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GBV Biography: Protection
- 2004 World Survey on the Role of Women and Development: Women and International Migration
The World Survey on the Role of Women and Development: Women and International Migration sets out recommendations that, if adopted, will improve the situation of migrant, refugee and trafficked women.
- Access to Justice for Victims of Sexual Violence
This report, prepared a year after the joint communique was issued, assesses the extant to which the Government of the Sudan has lived up to its commitments with regard to investigating and punishing sexual violence in Darfur, and in bringing such violence to an end.
- Action Plan for Sida's Work against Gender-Based Violence 2008-2010
The overall objective of Sida's action plan is to contribute to a reduction of gender-based violence and to promote the rights and the economic and political empowerment of those subject to gender-based violence- mainly women and girls- in Sida's partner countries and in humanitarian assistance.
- Addressing the Needs of Women Affected by Armed Conflict: An ICRC Guidance Document
Building upon the ICRC study Women Facing War, this guidance document intends to translate the findings of the study into practical terms. Aimed at staff concerned with the planning and implementation of humanitarian programmes, this document is intended as a means of sharing ICRC's experience in this area with other organisations. It is an important tool which can be used to address women's needs on an operational level, illustrating best practices and lessons learned. Also available in French.
- Assessing the opportunity for sexual violence against women and children in refugee camps
This article focuses on protecting women and children in refugee camps from all forms of sexual violence committed by male offenders. The authors provide a pilot assessment and planning tool to address sexual or physical violence, exploitation, and discrimination among refugees. Combined, these compose one step in what must be a coordinated effort to resolve this multi-faceted international problem.
- Background on the international criminal court
The International Criminal Court will be a permanent court to investigate and bring to justice individuals who commit the most serious crimes - namely: genocide; war crimes; and crimes against humanity. The ICC is meant to complement national legal structures, and will act only when the national systems are either unwilling or genuinely unable to proceed. This website provides a comprehensive description of the ICC.
- Challenges and Good Practices in Support of Women in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations
This report summarizes views on assisting displaced women in conflict and post-conflict situations as presented at the UNFPA Expert Meeting in Tunisia. The first goal of the meeting was to bridge the gap between knowledge and policies regarding women's protection needs -- or gender-specific protection issues. The second goal was to identify specific means for the integration of emergency-related programming into the mainstream of UNFPA work.
- Checklist for Action: Prevention and Response for Gender-Based Violence in Displaced Settings
- Darfur: Rape as a Weapon of War: Sexual Violence and its Consequences
In March 2004, Darfur, western Sudan, was described by the then United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mukesh Kapila, as the world's greatest humanitarian crisis". Humanitarian organisations operating in Darfur are warning about malnutrition and famine in the region. Todays "worst humanitarian crisis" has been directly caused by war crimes and crimes against humanity for which the Sudanese government is responsible. Massive human rights violations committed in the region include: extra-judicial executions, unlawful killings of civilians, torture, rapes, abductions, destruction of villages and property, looting of cattle and property, the destruction of the means of livelihood of the population attacked and forced displacement. These human rights violations have been committed in a systematic manner by the Janjawid, often in coordination with Sudanese soldiers and the Sudanese Air Force, with total impunity, and have targeted mainly members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups and other agro-pastoralist groups living in Darfur. Many of the crimes committed in Darfur constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Deterring and preventing rape and sexual slavery during periods of armed conflict
This article identifies the growing recognition that rape and sexual slavery are used as ways of waging war against civilians. The author focuses on and proposes ways to curb, and ultimately eliminate, the use of rape and sexual slavery during periods of armed conflict. The authors argues that identifying why sexual violence remains a frequent occurrence in war would build a nexus with peacetime sexual violence to increase awareness of how to confront the attitudes and images that perpetuate violence against women. The author also asserts that education and training is needed to transform the military to reflect human rights standards. The article concludes that incidences of sexual violence during armed conflict will only decrease if we adopt a multilateral and multifaceted commitment to people and programs that will effectively combat it.
- Displaced and Desperate: Assessment of Reproductive Health for Colombias Internally Displaced Persons
The assessment team found that IDPs suffer a critical lack of access to reproductive health care owing to a number of factors. Columbians' access to health care overall is faltering between national policy at the central level and services to te population at decentralized levels, leaving many Columbians, particularly IDPs, to fall through the cracks without health care.
- Displaced and Disregarded: Refugees and their Reproductive Rights
- Displaced Women and Girls at Risk: Risk Factors, Protection Solutions and Resource Tools
This paper aims to clarify risks leading to displacement, risk factors during displacement and risks that inhibit safe and sustainable return. Additionally, the paper looks at protection solutions in the context of displacement and in situation of return. Finally, the paper presents tools for assessing risks and identifying good field practices that reduce the risks displaced and returnee women and girls confront.
- Documenting human rights violations by state agents: Sexual violence
Guide covers definitions and international prohibitions on sexual violence, sexual violence as torture, medical and social implications of sexual violence, monitoring and fact-finding, and evidence collection and assessment. Appendices include a checklist for interviews with victims, recommendations for protection, and international declarations and principles.
- Elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child
This report addresses issues related to the girl child, such as: protection of girls, girls in especially vulnerable situations, empowerment of girls, and institutional arrangements to accelerate elimination of discrimination and violence against the girl child.
- Emergency Contraception for Conflicted-affected Settings: A Distance Learning Module
This text has been developed to meet the need for increased awareness and knowledge about emergency contraception among health care providers working with refugee and internally displaced populations.
- Emergency Obstetric Care: Critical Need among Popualtions Affected by Conflict
This report document the availability of obstetric care services in selected sites in nine countries. The purpose of this report is to provide organizations, donors and governments with summary information on the status of EmOC in the geographic locations covered by the assessments. In addition, this information may be used to guide assessments used to design and implement future EmOC programs. It may also be used as a tool to advocate for better quality life saving EmOC for conflict-affected women and girls.
- Emergency Obstetric Care: Project Impact Report
- Ending Violence against Women: Programming for Prevention, Protection and Care
This handbook, intended primarily for development practitioners, provides practical points to consider when designing and implementing projects addressing violence against women. It is a collection of good practices drawn from ten case studies described in a complementary volume Programming to Address Violence Against Women. The approaches are based on an appreciation of culture and the role it plays in this issue. Available in English.
- Ensuring Minimum Standards in Reproductive Health Care
There is increased awareness that RH care is a livesaving necessity in the early stages of an emergency. An evaluation in Aceh has highlighted current shortcomings and the need for greater training and awareness raising.
- Ensuring the reproductive rights of refugees and internally displaced persons: legal and policy issues
A very good presentation of laws and policies pertaining to reproductive health and their applicability in situations of forced migration.
- Exclusion from protection
- Female Genital Mutilation: a guide to laws and policies worldwide
A very comprehensive report on the prevalence of FC/FGM around the world as well as the laws and measures currently in place that can be used to prevent the practice.
- Female genital mutilation: a matter of human rights - an advocates guide to action
This guide is intended for advocates working to eliminate the practice of FC/FGM. Included in this document is an explanation of how international law can be used as a framework for social justice, an overview of FC/FGM (history, cultural context and medical complications associated with the practice), discussion of governments' responsibilities under international law, recommendations for governments, and legal and political strategies for NGOs. Available in French and English. To order a bound copy, contact CRLP via email at publications@crlp.org, or call (917) 637-3600 and ask for publications. Cost is US$5.
- Femnet Training Manual on Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence has been recognised as a cross cutting issue affecting the lives of victims from a diversity of dimensions including health, economy, culture, psychology, education, livelihoods and political participation. In fact, violence against women and girls was chosen as one of the critical areas of action in the four countries, following the Beijing Conference. This presents a key opportunity for different players, including government agencies, NGOs, United Nations agencies and other institutions, to build an understanding on issues of violence and undertake activities to combat violence. Training is imperative to build this understanding and initiate or strengthen programmes combating violence.
- Finding Trees in the Desert: Firewood Collection and Alternatives in Darfur
Reducing the need for displaced women and girls to put themselves at risk of assault during firewood collection is an extremely complex task, with no single solution. Only a variety of interventions, undertaken simultaneously and in several different sectors, can hope to solve the problem. Fuel-effecient stove programs should be promoted by all protection actors- in a coordinated manner- in order to create conditions in which women cam use less firewood. At the same time , the AU must expand its patrols to protect women and girls on the occaisons that they do collect wood, and UN agencies and NGOs must work to help increase the opportunity of IDP women to earn income through soething other than selling firewood.
- GBV Tools Manual: For assessment and program design, monitoring and evaluation in conflict affected settings
- Gender Considerations in Disaster Assessment
This document deals with the following key questions: How are women and men, girls and boys differently affected by the disaster? What are the implications for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction effort (in terms of needs, access to assistance and contribution to community efforts)? Are there particular vulnerabilities/difficulties that result from the disaster for women, for children, for men? How do gender norms of the community affect aid seeking behavior and/or access to aid? Are women predisposed to have less access to aid/information due to cultural norms affecting mobility in public, illiteracy? Are local women and their associations being actively included in planning and implementation? Are there women and men involved in decision-making and employed as aid workers at all levels?
- Gender Focused Rapid Response Teams: A Preliminary Discussion of the Concept and Potential for Implementation
The Concept Paper offers an in-depth analysis of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) concept, provides a framework for exploring various options of how an RRT could be made active, and points out the traps and potential obstacles. The summary of discussions builds upon the Concept Paper and presents key points on core values, purpose, scope of work, and possible structure of RRTs. This summary is informed by the rich experience and knowledge of the participants at the Experts Meeting who live and work in pre-conflict, conflict, and post-conflict situations. A list of participants is included in the Appendix.
- Gender-Based Violence
This book brings together some of the most interesting and innovative work being done to tackle gender-based violence in various sectors, world regions, and socio-political contexts. Articles cover a wide range of manifestations of gender-based violence, including femicide, or the murder of women because they are women, domestic and sexual violence, female genital mutilation or cutting, the sexual exploitation of girls at school, and trafficking for prostitution. The case studies are drawn from South and East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central America, and a detailed list of resources completes the volume.
- Gender-based violence legal aid: A participatory toolkit - GBV in conflict-affected settings
This toolkit aims to offer guidance to those seeking to establish legal justice for survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV), as well as for those in settings where legal justice is not yet a possibility. It addresses three programmatic areas namely: Minimum GBV Prevention and Response Services, Structure of Law, Legal Aid. These three areas incorporate the primary GBV programming sectors of health care, psycho-social support, security/police/protection, and legal justice. This toolkit is primarily targeted at humanitarian aid workers from all service sectors - health, social service, legal, and security - to support the development and implementation of GBV services and to ensure all camp programmes integrate protection from GBV into all services in the setting.
- Gender-based Violence Tools Manual: For Assessment and Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation in Conflict-Affected Settings
This manual is one of several outcomes of a three-year global GBV Initiative spearheaded by the RHRC and aimed at improving international and local capacity to address GBV in refugee, internally displaced, and post-conflict settings. The tools have formulated according to a multi-sectoral of GBV programming that promotes action within and coordination between the constituent community, health and social services, and the legal and security sectors.
- Getting it Right, Doing it Right: Gender and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
This guide aims to facilitate the implementation of the sections on DDR within Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. It contains lessons learned and recommendations from consultation, field visits, desk research and case studies on each of the following areas: frameworks and definitions; participation and decision-making; resources; weapons collection; cantonment (temporary troop housing); and demobilisation and reintegration. Two detailed case studies are provided on Liberia and Papua New Guinea.
- Girl Child and Armed Conflict, The: Recognizing and addressing grave violations of girls' human rights
This paper documents and analyses the grave human rights violations girls endure during situations of armed conflict and offers recommendations on preventing and/or addressing those harms. The paper begins by offering a concise overview of current trends in armed conflict and the impact of armed conflict on children. It discusses existing international initiatives that identify grave and systematic violations against girls during armed conflict and reviews the most pertinent international legal standards relating to these violations.
- Good Practices in Combating and Eliminating Violence against Women
This report of the expert group meeting gives a global picture of violence against women, highlights best practice and lays out recommendations in the areas of law, prevention and provision of services.
- Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies
The guidelines outlined within this document are directed towards UN agencies, NGOs, community based organizations and government agencies for working with survivors of gender-based violence in a humanitarian setting. Additionally, the document outlines minimum multi-sectoral interventions to prevent and respond to sexual violence during the early phase of an emergency.
- Guiding principles on internal displacement
The purpose of the Guiding Principles is to address the specific protection needs of internally displaced persons. The Principles provide guidance to: the Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in carrying out his mandate; States when faced with the phenomenon of internal displacement; all other authorities, groups and persons in their relations with IDPs; and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations when addressing internal displacement. The Principles call for: the participation of women in planning and managing; the recognition of rape as a crime from which people deserve equal protection; the provision of adequate health care for women; and a guarantee of women's equal rights in every sphere. The 30 Principles, based upon existing international humanitarian law and human rights instruments, are to serve as an international standard to guide governments as well as international humanitarian and development agencies in providing assistance and protection to internally displaced people. Available online in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. The Brookings Institution also developed a Handbook for Applying the GuidingPrinciples on Internal Displacement to provide the meaning of the principles in nontechnical language and facilitate their practical application. Available for download at: reliefweb.int/ocha_ol/pub/IDPprinciples.PDF
- Human rights standards for the treatment of trafficked persons
This article provides a summary of the standards drawn from international human rights instruments and formally recognized international legal norms. These policies aim to protect and promote respect for the human rights of individuals who have been victims of trafficking, including those who have been subjected to involuntary servitude, forced labor and/or slavery-like practices. It also provides definitions of relevant terms. In English, French, German, Spanish, and Thai.
- Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls in West and Central Africa and the UNICEF Response, The
The West and Central Africa region has been racked by conflict over the past decade. Several countries - Cte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone - are still embroiled in, or emerging from, long-term warfare. Women and girls in these countries are most vulnerable to gender-based violence and need special protection measures. This first-of-its-kind study by UNICEF on the situation of war-affected girls and women in the region highlights innovative programmes being implemented with partners to address the impact of conflict, and recommends how UNICEF can more proactively champion the rights of girls - particularly adolescent girls.
- Istanbul Protocol / manual on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, The
The Istanbul Protocol is intended to serve as international guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture and ill treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture, and for reporting such findings to the judiciary and any other investigative body. The Manual includes Principles on the Effective Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, including relevant international legal standards, relevant ethical codes, legal investigations of torture, general interview considerations, and physical and psychological evidence of torture. The principles included outline minimum standards for State adherence to ensure the effective documentation of torture.
- Lifesaving Reproductive Health Care in Chad: Ignored and Neglected
- MInimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Fact Sheet
The MISP is a series of actions needed to respond to the reproductive health needs of populations in the early phase of a refugee situation (which may or may not be an emergency).
- Optional Module: Gender-Based Violence
The Reach Out project designed this additional module on gender-based violence in response to the request and needs expressed by NGOs working with refugees. This module is designed to increase field staff awareness, knowledge, and understanding on GBV and aims ultimately to contribute to the effective protection of refugees and IDPs.
- Overview of International Standards and Policy on Gender Violence and Refugees: Progress, Gaps and Continuing Challenges for NGO Advocacy and Campaigning
This presentation has two main aims. The first is to identify from the overview of developments some key observations of progress, including any changes in the way we conceive of the issue of gendered or gender-based violence. The second aim is to take note of continuing gaps in the protection regime and to question what role and responsibility NGOs have in highlighting or even filling those gaps. It is hoped that this will then lead to a fruitful discussion on what remains to be done and how we may coordinate our advocacy and campaigning actions to achieve further progress together. It should be pointed out that the focus of my presentation is on gendered violence against refugee women and girls only.
- Parallel Lives, Uneven Justice: An Analysis of Rights, Protection and Redress for Refugee and Internally Displaced Women in Camps
This article analyzes the situation of externally and internally displaced women in camps and the legal rights, protections and redress they have under international law. Specifically, the article describes the pervasive structural and physical violence displaced women experience in camps. An analysis of how advocates can use multilateral treaties such as the Refugee Convention, CEDAW and Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions as well as case law from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to deter violence against displaced women is also included. Furthermore, this article asserts that the internally displaced do have a right to humanitarian aid and protection.
- Participatory monitoring: guidelines for practitioners in the fight against human trafficking
This document provides tools for monitoring projects that combat trafficking of women and children. The guidelines consist of three parts including a theoretical framework for participatory monitoring, a kit with eight different tools to be used to collect data as well as annexes with tips on how to run training workshops and analyse baseline data.
- Peace Needs Women and Women Need Justice: Report of the Conference on Gender Justice in Post-Conflict Situations
This report summarizes conclusions reached during the Conference on Gender Justice in Post-Conflict Situations, held 15-17 September 2004 in New York City. The conference brought together women in key legal and judicial positions from more than twelve conflict-affected areas and key international players to discuss what sort of gender justice is needed on the ground to establish rule of law and to consolidate peace. The report presents the most critical gender justice requirements and challenges in post-conflict areas, and provides examples of best practices. The report was presented to the UN Security Council and issued as an official SC document.
- Political rape as persecution: a legal perspective
This article illustrates the importance of recognizing that the political rape of women is a violation of internationally protected human rights and is a basis for political asylum. The article discusses a number of human rights instruments that protect women from rape and other sexual abuse; guidelines from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and several countries that acknowledge the political nature of rape and the difficulties experienced by women attempting to assert claims to asylum based on rape or other sexual abuse; and a number of important decisions by individual governments to provide protection to survivors of rape. The article also explains techniques for providing critical treatment and support to survivors as they work their way through the process of obtaining legal protection. This article would prove useful to professionals interested in the legal issues and protection of women victims of rape.
- Programming to Address Violence against Women: Ten Case Studies
This volume documents UNFPA's experience addressing many forms of violence against women. Intended primarily for development practitioners and others seeking to change attitudes and practices, it offers lessons that can help scale up responses. Projects in Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Sierra Leone and Turkey are discussed. Some of the principles derived from the case studies are summarized in a complementary handbook, Ending Violence Against Women. Available in English.
- Progress, Gaps and Challenges Ahead: An Interagency Global Evaluation of Reproductive Health for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence in Disasters and Emergency Situations
- Protection in practice: field-level strategies for protecting civilians from deliberate harm. (Relief and Rehabilitation Network Paper 30)
The term complex humanitarian emergency refers to emergencies affecting large numbers of civilians due to a combination of factors. These include armed conflict, population displacement, loss of shelter and community, food shortages, and disease. The protection of civilians from attack and/or persecution is not, however, at the center of most humanitarian action. Instead, most humanitarian assistance seeks to alleviate suffering after the abuses have occurred or while they are occurring, creating dilemmas for relief organizations. This paper holds that those international organizations present in areas where violations occur have an obligation to act in ways that will enhance protection. It is believed that an integrated approach to protection is required, one that builds a strategic, field-level response based upon complementary strengths of various actors. This paper offers examples of specific strategies and tactics which have been used in the field to prevent or mitigate abuses, and could be adapted for use in other situations.
- Rape as a War Crime: Putting Policy into Practice
- Refugee Responses, State-like Behavior, and Accountability for Human Rights Violations: A Case Study of Sexual Violence in Guinea's Refugee Camps
This article advocates for better access to justice and a more comprehensive accountability system in refugee camps. Refugee women are frequently subject to sexual violence and sexual exploitation in the country of refuge, and find themselves without ways of redressing these fundamental rights violations. This article uses the sexual violence and sexual exploitation that was documented in refugee camps in Guinea in 2002 as an illustrative case study of the protection problems faced by refugee women in many parts of the world. The author argues that the host government, UNHCR, and various non-governmental organizations operated together to fulfill state-like functions in long-term refugee camps, but their efforts left accountability, access to justice, and enforcement of women's human rights laws sorely lacking. The movement toward rights based refuge - embraced in varying forms by the aid providers in Guinea - provides a theoretical and practical framework for greater rights recognition, but has not yet delivered a complete response to the specific human rights violations faced by refugee women. If rights-based refuge is to succeed in refugee settings like Guinea, aid providers must make the protection of women's human rights a central concern by instituting a robust, multi-layered system of accountability to which all refugee women have access.
- Refugee women: failing to implement solutions
This report investigates why refugee women face a disproportionate degree of difficulty obtaining and documenting refugee status and describes urgent issues facing refugee women in camps and the legal efforts to address them.
- Reproductive health during conflict and displacement: A guide for programme managers
The manual is designed to complement the Inter-agency field manual by providing a tool that defines how to develop practical and appropriately-focused reproductive health programmes during each phase of conflict and displacementpre-conflict, conflict, stabilization and post-conflict.
- Reproductive Health for Communities in Crisis
Wars or natural disasters deprive people of life-saving reproductive health information and services. This advocacy booklet details UNFPA's work with global partners to respond to the reproductive health needs of refugees and internally displaced persons in crisis situations around the world: providing services to address complications of pregnancy and delivery, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, adolescent health, violence against women, and access to condoms and other contraceptives. Document available in English, Spanish and French.
- Reproductive Health for Conflict-Affected People: Policies, Research and Programmes
This paper aims to equip humanitarian practitioners with essential information for delivering effective reproductive health services to people in crises.
- Right to Survive Sexual Violence, Women & HIV/AIDS, The
This report focuses on the plight of the women in Rwanda, Burundi, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo who have contracted HIV/AIDS as a result of rape during conflict in those countries. The report argues that under international human rights and humanitarian law, these women have the right to reparations for their suffering, including guaranteed access to antiretroviral drugs to fight HIV/AIDS.
- Role of international law in the struggle against sex-based and gender-based violence against refugee women, The
Overview of the role of international law in the struggle against GBV, focusing on these primary questions: - What is international law? - What are the sources of international law? - Is international law binding? - What international legal bodies exist? - What constitutes violence against women? What are the primary legal documents securing the rights of refugee women? - Where can I read more about refugee women's rights? - How can I find other governmental and non-governmental organizations that deal with refugee women?
- Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in War and Its Aftermath: Realities, Responses, and Required Resources
Prepared as a briefing paper for the Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond, this document examines the nature and scope of violence against war-affected women and children, provides an overview of existing programmes and resources to combat it, and ends with an assessment of progress to date and challenges.
- Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict: Global Overview and Implications for the Security Sector
The report demonstrates the horrifying scope and magnitude of sexual violence in armed conflict. It brings to light sexual violence in the world's underreported conflicts, as well as in those countries where it is notoriously commonplace. The Global Overview profiles conflict-related sexual violence in fifty-one countries, throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In the text, the authors propose various ways in which the security and justice sectors can improve or develop strategies to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations. It is a resource for security sector agencies, as well as for policymakers and researchers, civil society groups and humanitarian agencies that work with affected populations and security agencies.
- State-sanctioned sexual violence against Chin women in Burma
The Womens League of Chinland has launched a new report providing further evidence of state-sanctioned rape by the Burmese military regimes troops, and urges India, where the majority of Chin refugees seek asylum, to review their economic and military support of the regime.
- Statute of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
This document describes the general provisions of UNHCR, functions of the High Commissioner, and the organization of the agency's finances.
- Still in Need: Reproductive Health Care for Afghan Refugees in Pakistan
This paper reveals that while isolated efforts have been made to improve the quantity and quality of reproductive health care for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many programs are limited to traditional maternal and child health care services, and the quality of RH care is of significant concern.
- STIs and HIV/AIDS in conflict-affected settings: Identifying gaps
During civil strife and flight, displaced persons have an increased risk of contracting STIs and HIV due to a variety of factors. The disturbance of community and family life among displaced populations may disrupt social norms governing sexual behaviour. As a result, adolescents may begin sexual relations at an earlier age and be exposed to risks, such as having sexual intercourse without using a condom. Proximity to peacekeeping forces, military and police personnel population groups that have long been associated with higher rates of STIs facilitates the spread of HIV in refugee situations.
- Suffering in Silence: A Study of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Pabbo Camp, Gulu District, Northern Uganda
The study examines the nature, causes, and effects of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as current interventions to address the problem, in a camp for internally displaced persons in Uganda.
- Toolkit aimed at combating gender-based violence
This gender-based violence toolkit is aimed at policymakers to address issues of concern, advocate for the protection of women from all forms of violence, reinforce legal mechanisms that will protect women at the national level and end the impunity with which crimes are committed against women. The plan of action focuses on advocacy through public campaigns against gender- based violence to change policy and practice at the local, national and regional level.
- Trafficking in Persons: A Gender and Rights Perspective: Briefing Kit
This briefing kit is an invitation to all practitioners addressing the issue of trafficking in persons to revisit and rethink their efforts from a gender and rights perspective.
- UNHCR policy on refugee women and guidelines on their protection: An assessment of ten years of implementation
This summary reflects UNHCR guidelines regarding physical protection of women, their legal rights, site layout suggestions for refugee camps, issues regarding women's access to food, water and fuel, health care, education and skills training, and economic opportunities. Follow-up, reporting procedures, practical suggestions, and a field worker's checklist for program effectiveness are included.
- Violence against Girls in Africa during Armed Conflicts and Crises
This is a report on a two day conference entitled Violence Against Girls in Africa held in Addis Ababa and hosted by the African Child Policy Forum, a pan-African organization working to promote children's rights. The report addresses the issue of violence against girls in Africa during armed conflicts and crises. Attention is drawn to the many different ways in which girls experience such situations and briefly presents some of the activities carried out by the ICRC to protect and assist them
- Voices from the Field: About Prosecution of Sexualised Violence in an International Context
This report is a summary of a seminar held in Stockholm in October 2003 and shows how women subjected to sexualised violence during conflict are treated as witnesses within international criminal proceedings such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The report highlights womens need to come to terms with the past in order to continue their lives and the importance of bringing those responsible to justice. It concludes with a number of priorities and recommendations directed at authorities, institutions and organisations that come into contact with women who are subjected to sexualised violence during conflict.
- War-Related Sexual Violence in Sierra Leone: A Population-Based Assessment
Sierra Leone's decade-long conflict has been marked by an extraordinary level of brutal human rights abuses, including summary killings, sexual violence against women and girls, abductions, amputations, and the use of child soldiers. The combined effects of prolonged conflict, pervasive human rights abuses, and massive forced migration1 in one of the poorest countries in the world have devastated the health and well-being of the Sierra Leonean people. The daunting process of rebuilding and reconciliation in the aftermath of such destruction requires the establishment of an accurate account of the nature and extent of abuses that have been committed. For this reason PHR, with the support and participation of UNAMSIL, conducted a population-based assessment of the prevalence and impact of sexual violence and other human rights abuses among IDPs in Sierra Leone.
- Women and Conflict: An Introductory Guide for Programming
This introductory guide describes the ways in which conflict and fragility may increase gender inequities and suggests programming approaches that address these issues while building on the strengths of women. With this guide, DCHA/CMM aims to both raise awareness among USAID Mission employees of issues surrounding women and conflict, and to assist USAID by integrating conflict and gender concerns.
- Women and War
The study describes the numerous initiatives that the ICRC has undertaken to ensure and reinforce observance of legal instruments designed to protect women and girls affected by armed conflict.
- Women are the Fabric: Reproductive Health for Communities in Crisis
Women form the backbone of families and communities. When emergencies strike, their important contributions become even more vital. But in times of crisis, the particular strengths an vulnerabilities of women are often overlooked in the rush to provide humanitarian assistance. This booklet describes the ways in which UNFPA works with partners to ensure that the specific needs of women are factored into the planning of all humanitarian assistance and addresses urgent reproductive health needs that are sometimes forgotten. Available in English, French, and Spanish.
- Women Facing War: ICRC Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Women
This ICRC study is an extensive reference document on the impact of armed conflict on the lives of women. Taking as its premise the needs of women, e.g. physical safety, access to health care, food and shelter, in situations of armed conflict, the study explores the problems faced by women in wartime and the coping mechanisms they employ. A thorough analysis of international humanitarian law, and to a lesser extent human rights and refugee law, was carried out as a means to assess the protection afforded to women through these bodies of law. The study also includes a review of the ICRC's operational response to the needs of women as victims of armed conflict. Overview of contents and executive summary.
- Women of the World: Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives (Anglophone Africa)
The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women's equality worldwide by guaranteeing reproductive rights as human rights. Website contains an extensive collection of resources, including fact sheets, books and reports, videos and advocacy guides and tools. Focuses on: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
- Women of the world: Laws and policies affecting their reproductive lives (Francophone Africa)
An in-depth examination of the laws and policies affecting women's reproductive health and rights in seven countries of Francophone Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal.
- Women of the World: Laws and Policies Affecting their Reproductive Lives: East and South East Asia
This text provides an extensive compilation of laws and policies influencing women's reproductive health in five countries of the region: China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, and draws attention to specific issues that require legal and policy reform.
- Women of the world: Laws and policies affecting their reproductive lives: East Central Europe
The report is an extensive examination of laws and policies affecting women's lives in Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Russia. Based on eighteen months of research, the report is a unique collaboration between non-governmental organizations in each of these countries and CRLP. The report concludes that the privatization of the health care system under structural adjustment programs has led to decreased spending on health care and a deterioration in women's ability to control their fertility. Access to comprehensive reproductive health services and basic family planning, such as contraceptives, is extremely limited across the region.
- Women's Health in Crises
- Women's rights to land, property and housing
This article focuses on the Inter-Regional Consultation on Women's Land and Property Rights During Situations of Conflict and Reconstruction hosted by the government of Rwanda in 1998. This is one of the international activities contributing to the increased attention given to women's rights to land, property and housing during conflict and reconstruction.
- Women, Peace and Security (Conflict Trends, Issue 3/2003)
As steps are taken on the African continent to address the difficulties that women face in conflict situations, and to achieve the objective of increasing women's participation in peace processes, awareness needs to be raised on, firstly, why women are particularly at risk and the challenges they face on the continent, and secondly, what achievements have been made to mainstream gender at decision-making levels of sub-regional organizations. This special edition of Conflict Trends, on women, peace and security, seeks to illustrate and analyze these issues and stimulate debate on the African continent regarding the positive contribution that women make on peace and security issues.
- Women, Peace and Security: UNIFEM Supporting Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325
This text brings together UNIFEM's advocacy and action with the strength of women to redefine international frameworks and policies that will ensure that there is global commitment and realization of resolution 1325.
