Oxfam proud to support the official launch of the guide on how to prevent Violence Against Women When War or Disaster Break Out

The Inter-agency Gender-based Violence Guidelines Reference Group  is pleased to announce the official launch of the 2015 Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action during the Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Globally, one in three women will experience sexual or physical violence in her lifetime . These risks are even higher in crisis-affected settings, due, for example, to the breakdown in family and social support structures, risks associated with accessing basic needs (using the latrine, collecting water or firewood, etc.), the lack of privacy and protection in camps for displaced people, the expansion of armed elements and generalized chaos.

These new GBV Guidelines offer an essential and practical, field-tested tool that recognize these risks and provide step-by-step guidance for humanitarian actors and communities affected by conflict and disasters on the necessary actions for GBV prevention across all sectors of humanitarian response – resulting in safer and more effective programmes.

The GBV Guidelines were fully revised from the 2005 version by an inter-agency Task Team led by UNICEF and UNFPA, and endorsed by the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) in 2015 as well as by the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.