When humanitarian crises strike, gender-based violence (GBV) often becomes an overshadowed crisis in its own right. Amid the chaos of collapsing systems, mass displacement, and fractured communities are the silenced stories of women and girls enduring unimaginable violence.
Globally, nearly one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. This translates to an estimated 736 million women. This violence can come from an intimate partner or a non-partner and occurs at least once in a woman’s lifetime. During humanitarian crises, this stark statistic becomes even more alarming. Conflict, natural disasters, and mass displacement heighten the risks of GBV. They allow perpetrators to act with impunity. This occurs amidst the collapse of law enforcement systems. According to the UNHCR, these scenarios expose survivors to various threats, including sexual violence as a weapon to destroy social ties, dangers while seeking basic necessities like food and water, and limited access to justice systems or healthcare services.
The repercussions of GBV extend far beyond the immediate aftermath of violence. Its physical, psychological, and sociological impact can linger for decades, creating lasting barriers to recovery for individuals and entire communities. Alarmingly, response efforts during such crises often fail to prioritise the needs of survivors. The challenges range from limited funding and disrupted infrastructure to entrenched stigma that leaves survivors trapped in silence.
Despite these systemic barriers, there is compelling evidence that targeted, strategic interventions can make a profound difference. This article explores five approaches for supporting survivors during humanitarian crises, offering a pathway to justice and recovery.
1. Identifying and Reaching Survivors in Isolated or Dangerous Areas
Addressing GBV in remote or volatile regions presents a significant challenge, as survivors often remain invisible without access to life-saving support. Humanitarian organisations must adopt innovative strategies to reach these individuals. Efforts, such as WHO’s mobile health teams operating in northeast Nigeria, demonstrate the power of on-the-ground intervention. These teams not only provide first-line care but also work to raise community awareness, combat stigma, and encourage reporting.
Technology has emerged as an essential tool in connecting survivors to critical resources. The use of interactive maps, such as those deployed by UNFPA in Jordan, showcases how digital solutions can guide survivors to GBV support services with an emphasis on maintaining their privacy and safety.
2. Creating Survivor-Centred Safe Spaces
Survivor-centred safe spaces are pivotal in helping individuals regain a sense of dignity and rebuild trust. These spaces provide confidential environments where survivors can access professional counselling and essential services delivered with compassion. Training frontline workers to respond effectively to survivors’ needs is equally critical. WHO’s global initiative on the clinical management of rape cases is a prime example of such efforts, equipping over 10,000 professionals with tools to address not just physical trauma but also the psychological scars inflicted by violence.
3. Mobilising Resources and Building Capacity
A major obstacle to meaningful GBV intervention is the persistent resource gap. To support survivors effectively, adequate funding and a skilled workforce are essential. A case study from Afghanistan demonstrates how strategic investment in training police forces, health workers, and community leaders can yield substantial benefits. Initiatives that foster cross-sector partnerships ensure a systemic approach to change and better protection for survivors.
Innovative funding models play a key role in strengthening GBV programmes. Donors and philanthropists can leverage approaches such as pooled funding, direct donor engagement, or performance-based incentives to ensure sustainable initiatives. Mobilising resources at scale and broadening organisational capacity are fundamental to overcoming the financial challenges of GBV prevention.
4. Engaging Communities to Reduce Stigma
Community engagement is critical to reducing stigma and fostering an environment where survivors feel safe seeking help. Changing societal norms is a long-term challenge, but impactful strategies have emerged. Collaborations with religious leaders, like those initiated by UNFPA in Sudan, demonstrate how culturally sensitive approaches can educate communities about women’s rights. These efforts not only reduce stigma but also increase communal accountability.
Empowering youth as advocates for change offers another effective avenue. Programmes in conflict-affected Kyrgyzstan have enlisted youth networks to challenge entrenched gender stereotypes and promote prevention efforts. By equipping younger generations with the tools and knowledge to break cycles of violence, organisations can foster long-lasting cultural transformations.
5. Integrating GBV Response into Holistic Humanitarian Aid
Integrating GBV response measures into holistic humanitarian aid ensures that gender-based violence is not sidelined as a niche issue. Interventions addressing essential services like food security, healthcare, and shelter should incorporate measures for mitigating GBV risks. Cross-sector collaboration is essential, as meaningful impact can only be achieved through clear operating procedures and inter-agency coordination. At the same time, comprehensive data collection is crucial for guiding these interventions. Tools such as the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) allow organisations to track needs and outcomes effectively.
Policy Gaps and Where We Go from Here
Despite notable progress in developing tools and resources to combat GBV, significant gaps remain in legal frameworks and policies. Governments and policymakers must prioritise ratifying and enforcing international agreements on GBV prevention. Women’s representation in decision-making processes is critical to crafting gender-sensitive policies, while accountability mechanisms must be established to prosecute perpetrators during crises.
Policy reform, however, must not stand alone. It must be implemented alongside culturally nuanced and community-specific execution strategies to ensure its effectiveness. Survivors need systems designed to protect, empower, and heal—an ambition that requires the active engagement and collaboration of governments, NGOs, and local communities.
Collective Responsibility
Addressing gender-based violence during humanitarian crises is not the responsibility of a single entity. It is a collective obligation spanning governments, donors, NGOs, and communities alike. The complexities of humanitarian crises, exacerbated by armed conflicts, displacement, and social upheaval, require a multifaceted approach. For every survivor silenced by stigma and every community still bound by cultural inertia, pragmatic solutions exist to ensure justice and dignity.
Humanitarian crises are the ultimate test of our collective humanity. In these moments of deep vulnerability, the urgency to confront gender-based violence (GBV) within these settings heightens. It extends beyond mere intervention; it is about enacting systemic transformation that reshapes societal attitudes towards gender roles and violence. Society must recognise that the safety and dignity of individuals, particularly women and marginalized groups, are paramount during such tumultuous times.
To stand with survivors means not only acknowledging their pain but also equipping them with the necessary tools to reclaim their lives. This involves providing access to legal recourse, mental health support, and economic opportunities, allowing them to regain agency over their futures. Furthermore, empowering entire communities to move forward, unshackled by violence, requires grassroots engagement that fosters a culture of respect and equality.
This transformative work must be approached holistically. It involves education and awareness campaigns that challenge and change harmful norms, as well as partnerships with local organizations that understand the unique dynamics within their communities. Sustained engagement, support, and investment are essential to breaking the cycle of violence and rebuilding trust.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a world where living free of violence is not a privilege but a fundamental human right. By coming together to tackle gender-based violence in humanitarian crises, we can pave the way for resilient communities that thrive despite adversity, nurturing an environment where every person can live with dignity and safety.
The time to act is now. Together, we can make a difference.
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