex emergencies and natural disasters. disasters.

The IASC has issued these Guidelines The IASC has issued these Guidelines for gender-based violence interventions for gender-based violence interventions in humanitarian emergencies: focusing in humanitarian emergencies: focusing on prevention and response to sexual on prevention and response to sexual violence to meet the need for a coherent violence to meet the need for a coherent and participatory approach to prevent and participatory approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. and respond to gender-based violence.

This is a tool for actors to establish a This is a tool for actors to establish a multisectoral approach to gender-based multisectoral approach to gender-based violence programming in emergency violence programming in emergency settings. settings.

Gender-based violence Gender-based violence (GBV), and in particular (GBV), and in particular sexual violence is a sexual violence is a serious, life-threatening serious, life-threatening issue primarily affecting issue primarily affecting women and children. It is women and children. It is well documented that well documented that GBV is a widespread GBV is a widespread international public international public health and human rights health and human rights issue, and that issue, and that adequate, appropriate, adequate, appropriate, and comprehensive and comprehensive prevention and response prevention and response are inadequate in most are inadequate in most countries worldwide. countries worldwide.

GBV is especially GBV is especially problematic in the problematic in the context of complex context of complex emergencies, where emergencies, where civilian women and civilian women and children are often children are often targeted for abuse, and targeted for abuse, and are the most vulnerable are the most vulnerable to exploitation and to exploitation and violence simply because violence simply because of their gender, age, and of their gender, age, and status in society.status in society.

These guidelines emphasize the importance of These guidelines emphasize the importance of multisectoral coordinated action and community multisectoral coordinated action and community involvement, and include guidance for maximising involvement, and include guidance for maximising multi-sectoral involvement in all of the cross-cutting multi-sectoral involvement in all of the cross-cutting functions. functions.

These guidelines are applicable in any emergency These guidelines are applicable in any emergency setting setting regardlessregardless of whether the “known” prevalence of whether the “known” prevalence of sexual violence is high or low. of sexual violence is high or low.

All humanitarian personnel should assume and believe All humanitarian personnel should assume and believe that GBV, and in particular, sexual violence, is taking that GBV, and in particular, sexual violence, is taking place and is a serious and life-threatening issue, place and is a serious and life-threatening issue, regardless of the presence or absence of concrete and regardless of the presence or absence of concrete and reliable evidence. reliable evidence.

Target AudienceTarget Audience These guidelines are designed for use by These guidelines are designed for use by

humanitarian organisations, including UN humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, and government agencies, NGOs, CBOs, and government authorities operating in emergency authorities operating in emergency settings at international, national and settings at international, national and local levels. local levels.

These guidelines should be available and These guidelines should be available and accessible to all humanitarian actors.accessible to all humanitarian actors.

The guidelines include an overview of The guidelines include an overview of recommended key interventions for recommended key interventions for preventing and responding to sexual preventing and responding to sexual violence, organised by the three general violence, organised by the three general phases of emergencies:phases of emergencies:

Emergency PreparednessEmergency Preparedness Early phaseEarly phase (minimum prevention & response)(minimum prevention & response)

Stabilised phaseStabilised phase (comprehensive prevention & (comprehensive prevention & response)response)

Action SheetsAction Sheets The Action Sheets are organised The Action Sheets are organised

by sector and cross-cutting by sector and cross-cutting functions. There are five cross-functions. There are five cross-cutting functions that require cutting functions that require action from multiple organisations action from multiple organisations and sectors. and sectors.

CoordinationCoordination Assessment & MonitoringAssessment & Monitoring ProtectionProtection Human ResourcesHuman Resources Information Education Information Education

CommunicationCommunication

In addition to he cross-cutting In addition to he cross-cutting functions, there are specific functions, there are specific interventions organised by interventions organised by sector. sector. (Note that protection is both (Note that protection is both a cross-cutting function and a sector)a cross-cutting function and a sector)

ProtectionProtection Water & SanitationWater & Sanitation Food Security & NutritionFood Security & Nutrition Shelter & Site Planning & Shelter & Site Planning &

Non-Food ItemsNon-Food Items Health & Community Health & Community

ServicesServices EducationEducation

Functions Functions & Sectors& Sectors

Emergency PreparednessEmergency Preparedness

11 CoordinationCoordination Determine coordination mechanisms and responsibilitiesDetermine coordination mechanisms and responsibilitiesIdentify & list partners & GBV focal pointsIdentify & list partners & GBV focal pointsPromote human rights & best practices as central components to Promote human rights & best practices as central components to preparedness planning and project developmentpreparedness planning and project developmentAdvocate for GBV prevention & response at all stages of humanitarian Advocate for GBV prevention & response at all stages of humanitarian actionactionIntegrate GBV programming into preparedness and contingency plansIntegrate GBV programming into preparedness and contingency plansCoordinate GBV trainingCoordinate GBV trainingInclude GBV activities in inter-agency strategies and appealsInclude GBV activities in inter-agency strategies and appealsIdentify & mobilise resourcesIdentify & mobilise resources

22 Assessment Assessment & Monitoring& Monitoring

Review existing data on nature, scope, magnitude of GBVReview existing data on nature, scope, magnitude of GBVConduct capacity and situation analysis & identify good practicesConduct capacity and situation analysis & identify good practicesDevelop strategies, indicators, and tools for monitoring & evaluationDevelop strategies, indicators, and tools for monitoring & evaluation

33 ProtectionProtection(legal, social (legal, social and physical)and physical)

Review ntl laws, policies, and enforcement realities on protection from GBVReview ntl laws, policies, and enforcement realities on protection from GBVIdentify priorities and develop strategies for security & prevention of Identify priorities and develop strategies for security & prevention of violenceviolenceEncourage ratification, full compliance, and effective implementation of Encourage ratification, full compliance, and effective implementation of international instrumentsinternational instrumentsPromote human rights, IHL, and good practicesPromote human rights, IHL, and good practicesDevelop mechanisms to monitor, report, and seek redress for GBV and Develop mechanisms to monitor, report, and seek redress for GBV and other human rights violationsother human rights violationsTrain all staff on international standardsTrain all staff on international standards

Action Sheet: ProtectionAction Sheet: Protection**

Assess security and define protection strategyAssess security and define protection strategy

Design effective strategies to prevent and to ensure that appropriate Design effective strategies to prevent and to ensure that appropriate security and protection measures are in place to respond to reported security and protection measures are in place to respond to reported incidents and assist survivorsincidents and assist survivors

Provide security in accordance with needsProvide security in accordance with needs

Advocate for compliance and implementation of international Advocate for compliance and implementation of international instrumentsinstruments

* Protection is widely defined as a concept that encompasses all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with human* Protection is widely defined as a concept that encompasses all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. This can be accomplished through fostering and contributing to the creation of an environment – political, social, cultural,rights, refugee and humanitarian law. This can be accomplished through fostering and contributing to the creation of an environment – political, social, cultural,institutional, and legal – conducive to the sustainable exercise and respect of fundamental freedoms and human rights.institutional, and legal – conducive to the sustainable exercise and respect of fundamental freedoms and human rights.

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Human Resources Human Resources

Recruit staff in a manner that will Recruit staff in a manner that will discourage sexual exploitation and abusediscourage sexual exploitation and abuse

Disseminate and inform all partners on Disseminate and inform all partners on codes of conductcodes of conduct

Implement confidential complaints Implement confidential complaints mechanismmechanism

Implement SEA focal group networkImplement SEA focal group network

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Water & Sanitation Water & Sanitation Implement safe water/sanitation programmesImplement safe water/sanitation programmes

Identify safety & security risks for women and girls that Identify safety & security risks for women and girls that are relevant to water and sanitation systemsare relevant to water and sanitation systems

Mobilise women and men to participate in the location, Mobilise women and men to participate in the location, design, and maintenance of water & sanitation facilitiesdesign, and maintenance of water & sanitation facilities

Locate water points in areas that are accessible and Locate water points in areas that are accessible and safe for all, with special attention to the needs of safe for all, with special attention to the needs of women & childrenwomen & children

Design or adapt hand pumps and water carrying Design or adapt hand pumps and water carrying containers for use by women & childrencontainers for use by women & children

Design communal bathing & washing facilities in Design communal bathing & washing facilities in consultation with women & girls to ensure that users consultation with women & girls to ensure that users have privacy and maintain dignityhave privacy and maintain dignity

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Food Security & Food Security & NutritionNutrition

Implement safe food security & nutrition Implement safe food security & nutrition programmesprogrammes Collect sex-disaggregated data for planning & Collect sex-disaggregated data for planning &

evaluation of food security and nutrition strategiesevaluation of food security and nutrition strategies Target food aid to women and child-headed Target food aid to women and child-headed

householdshouseholds Give special attention to pregnant and lactating Give special attention to pregnant and lactating

femalesfemales Involve women in the entire process of Involve women in the entire process of

implementing food security and nutrition strategiesimplementing food security and nutrition strategies Monitor security and instances of abuse in the Monitor security and instances of abuse in the

distribution point as well as departure roadsdistribution point as well as departure roads

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Shelter & Site Shelter & Site planning & Non-food itemsplanning & Non-food items

Implement safe site planning & shelter programmesImplement safe site planning & shelter programmes Ensure that survivors of sexual violence have safe shelter Ensure that survivors of sexual violence have safe shelter

(community-based solutions should always be sought first)(community-based solutions should always be sought first)

Implement safe fuel collection strategiesImplement safe fuel collection strategies

Provide sanitary material to women & girlsProvide sanitary material to women & girls

Provide individual sanitary packs for all females age 13 to 49 yearsProvide individual sanitary packs for all females age 13 to 49 years

Estimate the number of menstruating females at 25% of total Estimate the number of menstruating females at 25% of total populationpopulation

Consult with women & girls to identify materials most culturally Consult with women & girls to identify materials most culturally appropriateappropriate

Actively seek participation from relevant groups in the distribution of Actively seek participation from relevant groups in the distribution of sanitary packssanitary packs

Action Sheet: HealthAction Sheet: Health

Ensure women and adolescent girls access to basic health Ensure women and adolescent girls access to basic health servicesservices Implement the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP)* of Implement the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP)* of

reproductive health in emergency situationsreproductive health in emergency situations Conduct or participate in rapid situational analysis of the Conduct or participate in rapid situational analysis of the

accessibility, availability, and capacity of health services to respond accessibility, availability, and capacity of health services to respond to the needs of women and adolescent girls.to the needs of women and adolescent girls.

Ensure health services are accessible to women and childrenEnsure health services are accessible to women and children Motivate and support staff (aware of and abide by medical Motivate and support staff (aware of and abide by medical

confidentiality)confidentiality) Involve and inform the community (make the community aware of Involve and inform the community (make the community aware of

services available …)services available …)

* The MISP is a series of actions needed to prevent reproductive health-related morbidity and mortality in the early phase of an emergency* The MISP is a series of actions needed to prevent reproductive health-related morbidity and mortality in the early phase of an emergencysituation. situation.

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Health Health Provide sexual violence-related health servicesProvide sexual violence-related health services

Health care services must be ready to respond compassionately Health care services must be ready to respond compassionately to survivors of sexual violence. to survivors of sexual violence.

The health sector should ensure that all staff are sensitized to The health sector should ensure that all staff are sensitized to sexual violence and are aware of and abide by medical sexual violence and are aware of and abide by medical confidentiality. confidentiality.

Health care providers must know how to provide care according to Health care providers must know how to provide care according to established protocols and have the necessary equipment and established protocols and have the necessary equipment and supplies. supplies.

Female health care providers should be recruited and trained as a Female health care providers should be recruited and trained as a priority. priority.

All health care providers must be aware of relevant laws and All health care providers must be aware of relevant laws and policies governing health care providers in cases of sexual policies governing health care providers in cases of sexual violence. violence.

Action Sheet: Action Sheet: Psychosocial Psychosocial Support & Community ServicesSupport & Community Services

Provide community-based psychosocial supportProvide community-based psychosocial support Identify & mobilise appropriate existing resources in the Identify & mobilise appropriate existing resources in the

community, such as TBAs, women’s groups, religious community, such as TBAs, women’s groups, religious leaders, and community-based programmes leaders, and community-based programmes

Address the special needs of child survivorsAddress the special needs of child survivors Organise psychosocial support activities – including Organise psychosocial support activities – including

social reintegration initiativessocial reintegration initiatives ensure that appropriate community-based networks are able to ensure that appropriate community-based networks are able to

provide emotional support to survivorsprovide emotional support to survivors Establish systems for confidential referrals among Establish systems for confidential referrals among

psychosocial, health, security & legal justice service providerspsychosocial, health, security & legal justice service providers

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Psychosocial Psychosocial support & community servicessupport & community services

Initiate community dialogues to raise Initiate community dialogues to raise awareness that sexual violence is never the awareness that sexual violence is never the fault of the survivorfault of the survivor

Collaborate with BCC/IEC efforts to inform Collaborate with BCC/IEC efforts to inform community about prevention and response community about prevention and response to sexual violenceto sexual violence

Encourage use of appropriate traditional Encourage use of appropriate traditional resources (cleansing ceremonies, prayers)resources (cleansing ceremonies, prayers)

Action Sheet:Action Sheet: Education Education

Ensure girls’ and boys’ access to safe & free educationEnsure girls’ and boys’ access to safe & free education

Prevent sexual violence and maximise child survivors Prevent sexual violence and maximise child survivors access to helping services by raising awareness among access to helping services by raising awareness among students and teachers about sexual violence and students and teachers about sexual violence and implementing prevention strategies in schools.implementing prevention strategies in schools.

Inform teachers about sexual violence, prevention strategies, Inform teachers about sexual violence, prevention strategies, potential consequences for children, and how to access help in the potential consequences for children, and how to access help in the communitycommunity

Ensure all teachers sign codes of conduct which prohibit sex with Ensure all teachers sign codes of conduct which prohibit sex with children and minorschildren and minors

Ensure parents and the community know about teachers code of Ensure parents and the community know about teachers code of conductconduct

Action sheet:Action sheet: Information Information Education CommunicationEducation Communication

IEC objectives related to sexual violence are:IEC objectives related to sexual violence are:

To inform the community of the need to protect and care for To inform the community of the need to protect and care for survivors of violence and not to discriminate against themsurvivors of violence and not to discriminate against them

To inform and build trust in the community that services To inform and build trust in the community that services respect and preserve the confidentiality and dignity of the respect and preserve the confidentiality and dignity of the survivor and her familysurvivor and her family

To inform the community about the availability of sexual To inform the community about the availability of sexual violence services, how to access them, and that the services violence services, how to access them, and that the services can help survivors and their familiescan help survivors and their families

To inform survivors about the potential severe consequences To inform survivors about the potential severe consequences of sexual violenceof sexual violence

Action sheet:Action sheet: Information Information Education CommunicationEducation Communication

Identify existing resources and potential Identify existing resources and potential channels for communication that can be channels for communication that can be mobilised to inform the community about mobilised to inform the community about prevention of and response to sexual violenceprevention of and response to sexual violence

With participation from the community, With participation from the community, determine the key messages to be determine the key messages to be disseminateddisseminated

Adapt or develop simple methods and Adapt or develop simple methods and materials to communicate the messagesmaterials to communicate the messages

Establish a plan for dissemination in the Establish a plan for dissemination in the community community

Action sheet:Action sheet: Information Education Information Education Communication & AdvocacyCommunication & Advocacy

Disseminate information on IHL to arms bearersDisseminate information on IHL to arms bearers

Prevention of sexual violence must include action specifically Prevention of sexual violence must include action specifically targeting arms bearers and security/police forces.targeting arms bearers and security/police forces.

Sexual violence is expressly prohibited in international Sexual violence is expressly prohibited in international humanitarian law.humanitarian law.

Acting law enforcement and sometimes the military must serve Acting law enforcement and sometimes the military must serve to protect the people – and must therefore know, understand, to protect the people – and must therefore know, understand, respect and apply the international human rights and respect and apply the international human rights and humanitarian law which are relevant to their practice.humanitarian law which are relevant to their practice.

I call upon all those working in theI call upon all those working in the

provision of protection and humanitarianprovision of protection and humanitarian

assistance to use these guidelines andassistance to use these guidelines and

work together to prevent and respond towork together to prevent and respond to

gender-based violence. gender-based violence.

We need a collective effort to put an end toWe need a collective effort to put an end to

the brutality of sexual violence and respondthe brutality of sexual violence and respond

compassionately and more effectively tocompassionately and more effectively to

those affected.those affected.- Jan England- Jan England