GBV SITUATION IN West Africa

Transcription

1 GBV SITUATION IN West Africa WFP Regional Workshop on gender analysis, empowerment and humanitarian action in West Africa Catherine ANDELA Inter Agency REGA (Regional Emergency GBV Advisor) for W&C Africa

2 INTRODUCTION : GBV A PANDEMIC Global (Source: UNFPA Website) Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. More than 700 million women alive today were married as children (below 18 years). More than 1 in 3 were married before 15 West Africa Gender-Based Violence in this region is mostly a structural issue enshrined into harmful tradition practices. The crisis is currently exacerbated the situation. Boko Haram uses more and more women as suicide bombers. Sexual violence prevalence in population was 7.4% (NDHS, 2013)-Nigeria Dès l àge de 15 ans, près de quatre femmes sur dix (38%) ont subi des violences physiques: Plus d une femme de ans sur dix (13%) a déclaré avoir été victime d actes de violences sexuelles à un moment de leur vie. (DHS, 2012)-Mali Overall low ranking on the Human Development Index and Gender Inequality for West African Countries Niger has some of the world s highest rates of child marriage. 76 per cent of women years old reported being married before age 18 (DHS, 2012) Niger According to UNICEF Teenage pregnancy and motherhood has been identified as the second most prevalent child abuse practice in Sierra Leone.

3

4 Nigeria Camps Situation Overview

5 MALI

6 IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF NEEDS FOR GBV SURVIVORS Conduct multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral needs and vulnerability assessments that involved local actors and community-based organizations Monitor the needs and map the vulnerabilities through networks of local actors including community and religious leaders Increase advocacy for improved participation & representation of women in decision making structures including in IDP camps Increase the understanding of the survivor profile in link with mitigating measures Mainstreaming GBV into the different sectors priorities

7 PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE FOR GBV SURVIVORS Increase access to quality multi-sectoral services requiring a functioning referral system with limited movement of GBV survivors Promote mobile services to reach out survivors in remote areas Build capacity of legal armed forces to bind with the respect of international humanitarian law and the security of the survivors Strengthen local community networks for awareness raising and mitigation of risks

8 CHALLENGES Insufficient state leadership, coordination of actors, human and financial resources to adequately tackle the GBV issues both in humanitarian and development settings The terrorism threats have increased defense and military expenses and therefore diverted possible national investments into social services and social protection especially the ones targeting women and young people Limited access for humanitarian actors and under reporting of GBV cases as a result of cultural restraints and discriminatory social norms Insufficient enforcement or lack of legislations for GBV Poor capacity of security actors to uphold humanitarian and GBV principles for humanitarian work around Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Not enough civilian and military coordination to increase access

9 PERSPECTIVES BETTER COORDINATION AND RESPECT OF PRINCIPLES

10 CASE STUDY In Country X, during the country humanitarian coordination, a member of one organization shares the information of a massive rape in a remote area of the country. He doesn t know where the information comes from. Media, different organizations are present and nobody is aware about this big incident and they are asking responsibilities and what has been done.

11 CASE STUDY - Guiding questions 1. Do you think the humanitarian meeting was the best forum to share this information and to advocate against GBV? 2. What could be the appropriate way to channel the information? 3. What are the steps to be taken before sharing the information? 4. If it happens the information is true but could not be proven, what could be the consequences for survivors in this case? 5. If it happens the information is true, what are the steps WFP should take to address the issue?

12 MERCI