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Health Sector Response to Gender Based Violence - Standard Operating Procedures for First Contact Point Health Care Providers - Sri Lanka

Ministry of Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine (2019) CC

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency working to further gender equality and women’s empowerment in Sri Lanka. We are pleased to be a part of the joint effort with the Ministry of Health to develop the first ‘Standard Operating Procedures on ... more

How to support survivors of gender-based violence when a GBV actor is not available in your area

Inter-Agency Standing Committee (2023) CC

KEY MESSAGES Always talk to a GBV specialist first to understand what GBV services are available in your area. Some services may take the form of hotlines, a mobile app or other remote support. Be aware of any other available services in your area. Identify services provided by humanitarian pa ... rtners such as health, psychosocial support, shelter and non-food items. Consider services provided by communities such as mosques/ churches, women’s groups and Disability Service Organizations. Remember your role. Provide a listening ear, free of judgment. Provide accurate, up-to-date information on available services. Let the survivor make their own choices. Know what you can and cannot manage. Even without a GBV actor in your area, there may be other partners, such as a child protection or mental health specialist, who can support survivors that require additional attention and support. Ask the survivor for permission before connecting them to anyone else. Do not force the survivor if s/he says no. Do not proactively identify or seek out GBV survivors. Be available in case someone asks for support. Remember your mandate. All humanitarian practitioners are mandated to provide non-judgmental and non-discriminatory support to people in need regardless of: gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability status, age, ethnicity/tribe/race/religion, who perpetrated/committed violence, and the situation in which violence was committed. Use a survivor-centered approach by practicing: Respect: all actions you take are guided by respect for the survivor’s choices, wishes, rights and dignity. Safety: the safety of the survivor is the number one priority. Confidentiality: people have the right to choose to whom they will or will not tell their story. Maintaining confidentiality means not sharing any information to anyone. Non-discrimination: providing equal and fair treatment to anyone in need of support. If health services exist, always provide information on what is available. Share what you know, and most importantly explain what you do not. Let the survivor decide if s/he wants to access them. Receiving quality medical care within 72 hours can prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and within 120 hours can prevent unwanted pregnancy. Provide the opportunity for people with disabilities to communicate to you without the presence of their caregiver, if wished and does not endanger or create tension in that relationship. If a man or boy is raped it does not mean he is gay or bisexual. Gender-based violence is based on power, not someone’s sexuality. Sexual and gender minorities are often at increased risk of harm and violence due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Actively listen and seek to support all survivors. Anyone can commit an act of gender-based violence including a spouse, intimate partner, family member, caregiver, in-law, stranger, parent or someone who is exchanging money or goods for a sexual act. Anyone can be a survivor of gender-based violence – this includes, but isn’t limited to, people who are married, elderly individuals or people who engage in sex work. Protect the identity and safety of a survivor. Do not write down, take pictures or verbally share any personal/identifying information about a survivor or their experience, including with your supervisor. Put phones and computers away to avoid concern that a survivor’s voice is being recorded. Personal/identifying information includes the survivor’s name, perpetrator(s) name, date of birth, registration number, home address, work address, location where their children go to school, the exact time and place the incident took place etc. Share general, non-identifying information To your team or sector partners in an effort to make your program safer. To your support network when seeking self-care and encouragement. more

Building Capacity for Disability Inclusion in Gender-based Violence (GBV) Programming in Humanitarian Settings
recommended

Leora Ward, Emma Pearce, Dale Buscher et al. Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) and The International Rescue Committee (IRC) (2015) C1

Women and girls with mental and intellectual disabilities were perceived to be most at risk of sexual violence, and family and service providers may only become aware of sexual violence against them ... more

Mental Health Toolkit
recommended

Evangelia Kampouri, Shyma Jundi, Nida Sheriff et al. Chayn (2015) C2

While working with survivors and victims of domestic abuse, we have learned that many people who have experienced abuse or trauma in their lives also experience mental health issues as a direct eff ... more

No Escape from Hell

Human Rights Watch (2019) C2

EU Policies Contribute to Abuse of Migrants in Libya This report documents severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, malnutrition, and lack of adequate health care. Human Rights Watch found violent abus ... more

Family Planning

IPPF ESEAOR, UNFPA (2008)

Training On The Misp For Sexual And Reproductive Health In Crisis Part 2

The Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020

UNICEF WHO (2020) C_WHO

As this report shows, reports of child abuse and of children witnessing violence between their parents and caregivers have increased. Ending violence against children is increasingly within our reach. D

Modelling the health impacts of disruptions to essential health services during COVID-19

UN Children's Fund UNICEF; Umited Nations Popuilation Fund UNFPA; World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

- Module 1: Understanding modelling approaches for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, and nutrition Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a wide range of documented effects. It directly causes death and disabili ... more

Brief sexuality-related communication: Recommendations for a public health approach

Tamara Adrián-Hernandez,Elham Atalla, George Ayala et al. World Health Organization (WHO) (2015)

This guideline provides health policy-makers and decision-makers in health professional training institutions with advice on the rationale for health-care providers’ use of counselling skills to address sexual health concerns in a primary health c ... more

Rapid Assessment Guide for Psychosocial Support and Violence Prevention in Emergencies and Recovery
recommended

IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross Red Cresent Societies (2015) C3

This guide provides standards and directions on how to carry out rapid needs assessment for Psychosocial Support (PSS) and Violence Prevention (VP) initiatives including child protection and sexual and gender-based violence. In particular, this rapi ... more

It’s About More than Just Sex

USAID; PTAM UYWG; FHI FHI (2013)

Curricula and Educational Materials to Help Young People Achieve Better Sexual and Reproductive Health

WHO recommends social network-based HIV testing approaches for key populations as part of partner services package. Policy brief

World Health Organization WHO (2019) C_WHO

Social network-based HIV testing is an approach for engaging sexual and drug injecting partners and social contacts of key population members with HIV and of those who are HIV-negative and at ongoing risk in voluntary HTS. By addressing people’ ... more

A child is a child

UNICEF (2017) CC

Protecting children on the move from violence, abuse and exploitation

Trauma and Treatment in Early Childhood: A Review of the Historical and Emerging Literature for Counselors

Buss, K.E., Warren, J.M. & Horton, E. The Professional Counselor (TPC) (2015) C1

Young children are especially susceptible to exposure to trauma. Rates of abuse and neglect among this population are staggering. This article presents a review of relevant literature, including research findings specific to early childhood vulnerab ... more

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children

Lubit, R.H. & Giardino, E.R. Medscape (2016) C1

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents occurs as a result of a child’s exposure to one or more traumatic events: actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. The victim may experience the event, witness ... more

Understanding and Addressing Trauma and Child Sex Trafficking

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) (2017) C2

Child sex trafficking is a severe form of trauma exposure that has significant immediate and long-term consequences for survivors. According to the United Nations International Labor Organization, in 2016 more than 1 million children worldwide were victims of commercial ... more

The War in Catatumbo

Human Rights Watch (2019) C1

Abuses by ArmThis report is based on research in Catatumbo in April 2019. We interviewed more than 80 people, including abuse victims, their relatives, community leaders, church representatives, human rights officials, local authorities, judicial of ... more

Adolescent boys and young men: Engaging Them as supporters of gender Equality and health and understanding their Vulnerabilities

Kato-Wallace, J.; Barker, G.; Sharafi, L. et al. PROMUNDO-US, UNFPA (2016) C1

This study of Adolescent Boys and Young Men highlights the importance of engaging adolescent boys and young men in sexual and reproductive health and rights (srhr) and gender equality. This paper establishes a conceptual framework for engaging adol ... more