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Sexual and gender based violence during times of armed conflict or in the aftermath of disasters and other emergencies

Actions taken:

Denmark has been engaged in the fight against Sexual and Gender-based Violence during times of armed conflict and in the aftermath of disasters and other emergencies by a number of different efforts, in particular:

  • The Danish government’s Peace- and Stability Programme for Africa’s Horn (2015-17) has contributed with training in Kenya and Somalia of staff from the military, police and prison guards in the protection of civilians, in particular women and children in conflict.
  • Since 2004, Denmark has supported the establishment of the East African Standby Force (EASF) including training of EASF personnel in international law in relation to war and protection of women and children in armed conflict.
  • Denmark supports an UN Women project in Ethiopia, whereby victims of gender-based violence can access the safe house Adama to get support including with a view of economic empowerment and reintegration.
  • In Kenya, Denmark has for several years supported the civil society organisation Gender Violence Recovery Centre that supports women and girl survivors of violent abuse. The Centre contributes to the development of national strategies and policies on gender-based violence in conflicts. Moreover, Denmark has assisted the Kenyan government in the development of Kenya’s national action plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
  • In South Sudan, Denmark’s country development programme (2016-18) has supported UNICEF’s work on reintegration of children involved with armed groups, with a special focus on girls, as well as women and girls in risk of gender-based violence and recruitment to armed groups.
  • The Danish-led European Regional Development and Protection for the Middle East (RDPP) addresses gender-based violence and women’s rights in partnership with national and international organisations in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, including support to NGO’s that provide legal assistance to refugees and vulnerable families from the host community, including on gender-based violence and capacity building of response systems.
  • Through a multi-annual partnership agreement with UNFPA, Denmark supports UNFPA’s efforts on protection against GBV and support of victims of GBV in forced displacement crises, as well as UNFPA’s work on developing Global Inter-Agency Minimum Standards on Addressing GBV in Emergencies.
  • Since 2016, Denmark has been an active member of Call to Action on Protection from GBV in Emergencies, including with high-level advocacy on the issue.
  • In 2017, the Ministry held a seminar for Danish partners on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including GBV in humanitarian action. This was a follow-up to a national conference on sexual and reproductive health and rights in humanitarian crises, held in 2016 by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with IPPF and the Danish All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
  • Denmark has supported (2018-19) the Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health on developing a research agenda to improve humanitarian action on sexual reproductive health and rights, including GBV.
  • DRC contributes to the Movement SGBV Network (with ICRC, IFRC and other National Societies) aimed to strengthen the Movement’s joined efforts. DRC has supported the development of IFRC’s psychosocial reference centre’s teaching material on SGBV and education activities. DRC has also contributed to the development of a SGBV training module for humanitarian staff, and trained ERU delegates and national society staff. DRC has also contributed to an IFRC 2016-2017 study on the inclusion of SGBV in national disaster laws.
  • SGBV is integrated into DRC international supported programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as in various learning materials, e.g. used in youth and migration programmes / components. DRC is training staff to ensure Movement minimum standards for PGI (Protection, Gender and Diversity) are included when planning for  emergencies, recovery and longer term programming.
  • In Denmark, DRC provides psychosocial support and after care to survivors of SGBV when leaving shelters, as well as in health clinics for undocumented migrants and in asylum centres. This model has also formed basis for DRC support to National Societies in Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania.

Implementation completion:

No
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