28th November 2007

IASC GBV Guidelines Workshop

Central African Republic, Bangui, 28th – 31st October 2007

Briefing on workshop outcomes,key challenges & opportunities

28th November 2007

Introduction 1. Background on IASC GBV Guidelines2. CAR:

Humanitarian context GBV in CAR

3. Workshop in Bangui on GBV Identified gaps Outcomes

4. Key opportunities to address GBV

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1. Background to IASC GBV Guidelines

2003: IASC GBV group formed (2003) 2005: Guidelines for GBV interventions in

emergencies published: 4 languages (Arabic, English, French & Spanish)

2006: Roll-out process in the field: Colombia, Uganda, Thailand, CAR, Mozambique

2007: further roll-out: Liberia, Nepal, Haiti GenCap Advisors Distribution of tools

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2. CAR: Humanitarian Context

Regional context: 8,500 refugees from Darfur & Chad

Internal conflict in northern CAR: affecting 1 million (out of population of 4,2m) 750,000 of whom are women & children

Forced Displacement: 295,000 197,000 internally displaced 98,000 taken refuge in Chad, Cameroon & Sudan

CAP 2007: Amount requested: $49,5m - revised requirements

$86,3m - committed $60,7m (November 2007, FTS) One of world’s lowest human development

indicators: HIV prevalence: 6.2%; 4.3% (m), 7.8% (f)

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28th November 2007

Gender-Based Violence in CAR

Sexual violence: Rape a characteristic of the conflict SEA: eg. street children

Domestic violence: Widely accepted; rape within marriage not illegal

Harmful traditional practices: FGM: 36% of women & girls in CAR, widely practiced in

North (UNICEF MICS 2000) Societal level:

Stigmatization of rape survivors by family & community

Climate of impunity & limited legal rights: Few convictions for rape Lack of confidence in police & judicial system regarding

GBV

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International community response

ICC: Recently opened investigation into crimes,

explicitly GBV, committed during coup d’état period (Oct – Nov 2002 & Feb – March 2003)

Studies on GBV: WHO & UNFPA (2006)

Programmatic response: IRC’s GBV programme in Kaga Bandoro

hospital (Nana Gribizi district) & North axis – Ouandago clinic – 1,1100 survivors (6 months)

MSF mobile clinics (Ouhanda)

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Local level response 3 principle organizations fighting against

impunity & providing assistance: FIDH (International Federation for Human

Rights) OCODEFAD (Organization for Compassion and

the Development of Families in Distress) Central African Human Rights League (LCDH)

Between 2002 and 2007, FIDH has assisted OCODEFAD & LCDH in gathering testimony and lobbying the ICC to investigate.

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3. Inter-agency GBV workshop

Bangui, October 29th – 31st 2007 Co-organizers & co-facilitators:

GenCap Advisor, UNFPA (Bangui & Nairobi), UNICEF (Gva)

Additional speakers: Representatives: GoCAR (Min Social Affairs), WHO, IRC

Participants: 50 humanitarian actors (Min of Social Affairs, UN, NGO,

local human rights organizations) Topics:

Concepts, tools, political & socio-cultural background, legal environment, GBV programming, ethics and confidentiality, children as victims and witnesses

Group Work: Action sheets on clusters & cross-cutting issues

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Identified common challenges Prevalence of SV Climate of impunity & stigmatization Limited access to health services Very limited GBV programming Lack of technical expertise Lack of data collected in ethical manner Limited funding Lack of space to ensure confidentiality

Structure of mobile clinics High number of STDs & lack of treatment

available

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NEEDS AMONG HUMANITARIAN ACTORS:

Improvement in coordination: Confidential information sharing Referral system for survivors Cluster Approach: GBV not a sub-cluster within Protection

Cluster; Groupe Thématique Genre et Développement (GTGD) group not anchored within Cluster Approach

Building technical expertise on GBV programming in humanitarian settings

Capacity-building on Guiding Principles: security, confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination

Expertise for specialized interventions for child survivors/witnesses

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Key Outcomes of the Workshop

Group of trained & motivated humanitarian actors & representatives from GoCAR

Key recommendation to establish an inter-agency GBV coordination mechanism: Multi-sectoral & inter-agency membership with

GoCAR TORs for a GT GBV drafted & presented to

UNCT: coordination of technical assistance; capacity-building;

mapping of GBV activities; advocacy for multi-sectoral approach; problem-solving in GBV interventions

Time-bound (one year), chaired by UNFPA

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Key opportunities Momentum for building bridges & alliances Improved coordination through Cluster Approach:

Tapping into Protection Cluster through GBV TF Improved data collection:

Monitoring & Reporting system? Improved advocacy & funding?:

CAP 2008 & work of GenCap Political level developments:

ICC EU/UN multidisciplinary peacekeeping mission AU-UN initiative: International Conference on Great Lakes

Region (IC/GLR) - Protocol to prevent & suppress SV

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Questions? Thank you!

Thank you!