Violence against Women (VAW)
Justice in DRC: Mobile Courts Combat Rape and Impunity in Eastern Congo
Open Society Justice Initiative, June 2012
The eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been called the worst areas in the world to be a woman or child. For the past 15 years, women and girls in the region have suffered mass sexual violence on an unimaginable scale, perpetrated by the Congolese army, rebels, militias, and others. Impunity has been the rule, and simply finding courtrooms and judges is next to impossible beyond the provincial capitals. In response, the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) have supported the creation of mobile gender courts able to properly try rape cases. The courts have brought a measure of justice—and dignity—to victims and demonstrate that, with modest support, local institutions can respond even under the most challenging circumstances.
Managing Gender-based Violence Programmes in Emergencies
UNFPA, 2012
This is a companion guide to UNFPA’s free e-learning course for professionals who are working to address gender based violence in humanitarian contexts. The e-learning course uses problems that practitioners currently face and case scenarios from real-life humanitarian contexts to guide learning. Integrated throughout the modules are videos, learning activities and quizzes that both engage the learner, and support participants’ varying learning styles. The guide not only covers all of the content in the e-learning, but also provides new case studies, sample tools, best practices, and activities.
Guidance note - Gender-based violence and livelihood interventions : Focus on populations of humanitarian concern in the context of HIV and AIDS
FAO, 2010 (with input from Dimitra)
This Guidance Note provides an overview of the complex interactions between GBV, HIV and AIDS and rural livelihoods, based on the available literature and findings from FAO field studies in Kenya and Uganda. The studies, conducted in humanitarian settings, focused mainly on the relationships between these issues, and on identifying the appropriate livelihood strategies to mitigate and prevent GBV, and strengthen people’s resilience.
It also gives information on how to make livelihood interventions in the agricultural sector relevant to the realities of GBV and commercial sex, and thus enhance the effectiveness of the programmatic response to both food and livelihoods insecurity and GBV, in the context of humanitarian crises and HIV.
Download the document (34 pages, 
2.2 MB)
Her Stories
ActionAid, April 2010
Eliminating violence against women is inseparable from achieving equality for women. One in three women will be raped, beaten, coerced into sex or abused in her lifetime - and in conflicts, the situation is exacerbated. In this report, African women tell remarkable accounts of how they have overcome violence and discrimination in appalling circumstances. The women, from Burundi, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have all taken part in ActionAid’s project, aimed at reducing violence against women and have been provided with legal, psychosocial support, livelihoods training and lobbying advice.
Reporting Gender-based Violence. A Handbook for Journalists
IPS Africa, December 2009
IPS Africa has launched a new handbook for reporters to support sustained media coverage of gender-based violence beyond 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children. The toolkit is published as part of IPS’ Communicating for Change: Getting Voice, Visibility and Impact for Gender Equality programme funded by the Dutch government’s MDG3 Fund. It looks at various issues related to gender-based violence including religious and harmful traditional practices, domestic violence, sexual violence, femicide, sex work and trafficking, sexual harassment, armed conflicts, HIV and AIDS, child abuse, the role of men, the criminal justice system, as well as the costs of gender-based violence. Reporters are guided by real stories illustrating how these issues and trends are treated editorially, tip boxes, discussion points, fact checks and additional resources.
Together we must… End violence against women and girls and HIV & AIDS
A review of promising practices in addressing the intersection
UNIFEM & ActionAid, November 2009
Together We Must! represents an initial effort to draw attention to the knowledge, institutional capacity and resources needed to comprehensively address the intersection between HIV & AIDS and VAWG. The aim is to stimulate debate and collaboration among practitioners and advocates around how to identify and promote effective prevention policies and practices that can be adapted to various contexts. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) and HIV & AIDS are mutually reinforcing pandemics; the need and the opportunity for integrated approaches addressing their intersection are increasingly evident. To date, however, such strategies have not been implemented on a widespread scale. Advocates and communities working on HIV & AIDS and VAWG are just beginning to come together to explore common strategies.
Peril or Protection: The Link between Livelihoods and Gender-based Violence in Displacement Settings
Women’s Refugee Commission, 2009
When women are displaced due to conflict or human rights abuses, they adopt new strategies to provide for themselves and their families. These new strategies often place them at risk for gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual exploitation and abuse, rape and domestic violence. Without safe economic opportunities, displaced women employ strategies such as prostitution, trading sex for food and leaving the relative safety of refugee camps to collect firewood to cook with or to sell. The Women’s Refugee Commission undertook research to determine whether programs set up to provide women with safe, alternative livelihoods do in fact reduce their risk of exposure to violence. This report combines findings from three field missions to refugee settings; a pilot project in Burundi providing refugees with increased access to economic resources through village savings and loan associations; and desk research and interviews targeting promising examples of economic empowerment interventions that increase women’s safety.
Refugee Girls: The Invisible Faces of War
Women’s Refugee Commission, 2009
Girls are rarely featured in the coverage of armed conflict. Given their invisibility, one might assume that girls are somehow spared involvement in war. Yet, not only are girls commonly targeted in armed conflict, in many ways their lives are more profoundly affected by it than other groups. However, their special needs are frequently overlooked or ignored. More than 140 million girls live in fragile states affected by armed conflict. Of the 42 million people who have had to flee their homes because of war, 80 percent are women, children and young people. At least 10 million are estimated to be girls and young women.
Soldiers Who Rape, Commanders Who Condone: Sexual Violence and Military Reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo
HRW, July 2009
This report documents persistent sexual violence by the army, and the limited impact of government and donor efforts to address the problem. It looks closely at the conduct of the army's 14th brigade as an example of the wider problem of sexual violence by soldiers. The brigade has been implicated in many acts of sexual violence in North and South Kivu provinces, often in the context of massive looting and other attacks on civilians. Despite ample information about the situation, military, political, and judicial authorities have failed to take decisive action to prevent rape.
Global Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
UNFPA, 2009
This publication contains rich research findings concerning global trends and the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting and its linkages with maternal and newborn health. It describes changing patterns and practices, including medicalization, and analyzes the threat FGM/C poses to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals as well as its economic and health costs. It identifies important lessons and discusses in detail case studies as well as the application of theories as a basis for accelerating the abandonment process. It also addresses the needs for closing gaps in law enforcement, building capacity, mobilizing resources and building global partnerships. This extensive knowledge - which was shared by research institutions, foundations, lawyers, medical professionals, religious scholars, development partners and NGOs - would be difficult to find elsewhere.
Addressing Gender-based Violence - UNFPA Strategy and Framework for Action
UNFPA, 2009
This publication identifies priority areas for intensified action on gender-based violence: policy frameworks, data collection and analysis, focus on sexual and reproductive health, humanitarian responses, adolescents and youth, men and boys, faith-based networks, and vulnerable and marginalized populations. It is intended to provide a common platform and technical guidance for UNFPA at country, regional and global levels and effectively guide capacity-development initiatives, resources and partnerships. The strategy also outlines UNFPA's comparative advantages, experience and leadership potential within the context of United Nations reform, and suggests opportunities for improving the efficacy of its programme implementation and technical support.
Programming to Address Violence Against Women – 8 case studies, volume 2
UNFPA, 2008
This is the second volume in a series that documents best practices in preventing and responding to violence against women. These eight case studies feature initiatives from Algeria, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, implemented by governments and other partners with support from UNFPA. They can inform efforts on ending violence against women, which is both a human rights violation and a public health concern.
Democratic Republic of Congo: North Kivu: No end to war on women and children
Amnesty International, September 2008
Months after a peace agreement to end conflict in North Kivu province, civilians are still being killed, raped, abducted and tortured by armed group and government forces. Amnesty International has found evidence that armed groups have continued to commit crimes, including unlawful killings, rape, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Government security forces have also unlawfully detained and ill-treated children, and continue to sexually abuse women and girls. Amnesty International is urging the DRC government and armed groups to renew their commitment to upholding international human rights and humanitarian law.
Justice for Women: Seeking Accountability for Sexual Crimes in Post-Conflict Situations
FRIDE, July 2008
The systematic use of extreme violence, in particular sexual violence, in conflict and post-conflict situations raises the pressing question of how to end the cycle of impunity. Although the priority is for national justice systems to bring the perpetrators of massive human rights abuses in their territories to account, it has been amply demonstrated that this is not always a practical answer.
Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender - Issue 3-2008: Gender Violence, HIV and AIDS
KIT, 2008
This issue of Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender addresses the link between HIV and AIDS and violence against women. Violence, which is experienced by many women in their lives, increases their vulnerability to HIV in many ways. Rape can contribute to HIV transmission due to tears and lacerations resulting from the use of force whereas violence can prevent women from negotiating safer sex and accessing treatment. On the other hand, fear of violence prevents women from learning and/or disclosing their status especially if they are HIV-positive.
From Invisible to Indivisible: Promoting and Protecting the Right of the Girl Child to Be Free from Violence
UNICEF, April 2008
The UN Study on Violence against Children explores a range of factors that make children more vulnerable to violence and suggests strategies for ending violence against children. As part of this analysis the study recognises that virtually all forms of violence are linked to entrenched gender roles and inequalities, and that the violation of the rights of children is closely linked to the status of women. Violence against children has incalculable costs to present and future generations, and it undermines human development.
Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender - Issue 1-2008: Harmful traditional practices
KIT, 2008
This issue pays particular attention to the links between harmful traditional practices and HIV. It contains articles on female genital mutilation, early marriage in Ethiopia and widow inheritance in Uganda. Other articles: Defending the sexual and reproductive health rights of women affected by HIV in Argentina; Addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people in the informal sector in Mali; Between tradition and modernity: Controversy in India about the sex education programme in state-run schools.
Hidden in the Mealie Meal: Gender-Based Abuses and Women's HIV Treatment in Zambia
Human Rights Watch, December 2007
Zambia is one of many countries setting ambitious targets for rapidly scaling up antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS and is making impressive progress. It is addressing a range of obstacles to treatment and receiving substantial donor support to overcome them. However, women’s unequal status in Zambian society gravely undermines their ability to access and adhere to antiretroviral treatment (ART), and the government is paying little if any attention to the gender dimension of treatment, especially the impact of entrenched discrimination and gender-based violence and abuse.
Doubly Traumatised: The lack of access to justice by women victims of sexual and gender-based violence in northern Uganda
Amnesty International, November 2007
The Uganda government is failing in its international and domestic legal obligations relating to the protection of women and girls, and their right to access justice in northern Uganda. Amnesty International is strongly concerned that despite the cessation of hostilities in the conflict in northern Uganda, the incidence of violence against women and girls remains high. The organisation is further concerned that because of many insurmountable challenges and practices in the legal system, there is a culture of entrenched impunity for violence against women.
Gender-Based Violence
Oxfam UK, September 2007
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. This collection of articles will be useful to development and humanitarian practitioners, policy makers, and academics, including both gender specialists and non-gender specialists alike.
Côte d'Ivoire: Women and girls forgotten victims of conflict
AI, March 2007
In this report, Amnesty International (AI) reveals the horrifying extent of sexual violence against women and girls taking place in the context of the current conflict in Cote d'Ivoire, saying that the scale and brutal nature of the attacks are vastly underestimated. AI said that many women and girls are the victims of gang rape or are abducted and forced into sexual slavery by fighters. Rape is often accompanied by beatings and torture – often committed in public and in front of family members. Some women have even been raped next to the corpses of family members.
The Shame of War: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Conflict
OCHA/IRIN, March 2007
This 137-page reference book and photo essay of portraits and testimonies of the sexual violence women suffer when men go to war has been launched by IRIN. It examines the scope and nature of this violence and looks at the different ways the international community is addressing sexual violence against women and girls during and after conflict. This is IRIN's second publication on gender-based violence.
Let's End Violence against Women (Video)
Leo Burnett, UNIFEM, 2007
With a striking series of images, this public service announcement reveals that violence against women is one of the most common forms of violence in the world.
Ending Violence Against Women. Programming for Prevention, Protection and Care
UNFPA, 2007
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.
Sexual violence: weapon of war, impediment to peace
Forced Migration Review (FMR) 27, Refugee Studies Centre & UNFPA, January 2007
FMR 27 explores the challenges and opportunities for combating sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict and development recovery contexts. Produced in partnership with UNFPA, it builds on momentum generated by the June 2006 International Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond jointly convened by UNFPA, the EC and the Government of Belgium. Practice-oriented submissions from 40 specialists from a wide range of humanitarian agencies highlight key issues and challenges, best practices, innovative programmes and recommendations.
What happened to the women? Gender and reparations for human rights violations
SSRC, December 2006
This online book chronicles human rights violations against women in the context of violent conflict, with a focus on what these crimes mean to the women themselves and what happens in their aftermath. A key subject covered in the book is that of reparations to women who have suffered, and a consideration of how these procedures can take into account the particular nature of violations suffered by women, while contributing to increasing women's status as equal citizens.
Abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: An In-Depth Look at Promising Practices
PRB, December 2006
This publication presents an in-depth look at three promising interventions identified through collaboration by five organizations: the Population Reference Bureau (PBR), Family Health International, PATH, Population Council, and The Manoff Group. Its objective is to meet the primary information need identified by hundreds of organisations and individuals working toward the abandonment of FGM/C: information on case studies that illustrate what is working and why.
In-depth study on all forms of violence against women. Report of the UN Secretary-General
UNDAW, October 2006
In-depth study on all forms of violence against women, providing: statistical overview on all forms of VAW; causes of VAW; medium and long-term consequences of VAW; health, social and economic costs of VAW; best practice examples for combating and eliminating VAW. The study also proposes action-oriented recommendations, including on effective remedies and prevention and rehabilitation measures.
Zero tolerance: stop the violence against women and children, stop HIV/AIDS
Global AIDS Alliance, August 2006
This document describes a framework for a comprehensive response to violence against women and children, including the resources that would be needed, political and financial, for full implementation. It discusses the various arenas and circumstances in which women and children are vulnerable to violence and to infection with HIV, using direct quotes and case studies of women and children's experiences. It then discusses effective strategies and programmes that are needed to address violence in each situation, illustrating with case studies.
Good Practices in Combating and Eliminating Violence Against Women
UNDAW, May 2005
This report gives a global picture of VAW, highlights best practice and lays out recommendations in the areas of law, prevention and provision of services.
Abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Information From Around the World
Population Reference Bureau and Partners, 2005
This CD-ROM, in English and French, is a collection of data and research on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) from a wide variety of sources. This resource is a direct response to the findings of a 2004 survey in which respondents said that serious information gaps on FGM/C exist. The CD-ROM fills some of these information gaps, particularly where the Internet is an expensive and unreliable method of research, by including material on various approaches used by organizations working toward abandonment of FGM/C, as well as on statistics, training efforts, and policy aspects. This resource is being disseminated to various NGOs and individuals worldwide.
Researching Violence Against Women – A Practical Guide for Researchers and Activists
WHO / PATH, 2005
This manual draws on the collective experiences and insights of many individuals, and in particular from the implementation of the WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women in over 10 countries. The manual has been developed in response to the growing need to improve the quality, quantity, and comparability of international data on physical and sexual abuse. It outlines some of the methodological and ethical challenges of conducting research on VAW and describes a range of innovative techniques.
Democratic Republic of Congo: North Kivu: No end to war on women and children
Amnesty International, Sept 2008
Months after a peace agreement to end conflict in North Kivu province, civilians are still being killed, raped, abducted and tortured by armed group and government forces. Amnesty International has found evidence that armed groups have continued to commit crimes, including unlawful killings, rape, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Government security forces have also unlawfully detained and ill-treated children, and continue to sexually abuse women and girls. Amnesty International is urging the DRC government and armed groups to renew their commitment to upholding international human rights and humanitarian law.
