What To Do About Gender-Based Violence in Crisis

Or, How Not to Make Excuses and Actually Do Something About GBV - Therese McGinn, DrPH

Violence Against Women

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Global Health Initiative Seminar, October 9 2012

Today’s talk: What to do about GBV  Basic RH services in early phase of crisis  Comprehensive RH response in later stages  What excuses are used to avoid GBV?

Basic RH Services in the early phase of crisis

Early phase: Do the MISP

 Minimum  Initial  Service  Package  Basic, limited RH  for use in early phase of the emergency,

without site-specific needs assessment

 services to be delivered to the population  supplies

and activities, coordination and planning

‘Doing’ the MISP

  Ensure MISP focal point is identified Prevent and manage consequences of sexual violence   Reduce HIV transmission Prevent excess maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity  Plan for comprehensive RH services

MISP for GBV: Specific activities  Prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence    Prevent sexual violence Provide clinical care to rape survivors Inform community of available services

MISP for GBV: Prevent sexual violence     Locate services in secure zones, with good lighting and open access  Separate male and female latrines and washing areas Use female staff Train staff in confidentiality Implement codes of conduct, and hold staff accountable

MISP for GBV: Provide clinical care for rape survivors  Provide       Emergency contraception (hormonal and IUD) Post-exposure HIV prophylaxis Treatment of STIs, hepatitis Safe abortion Forensic services Referral 24/7  Ensure compassionate and confidential care

MISP for GBV: Inform community of available services  Use all available mechanisms to let women know of GBV services    radio, loudspeakers leaflets community workers

More on MISP  MISP is a SPHERE standard  Ask who the MISP focal point is in your next crisis situation

Comprehensive RH Services in later phases of crisis

Comprehensive RH Services are:

       Family planning Maternal and newborn health Comprehensive abortion care Gender-based violence Sexually transmitted infections HIV Adolescent RH

Comprehensive response to GBV  

GBV

is comprehensive  Sexual violence  Rape, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution Domestic violence Forced and early marriage  Harmful traditional practices  Trafficking    

Response

is comprehensive   Detailed coordination Needs and resources assessment RH services Psychosocial support Legal support Promotion of human rights principles  Monitoring

Comprehensive response to GBV    Less proscriptive than MISP   Uses basic good programming principles Uses full range of programming models    Clinic-based and community-based options Local partnerships Capacity development component Suited to specific contexts Achievement is progressive

Why don’t we address GBV?

Top 10 Excuses for Avoiding GBV 10. We don’t have the data.

9.

We’re too busy with real problems.

8.

7.

6.

5.

4.

GBV is not a problem here.

It’s too sensitive for women to talk about.

It’s too sensitive for programs to respond.

I’m not an RH person – I don’t know what to do.

You shouldn’t do anything if you can’t do everything.

3.

2.

1.

Boys will be boys.

Reducing transactional sex will hurt women.

We don’t have the data.

What can you do?

 Get certified in the MISP at http://misp.rhrc.org/  Don’t settle for excuses  Help make GBV services available

References IAWG. 2010.

Inter-agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings.

http://www.iawg.net/resources/field_manual.html

Sphere Project. 2011.

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

. http://www.sphereproject.org/ Women’s Refugee Commission. 2011.

Distance learning module for the Minimum Initial Service Package.

http://www.iawg.net/resources/MISP2011.pdf