The World YWCA participates in Gender Based Violence Meeting

The objective of the Meeting is to identify priority issues and necessary steps forward for the Global GBV AoR in 2011-2011, including a review of lessons learned from the successes, challenges, programmes and emerging issues in 2010. The three-day meeting presents the opportunity for GBV AoR members from around the world to come together to review the progress on the 2010 work plan; to highlight any outstanding needs or issues within GBV AoR; to set priorities and elaborate a new plan for 2011; and to enhance the spirit of cooperation and cohesion among GBV AoR members.

The GBV Working Group, which is one of the sub-cluster working groups of the global Protection Cluster Working Group (PCWG), takes responsibility for leading the work of the cluster with regard to gender-based violence in complex emergencies, natural disasters and other such situations.

The GBV Working Group is led jointly by UNFPA and UNICEF, but on a daily basis the work of the group is co-chaired by UNFPA and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). At the field level coordination of the response to GBV often falls with specialised GBV sub-clusters that work closely with and report to the Protection Cluster Working Group in the country. Such sub-clusters are presently operating in countries as diverse as Afghanistan, DRC, Haiti and Uganda.

Gender-based violence (GBV) encompasses a wide range of human rights violations and can be directed at adult women and men and children. Rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women, girls and boys and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation/cutting, early marriage, bride inheritance, are all forms of GBV. GBV exists in times of peace, but in times of crises it can become even more extreme. In armed conflict, for example, sexual violence can become so widespread and systematic that it is considered a method of war and can escalate into a crime against humanity, a war crime and an aspect of genocide. This demonstrates that while civilian protection is founded on government and non-state actor engagement, the involvement of civil society and upholding of human rights, during armed conflict, this protection all too frequently fails, and emergency responses that do not take into account gender-specific vulnerabilities and capacities can further expose individuals to risk.

At the GBV AoR meeting, therefore, participants will discuss programming to address GBV that involves a multi-sectoral approach that ensures the safety of the survivor, their confidentiality, and their right to informed choice. Marie-Claude Julsaint, World YWCA Regional Director for Americas and Caribbean and Focal Point for Violence Against Women, will represent the YWCA at the meeting and will bring with her the wealth of YWCA experience in creating safe and secure spaces for women and for survivors of violence.

“The YWCA has an important role at this meeting and that is to bring the voices and experience of the women and girls that we reach out to at the community level with our programmes, for example in Sudan, Haiti and DRC,” said Marie-Claude Julsaint. “Women and young women in these countries, and others, are taking leadership in creating and ensuring safe spaces for survivors of violence. This ties in very well with our theme for the World Council meeting in July which is Women Creating a Safe World.”