3.7.3 Gender-based Violence Area of Responsibility

PEOPLE IN NEED
6.7M
PEOPLE TARGETED
1.8M
REQUIREMENTS (US$)
62.8M
PARTNERS
41

2024 Severity of Needs, People in Need and Targeted

SUMMARY OF NEEDS

All forms of GBV have increased since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023. The GBV AoR and service providers have received surging reports of cases of GBV including sexual violence, particularly against IDPs in transit and during the looting of homes. The number of domestic violence cases is rising at alarming rates, along with risks of sexual violence and exploitation as women and girls are displaced, in transit, in temporary shelters, or at border crossings waiting for visas. Risks of sexual violence and exploitation also increase as economic hardship is rising due to increasing prices of basic goods including food, water, and fuel. Service providers report that GBV survivors face life-threatening consequences of both physical and mental health. Older women, adolescent girls and women and girls living with disabilities face additional concerns and challenges in this unstable environment. Vulnerable men and boys are also exposed the risks of GBV.

Key challenges facing GBV service providers are: (i) limited humanitarian access in conflict-affected states, (ii) shortage of supplies, and (iii) limited availability of specialized services. Access to services in many affected localities is severely curtailed by insecurity, destruction of goods and properties, and looting of medical supplies and facilities including health centres and hospitals. These challenges hinder the ability of GBV services to meet the significantly increasing needs.

RESPONSE STRATEGY

In 2024, the GBV AoR’s priority activities will contribute to achieving following objectives:

  1. Provide life-saving specialized quality GBV services, including clinical management of rape, case management, and psychosocial support, and reinforce referral pathways (with a focus on women and girls with disabilities and adolescent girls).
  2. Promote GBV risk mitigation into all aspects of the humanitarian response.

The response will target the most vulnerable women, adolescent girls and groups including those living with disabilities and survivors of SEA among the displaced, returnees and host-community settings in the prioritized locations.

TARGETING & PRIORITIZATION

The GBV AoR will focus on service provision to survivors of all forms of GBV and GBV risk mitigation activities such as GBV case management, referrals, specialized psychosocial support and counselling, and the distribution of dignity kits, including female hygiene items, as well as conducting GBV assessments and safety audits to identify the bottlenecks of access challenges. Women centres, including temporary or semi-permanent structures, will be used as service delivery points, providing a wide range of services, including psycho-social support, training, as well as income generation activities and economic empowerment.

To address access challenges, the GBV AoR will focus on updating referral pathways in collaboration with local actors, especially women-led organizations. Given the heightened sensitivity surrounding GBV, awareness campaigns will be essential to build trust with communities and survivors. The AoR plans to create or support Community-based Protection Networks and local women's networks to enhance awareness efforts. The GBV AoR will prioritize assisting humanitarian actors to integrate GBV risk mitigation measures into operations.

PROMOTING QUALITY & INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING

The GBV AoR will enhance AAP through safety audits, group discussions on GBV, consultations, and sharing GBV standard operating procedures and referral mechanisms. Collaboration with the PSEA network will continue to support SEA survivors' access to GBV services. Interventions will be adjusted to meet the needs of people with disabilities, older people, and adolescent GBV survivors through an improved inter-agency referral and response mechanisms to improve access to multisectoral assistance.

COST OF RESPONSE

The GBV AoR requires US$62.8 million to reach 1.8 million people targeted. The AoR will expand GBV services through various channels, both static and mobile, and advocate for more integrated services to improve the efficiency of the response.