1 in 5 displaced women have experienced sexual violence. 16 Days of Activism
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The United Nations on their Official Facebook Page says that in every 5 displaced women, at least one has been violated. GBV disproportionately affects women and girls, and in situations of displacement, their risk of exposure to GBV increases. UNHRC are committed to continuously strengthening coordination and programming to protect women and girls from GBV. They also advocate for adequate resources to increase the implementation of quality specialized programmes for women and girls.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Gender-based violence can include sexual, physical, mental and economic harm inflicted in public or in private. It also includes threats of violence, coercion and manipulation. This can take many forms such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation and so-called ‘honour crimes’. As a result of its consequences, survivors of GBV can have lifelong repercussions and can even lead to death in extreme cases.
UNHCR has been responding to the rise in GBV in one way or the other. this has been through Gender-based violence programming (i.e. prevention and response) and risk mitigation across all sectors is lifesaving and an institutional priority for UNHCR. they work together with partners, governments and communities to address GBV and to implement quality programming to prevent, mitigate and respond. GBV disproportionately affects women and girls, and in situations of displacement, their risk of exposure to GBV increases. We are committed to continuously strengthening coordination and programming to protect women and girls from GBV. We advocate for adequate resources to increase the implementation of quality specialized programmes for women and girls. UNHCR also work with male survivors of sexual violence and survivors with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI) through specialized programming to respond to their specific needs.
The UNDP on the 11 May 2020 says that Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during every type of emergency – whether economic crises, conflict or disease outbreaks. Taking into consideration the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNDP says Many women are in ‘lockdown’ at home with their abusers while being cut off from normal support services.
The UN Women have been taking lead in the fight against Gender-Based Violence from different fronts. They are currently combating GBV during the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV against Women and Girls which is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November and will run till the 10 of December 2021. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
