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Prevention of and Response to Sexual and Gender based Violence (SGBV)

Statutory Meetings / International Conference / Pledges / 33rd International Conference / Prevention of and Response to Sexual and Gender based Violence (SGBV)

A) Objectives of the pledge:

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a globally widespread reality.

 

In the context of humanitarian crises, the collapse of social structures as well as lawlessness combined with pre-existing gender inequalities increase the risk of exposure to SGBV. Women and girls are predominately affected and particularly susceptible to rape, child-, early- and forced marriages, infanticide and sexual exploitation. In many armed conflicts, men and boys are victims of sexual violence as well.

 

The Swiss Red Cross (SRC) has committed itself to contribute to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5 “Gender Equality” adopted by the UN. Among other things, the following is to be aimed at: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.”

 

Survivors of SGBV are among the highly vulnerable target groups of the SRC’s humanitarian work in the international as well as national context (e.g. as patients of the SRC Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Torture and War). People going through war, persecution, flight and migration as well as asylum processes with insecure residence prospects in Switzerland find themselves in extremely fragile environments. The traumatic experiences of these women, men and children have long-term effects and severely impair their everyday lives in Switzerland.

 

Being aware of these circumstances the SRC is offering specific treatment and counselling to victims of torture and war in Switzerland, including survivors of SGBV, through the SRC Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Torture and War. We offer specific medical care and counselling to undocumented migrants, including survivors of SGBV, through its Healthcare Center for Undocumented Migrants, in particular by providing gynecological services and counselling. We advocate for early identification and sufficient access to gender-sensitive medical, psychological and psychosocial therapy of asylum seekers and refugees, who suffered SGBV. These efforts will be continued.

 

In order to support professional and volunteer staff of the SRC affected by or dealing with cases of SGBV, an external whistleblowing unit for all SRC member organizations and institutions in Switzerland has been created.

 

We, the Swiss Red Cross, pledge

  • To ensure the dignity and safety of vulnerable people in Switzerland and in its countries of operation with regard to SGBV.
  • To support efforts to prevent SGBV within Switzerland and abroad.
  • To ensure that in all of its humanitarian and development activities, the SRC will respond to gender-specific needs of the target population.
  • To raise awareness of the specific needs of people on the move as well as asylum seekers and refugees who have (potentially) suffered from SGBV prior to or after their arrival in Switzerland.
  • To advocate for people on the move, asylum seekers and refugees who suffered from SGBV. To train and empower staff in the fields of health care and social services in Switzerland, staff in shelters for asylum seekers as well as employees and volunteers of SRC headquarter who are working with the vulnerable target group. The aim is to promote their understanding of gender-specific challenges and to enhance their gender sensitivity in dealing with survivors of SGBV.
  • To provide gender-sensitive support for survivors of torture and war who suffered from SGBV to ensure their access to non-discriminatory and comprehensive health care in Switzerland. This includes sexual and reproductive health-care services, physical rehabilitation, gender-sensitive medical support, psychological and psychosocial therapeutic treatment and legal assistance.

B) Action plan:

Action plan:

  • Integrate the issue of “SGBV and its consequences” in all existing documents of education and training for professional and volunteer staff of the SRC headquarters who are working with the vulnerable group of asylum seekers, refugees as well as undocumented migrants.
  • Introduce, in cooperation with the IFRC, gender-sensitive training tools which explicitly focus on SGBV.
  • Use our special relationship to the Swiss government to advocate for a non-discriminatory and comprehensive support and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees who have (potentially) suffered from SGBV.

Special action plan of the Swiss Red Cross Outpatient clinic for Victims of Torture and War:

  • Sensitize the staff (including interpreters) of the SRC Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Torture and War to the specific challenges faced in therapy and counselling sessions with survivors of SGBV.
  • Establish clear standard operating procedures and referral pathways for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking identified at the SRC Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Torture and War and the Healthcare Center for Undocumented Migrants.

Special action plan of the International Cooperation of Swiss Red Cross:

  • In its international cooperation, the SRC will promote the active, equal and meaningful participation of all women, girls, boys and men in emergency preparedness, response, recovery and development decision making processes.
  • Where the SRC works in conflict affected and fragile contexts, it will strengthen its local partners in the domain of SGBV by building capacity through training and technical support.
  • All indicators used in the international cooperation programmes will be revised and made gender sensitive.

Special action plan of the Swiss Red Cross Human Resources:

  • Intensify the ongoing efforts to raise awareness and train (new) employees and especially (new) managers on sexual harassment and exploitation at the workplace.

C) Indicators for measuring progress:

  • The issue of “SGBV and its consequences” is integrated in all existing documents and tools of education and training, both for professional and volunteer staff of the SRC headquarters, and for external participants.
  • The staff of the SRC Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Torture and War is aware of the specific challenges faced in therapy and counselling sessions with survivors of SGBV.
  • Clear standard operating procedures and referral pathways for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking identified at the SRC Outpatient Clinic for Victims of Torture and War and the Healthcare Center for Undocumented Migrants are established.
  • All indicators used in the international cooperation programme planning are gender sensitive.
  • Employees and managers of the SRC headquarter are aware of the zero tolerance for sexual harassment and exploitation at the workplace and trained to confront a possible situation in an adequate manner.
  • In our communication with the Swiss government, we point to the situation of asylum seekers and refugees who have (potentially) suffered from SGBV.

D) Resource implications:

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