Gender-based violence (GBV) can pervade the entire life cycle of a woman—beginning with selective abortion of a female fetus to female genital cutting to domestic partner violence. GBV is usually perpetrated by men against women and girls, and it can take many forms: sexual abuse, physical violence, emotional or psychological abuse, verbal abuse, or beatings during pregnancy. GBV jeopardizes a women's health and well-being and detracts from her reproductive health.
Reproductive health professionals—many times among the first outsiders to whom women will reveal violent circumstances at home—often do not recognize, do not ask about, or do not know how to address instances of violence. The reproductive health field is attempting to respond to this need with efforts that include sensitizing and training of health workers, developing referral networks, and helping both women and men develop negotiating skills.
Key themes of interest to the IGWG:
- Responses by RH services to GBV.
- GBV and socialization of boys and girls.
- Vulnerable populations and GBV: refugees, displaced persons, trafficked girls and women.
- Female genital cutting.
Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
This presentation was given by Dr. Lynn Lawry of the U.S. Department of Defense’s International Health Division on her original and unique methodology for measuring gender-based violence prevalence (GBV) and health services available in conflict areas in May 2010. Dr. Lawry and her team have conducted the first population-based study that assesses all forms of GBV and human rights abuses. 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 was held at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, DC.
The Crucial Role of Health Services in Responding to Gender-Based Violence (PDF: 360KB)
Reports are beginning to emerge on successful responses to gender-based violence within health systems. This policy brief examines why health services should address gender-based violence and highlights examples of health programs that have incorporated responses to violence into their work. (August 2010)
Gender-Based Violence: Impediment to Reproductive Health (PDF: 373KB)
This two-page brief succinctly answers the question “Why IS GBV Relevant to Reproductive Health?” Produced for the IGWG by Population Reference Bureau and funded by USAID, the brief outlines the sheer magnitude of GBV and its impacts on many reproductive health outcomes, including unintended pregnancy, maternal and child impacts, and STIs/HIV. It is a valuable resource in making the case quickly for policymakers everywhere. (June 2010)
Addressing Gender-Based Violence Through USAID’s Health Programs: A Guide for Health Sector Program Officers (Second Edition) (PDF: 956KB)
This new revision of the 2006 guide, prepared by the POLICY project, complements the literature review undertaken for the IGWG by Alessandra Guedes and is intended to help USAID program officers integrate gender-based violence (GBV) initiatives into their health sector portfolio during project design, implementation, and evaluation (September 2008). Available also in French (PDF: 948KB) and Spanish (PDF: 936KB).
Violence Against Women and Girls: A Compendium of Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators (PDF: 740KB)
This publication, developed for the USAID East Africa Regional Mission and the IGWG by MEASURE Evaluation, focuses on VAW/G program monitoring and evaluation. Leading experts from around the world who work in the various fields of VAW/G were consulted during all stages of the development process. See also, a powerpoint presented by Shelah Bloom titled Violence Against Women and Girls: A Compendium of Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators (PPT: 280KB) at the IGWG seminar in recognition of the 2008 16 Days of Activism Against GBV.
Melanesia Launch: A Blueprint for Responses to Violence Against Women
In April 2009, the GBV Task Force of the IGWG presented the launch of a report on “Violence against Women in Melanesia and East Timor: Building on Global and Regional Promising Practices,” including lessons on what works in preventing and addressing VAW. Speakers included two of the authors, Mary Ellsberg and Christine Bradley, as well as a representative of the Embassy of Australia. Materials on this event and report are included.
Monitoring and Evaluating Gender-Based Violence
In recognition of the 2008 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign, the Gender-Based Violence Task Force of the IGWG presented a half-day seminar on November 25, 2008, at the National Press Club. Entitled “Monitoring and Evaluation of Gender-Based Violence: Methodologies and Field Implications,” this technical update provided timely reports on approaches, indicators, and applications in GBV M&E, with special presentations by Charlotte Watts of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Shelah Bloom of Measure Evaluation; and Margaret Greene of ICRW. Notes on their presentations, powerpoints, the agenda, and participants list are included.
A Plenary on Gender-Based Violence
On Nov. 6, 2008, the members of the IGWG Task Force on Gender-Based Violence held its second plenary meeting, where more than 50 participants shared information on existing programs and tools and presented suggestions for future activities on GBV. The first plenary meeting was held in February 2007 and the priorities outlined then have shaped the work of the IGWG, resulting in new products, exciting speakers, and sharing of knowledge. Agenda, participants list, rapporteur minutes, and descriptions of five ongoing interventions and materials that were presented are included.
Femicide: What Is It and Why Isn't Anyone Talking About It?
In April 2008 the IGWG, USAID, WHO, Intercambios, the Medical Research Council, PATH, and PRB sponsored a panel discussion on femicide—the murder of women by men, especially by intimate partners. The event featured experts from around the world, who spoke on identifying and understanding femicide in its various forms, its prevalence, and its relationship to international development and reproductive health. See also PATH’s report, Strengthening Understanding of Femicide: Using Research to Galvanize Action and Accountability.
Women Prevail Against Violence
The Interagency Gender Working Group hosted a presentation of "SASA! A Film About Women, Violence and HIV/AIDS" in 2007. This powerful film tells the story of how two courageous women triumphed over gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS and gained power that helped them organize, become activists in their communities, and build meaningful and rewarding lives.
Promising Practices in Monitoring and Evaluation of Gender-Based Violence
The IGWG Task Force on Gender-Based Violence presented a half-day technical meeting on successes and challenges in monitoring and evaluation of gender-based violence. Organized by PATH and the Population Reference Bureau, co-chairs of the task force, the event was held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in November 2007. Presentations were made on some recently evaluated interventions, including Stepping Stones, Sexto Sentido, and Liverpool VCT.
Addressing Physical and Mental Health Consequences
In 2007 Charlotte Watts, co-author of "Stolen Smiles: A Summary Report on the Physical and Psychological Health Consequences of Women and Adolescents Trafficked in Europe," spoke at a brown bag of the IGWG Gender-Based Violence Task Force on the health consequences of trafficking and what could be done to help women recover.
GBV Regional Workshop in Uganda (PDF: 1MB)
Strengthening regional work on gender-based violence was the topic of a regional meeting held in Kampala, Uganda in November 2006. More than 100 community activists, advocates, researchers, service providers, health care professionals and practitioners from 15 countries shared innovative interventions, unexpected challenges and lessons learned from their collective experiences in the field. The meeting was a collaborative initiative of PATH, the IGWG, Raising Voices, the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Network, and the East Africa Regional Office of USAID. This is the synthesis report, Strengthening Regional Work on Gender-Based Violence, on the workshops, presentations and discussions.
Gender-Based Violence: 16 Days of Activism
From November 25, 2006 to December 10, 2006, the IGWG and USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health hosted a number of activities commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, in Washington, DC. The presentations addressed various aspects of gender-based violence, including a gender-based violence advocacy toolkit demonstration; the Demographic and Health Surveys and domestic violence; GBV in humanitarian settings and in emergency settings; and the role of young men in reducing gender violence.
Gender Based-Violence Second Technical Update
The second IGWG Technical Update on Gender-Based Violence was held in Washington, DC on November 30, 2005. Attended by more than 100 representatives of NGOs, government agencies, and funders, the day-long seminar focused on lessons learned and impact of interventions that address GBV from a reproductive health perspective. Featured speakers included Dr. Kent Hill, Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Global Health, as well as representatives of global interventions in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Gender-Based Violence and Reproductive Health, December 2004
This special issue of the journal International Family Planning Perspectives, published by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, is devoted to an examination of the reproductive health consequences of gender-based violence and presents reports from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It provides new evidence that these women not only sustain physical injuries, they are more likely than other women to have unintended pregnancies, report symptoms of reproductive tract infections and have multiple partners, and less likely to use condoms and other contraceptives.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence from the Reproductive Health/HIV Sector: A Literature Review and Analysis (PDF: 580KB)
This report, commissioned by the IGWG, provides a literature review and analysis to USAID's Bureau for Global Health on programs in developing countries that have addressed or challenged gender-based violence with a link to the reproductive health/HIV sectors. (May 2004)
GBV Technical Update, May 2002: The Technical Update, co-sponsored with the Center for Health and Gender Equity (Change), was a day-long meeting attended by 130 FP/RH/HIV program managers, policy makers, service providers, and trainers. The conference explored ways of integrating GBV into RH/HIV programs, in the areas of behavior change communications (BCC), community participation and mobilization, and service delivery.
Gender-Based Violence in Armed Conflict Areas, January 2003: a presentation given at USAID by Beth Vann and Jean Ward of Reproductive Health for Refugees Consortium. The presentation was attended by USAID, CA, and NGO staff, and focused on the challenges for providing reproductive health services in refugee settings, as well as assessing and addressing GBV among refugee populations.
Addressing HIV Risk through Violence Prevention: A Community-based violence prevention program targeting young men, women and couples in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: This activity is implemented by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (with Horizons, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, and African Medical and Research Foundation). This project is testing and evaluating an indigenous community-based drama intervention to reduce violence and HIV risk behaviors among youth in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Drama-based communication will challenge norms regarding violence, gender, and sexual behavior, and provide peer support for male youth (small group discussions) to promote health sexual relationships to reduce HIV risk behaviors among young men, women, and couples.
Reducing Gender-based Violence in Western Kenya: The goal of this project, implemented by EngenderHealth with the AMKENI Project, is to increase community awareness of GBV as a way to improve effective family relationships, reduce rates of STIs, and improve RH. Through community involvement, drama, and discussions, the project will stimulate rethinking of roles and behaviors that contribute to a culture of violence, and generate community-led GBV interventions in Western Kenya.
Development of a new training module on GBV, RH and HIV, which will be offered to missions, CAs, and other interested organizations within the IGWG's training portfolio.
Best Practices to Reduce GBV. The IGWG will support USAID/Jamaica and the University of the West Indies to conduct a qualitative evaluation of a campaign funded by CIDA and UNDP to reduce GBV. The results will be disseminated throughout the region.
MEDUNSA Male Circumcision Project. The IGWG will support PATH/Kenya and the Medical University of South Africa to expand curricula for male-circumcision rituals to address gender equity, prevention of GBV and responsible sexual behavior in selected provinces.
Integrating GBV into RH policy and Care & Support Networks in Haiti. The IGWG will fund the POLICY Project to develop a model for integrating GBV concerns into care and support networks and into PH and HIV strategic planning, policy development and advocacy.
Assessment and Integration of GBV and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Findings in the Dominican Republic (DR). The IGWG will support USAID/DR to work with Profamilia and the Ministry of Health to assess key DHS GBV findings, mobilize public opinion through national seminars on the topic, and develop a strategy plan to mitigate GBV.