On May 20, 2010, Dr. Lynn Lawry of the U.S. Department of Defense’s International Health Division presented and discussed her original and unique methodology for measuring gender-based violence prevalence (GBV) and health services available in conflict areas. She also presented her new data on the DRC. The brown bag lunch event was hosted by the GBV Task Force of the Interagency Gender Working Group and held at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, DC.

Dr. Lawry and her team have conducted the first population-based study that assesses all forms of GBV and human rights abuses. They also looked at the prevalence, circumstances, and characteristics of perpetrators, as well as the scope of physical and mental health impacts of sexual and other GBV on individuals, families, and communities. One of Dr. Lawry’s main goals in collecting this information was to inform responsible and attentive policy toward a deeply important conflict-affected region. To this purpose, the study measured a range of health and human rights indicators selected by stakeholders. Dr. Lawry and her team collected both quantitative and qualitative data through several approaches, including one-on-one, anonymous interviews of both male and female adults in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri. Other study methods included focus groups, facilities assessments, key informant interviews, observations, village teas with leaders or communities, and the use of secondary indicators to identify GBV. Some of the factors they observed were morbidity, combatant status, and types of sexual violence and/or human rights violations experienced by study respondents.

Dr. Lawry and her team collected their data in February and March 2010. The data was embargoed pending publication of a journal article this year.