Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Emergencies

In the wake of horrific accounts of Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) that span the globe, the voices of survivors have galvanized the international community to work towards the elimination of GBV.

The protection and safety of women and girls can be achieved only through coordinated, collective and sustained action. We know good coordination of interventions works and pays direct humanitarian dividends. Only through effective coordination can we bridge any gaps, address persistent challenges and make progress against common objectives. Specifically, GBV coordination ensures that every humanitarian response, from the earliest phases of a crisis, provides safe and comprehensive life-saving services for GBV survivors and mitigates the risks of GBV. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate GBV in all settings and make progress towards peace, security and human
rights.

In 2013, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee adopted its statement on the “Centrality of Protection” to place protection at the heart of humanitarian response; addressing GBV is among the core concerns of humanitarian protection policy. In the same year, key donor countries launched the “Call to Action” initiative to “transform the way GBV is addressed in humanitarian operations via the collective action of numerous partners”. In 2018, the GBV Area of Responsibility (GBV AoR), launched its three-year strategy to coordinate global efforts to address GBViE, bringing together UN Agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics, and women-led organizations to ensure lifesaving, predictable and accountable GBV prevention, risk mitigation, and response.

Now, more than ever, we must strengthen our knowledge and skills for GBV coordination. The revised Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Emergencies will help deliver on this strategic objective. The purpose of this Handbook is to facilitate concrete action – from preparedness, to humanitarian response through recovery. It is an indispensable tool for GBV coordinators, and the humanitarian community more broadly, to work together to address gender-based violence. GBV is best addressed when multiple sectors and organizations work
together to create and implement unified prevention, response and risk mitigation strategies. Without clarity on necessary actions and dedicated attention to addressing GBV, on-the-ground efforts will be inconsistent and insufficient.

Building on a growing body of international practice and resources, the Handbook provides guidance on how to use coordination to address GBV throughout the humanitarian programming cycle in all phases of emergencies. Coordinators have an essential role to play to ensure GBV is accorded sucient attention in the response, and programme activities are guided by commonly agreed goals clear to all humanitarians. Coordination is also part of an integral strategy for implementing the essential actions in line with the IASC GBV Guidelines. The Handbook aims to
address barriers to participation in GBV coordination and response so that local actors may fully engage with and contribute to wider humanitarian eorts. The involvement and participation of local actors is a core principle for humanitarian action and essential for ensuring assistance and protection is relevant and accountable to women, girls and other community members. As the lead agency, UNFPA will ensure that coordination leadership fulfills its responsibility for setting
standards for ethical,safe and survivor-centred GBV programming.

The power of coordinated collective action is what each partner can bring,so the sum is greater than the parts. We know it will take sustained coordinated action to invest in and support the rights, resilience and capacities of women and girls in the most dicult settings and ensure that every survivor receives the life-saving services they deserve.

GBVAOR 2019 Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Emergencies