Shelter After Disaster: Effective Prevention & Awareness for SGBV in Displacement Sites

EFFECTIVE PREVENTION & AWARESNESS FOR SGBV IN DISPLACEMENT SITES

13022652 S.A.D 2014

I N T R O D U C T I O N

This essay aims to identify forms of effective SGBV (sexual and gender-based violence) prevention and awareness, focusing on displacement sites of persons forced to flee their homes due to conflict or natural disasters, and remain in refugee camps. This means discussing issues surrounding the prevention and response to SGBV interventions but also how this can physically present itself as a form of security. Addressing SGBV means taking into consideration prevention that take place in planning; active measures in camps such as security and health facilities; and responses such as raising awareness. It is important that there is evidence of performance and that the identified method of measuring the extent of effectiveness is clear. This does not only address the massive lack of data available of SGBV occurrences, yet also shows a potential of improvement by surpassing the current standards.

The actual term ‘GBV’ first entered widespread use following its inclusion in the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women (UN DEVAW) of 1993.

This described violence against women as gender-based violence, defining it as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life’. Thus, as a term GBV was originally adopted by the humanitarian community as a way to articulate the problem of violence against

women and girls, with several delineations to suit different contexts. Several perspectives allow the meaning of GBV to grow as displaced persons tend to adapt to their environments and build their livelihoods. Some recognised and modern interpretations of SGBV in emergencies are - the first and most common being primarily men’s violence against women and girls.

Secondly the definition is rooted in masculinity and sexuality: this sees GBV primarily used by men against women, some males, and inclusive of sexual violence against children. Lastly, GBV often also refers to violence directed at an individual, male or female, based on his or her specific role in society (Benjamin, 2004).

The issue of SGBV needs to put into focus because it is usually second to priority during an outbreak of an emergency, yet it happens in all contexts, severely impacts the living conditions of displaced persons and is outlined in many fundamental guides to humanitarian aid.

SGBV cases normally go unreported especially those involving men, let alone children as they do not naturally access the facilities for treating SGBV cases either because of shame or for fear of the perpetrator. The environment and management of displacement sites play a major role in actively preventing and responding to these violations of rights. Under Resolution 1820 (2008), NGOs, human rights organisations, UN agencies, civil society groups and healthcare providers are specifically requested to ‘enhance data collection and analysis of incidents, trends and patterns of rape’. Resolution 2106 (2013) requires them to ‘contribute more timely, objective, accurate and reliable information

on sexual violence’. According to the study by the Humanitarian Practice Network in their Special Issue on GBV in Emergencies, half of the 232 respondents are not collating the appropriate data relating to GBV and less than half are practicing gender equity in their needs assessment, which is necessary to address the lack of implementation on the ground (Bain, 2014). Minimum standards also stipulate that women and girls should be consulted. Shelter management strategies come short compared to Protection and WASH strategies to address GBV. More should be done to integrate the operationalisation of prevention and awareness in key references such as the IASC and Sphere Handbook such as the Core Standard 1 that the affected population ‘should be engaged in a meaningful consultation process regarding decisions that affect their lives, without creating additional risks. This is one way of assisting them to assert their rights’ matched with the shelter guidance notes that state the right to live in security, peace and dignity, with security of tenure, as well as protection from forced eviction and the right to resti¬tution (Sphere Project, 2011).

were help in Ethiopia as a mapping exercise for adolescent Somali girls in refugee camps to identify areas which they would consider to be high-risk and felt unsafe. This information proved useful for analysing WASH facilities safety standards and could also be useful for camp management to refine the design strategies that have been used and thoroughly contextualise standard principles and standards that are broadly more suggestive than critical.

Group discussions also enhance verbal skills of displaced persons so that they are empowered to put their rights into place in the environment of rebuilding livelihoods after

before

A C T I V E [

W O R K S H O P S An effective method of preventative measure for GBV is conduct workshops. With the taboo of sexual violence and the fear and shame that come with reporting them, holding workshops presents an opportunity for action-based data and engaging recondite groups that will be less likely to volunteer due to their vulnerability. ‘Safescaping’ (Schulte and Rizvi, 2012) workshops

P R E V E N T I O N

d u r i n g

]

in camps/with displaced persons

after

S E C U R I T Y M E A S U R E S

A C T I V E A W A R E N E S S

IMPLEMENTED DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR PRIVACY & SECURITY FOR DWELLINGS AND CAMP PLANNING

R E S P O N S E

fleeing a disaster. Focus groups, identifying key informants and interviews can be arranged to have mechanisms that are gender-segregated that could easily be integrated into standard assessments and monitoring processes. A recommendation that came out of the Findings from the Inter-Agency Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence Assessment in the Za’atari Refugee Camp was that to ‘Strengthen and formalize refugee community-based security committees to promote self-protection by engaging communities to develop effective and representative protective structures, particularly to address domestic and sexual violence’ (UNHCR, 2013). This suggestion stood out of the others that are similar to resembling reports repeatedly deducting more careful use and placement of lights, locks and latrines. After all, allowing survivors and victims to identify their own ways of increasing their security would be the closest to an accurate solution to address each unique situation that are the many types of displacement sites.

L I V E L I H O O D S When dealing with displaced persons that were forcibly moved from their homes and communities, their socio-cultural norms become of higher importance. Therefore interventions that are programmed for norm-shifting, changing beliefs and practices are less likely to have an impact as displaced persons would make an extended effort to sustain the control they possess over their culture and social traditions.

Donors, practitioners and policymakers would calibrate emergency response to put rebuilding

livelihoods central to the agenda to alleviate the sense of dislocation among displaced persons.

and insecurity and lack of physical protection.

(Women’s Refugee Commission, 2011).

A project supported by the WFP called the SAFE (Safe Access to Cooking Fuel and alternative Energy) teaches women in the Darfur region how to make their own fuel-efficient cook stoves. In 2010, baseline surveys were undertaken specific to Moroto and Kotodo districts in Uganda to examine the linkages between firewood collection and GBV. In the Karamoja region of Uganda, women and girls are the primary firewood collectors. Firewood is used for cooking and fencing, and some is sold to finance the purchase of food and other basic goods. Without other livelihood options, the sale of firewood remains the main source of income, especially in Moroto (WFP Handbook on SAFE, 2012). The fuel-efficiency majorly contributed to women spending less time travelling to get firewood as the firewood did not need as much renewal, which they would have done at least 6 times of 4-hour of walking a week to attain them. Through this project, women are able to generate income as well as enjoy daily reduced risk to providing for families. It must be carefully considered that the environment created by camp management can strategically put women and children at risk as often as on a daily basis. In an effort to bring together guidance for the rebuilding of livelihoods whilst still being considerate of the well-being and security of refugees, some of the risks identified to be addressed include inadequate legal or policy frameworks; lack of basic/survival needs; and lack of economic, educational and social opportunities, as well as those previously mentioned- socio cultural norms

Provision of basic needs can evidently create conditions that are counter-conducive to GBV. In displacement situations, normal forms of livelihoods are lost; so are the rule of law and even the social fabric of communities.

Without appropriate amenities and basic needs, women and girls either turn themselves into mechanisms for attainment or are prepared to risk themselves – girls exchange their bodies for food and clothes, women risk rape by journeying

long distances to collect firewood for cooking and to sell, and women turn to prostitution as a source of income. When shelter practitioners are not able to deliver the baselines to recovery with basic needs, considerations to protection in camp management strategies and mechanism to kick-start their livelihoods, displaced people can be overwhelmed by desperation to meet their survival necessities. Moreover, encouraging self-determination and sufficiency during initial stages could address limitations regarding resource constraints.

WFP’s SAFE programme enables women in Darfur to make their own fuel-efficient cook stoves

O P E R A T I O N A L I S E

Discussion of preventative GBV methods is largely centred around the social fabric and the rights that people in displacement sites are usually deprived of. Although there is clear data but there is also absence of scientific and observational data for a matter as prevalent as GBV. Practitioners and policymakers are wary of giving assistance that would inadvertently increase the exposure of women and girls to additional risks and weaken their resilience.

In displacement sites, the IASC (Inter-Agency Standing Committee) Guidelines for Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings outline the cross-sectoral nature of GBV that affects by and large the protection, shelter, water and sanitation clusters. These guidelines are addressing a complex issue; therefore such interventions should follow standard conditions of operationalising by having consensus, understanding and institutional backing. The GBV Emergency Toolkit (found at gbvresponders.org) is largely supported with instruments such as assessment/planning tools, training and guidance. To ensure a capacity to operationalise is to access preparedness for training, pre-positioning of key materials (such as rape-kits), organising clinical care training for health providers, ensuring the ministry of health involvement in preparedness planning, developing protocols with UNHCR and UNICEF and coordination within the IRC (International Rescue Committee).

A major part of prevention of GBV that is vital to be overlooked by practitioners is ensuring

that services are in place. Often, services and the presence of resistance can already have an impact on the occurrences and also the likeliness that a woman will volunteer her case.

For example, the emergency in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused widespread displacement. The assessments done by NGOs at the time indicated every time that there were no reports of GBV incidences.

Although when support centres with trained specialists from the community opened, people came forward to report incidents every time at every camp. It is then important that services are in place to receive GBV victims as it happens in all contexts, only in varying amounts. For example this includes mobile clinic visits, establishing focal points such as ‘gender desks’ for victims or a general point of reference, providing counselling, and psychosocial therapies and treatment. It is also implied that delivery of services provided are administered by skilled and experienced staff that practices ensured confidentiality and cultural sensibility. This requires investment in the capacity of workers which can be achieved through training, supervision and improved coordination.

For example, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the ICRC has established ‘Listening Houses’ or Maisons d’Ecoute to provide victims of sexual abuse with psychological and health support from experienced ICRC counsellors, local knowledgeable staff, personnel from women’s groups and referral to appropriate medical services. Emphasis is given on advice to get care and support 72 hours after an assault and also

to treat the environment in which the victim may be at risk of stigmatisation and reprisal. A holistic approach that integrates medical, psychological and social issues was necessary to address the atrocious condition of sexual violence that distressed entire populations. Since the first maisons d’ecoute were established in eastern DRC five years ago, the number of centres and the numbers of women visiting them, especially within 72 hours of being attacked, have risen significantly (Beerli of ICRC, 2010). Knowing that women and children are the primary occupants and tend to spend more time than men in the shelters (Enarson, 2009) it is easy to assume that implementation of gender-equality processes to tackle the root of violence against women and its prevention. It is also easy to overlook prevalent but specific needs that women go through; pregnancy, lactation and menstruation. Refugee camps often are overcrowded, lack privacy and make these specific groups of women even more vulnerable. For example, in the aftermath of 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh, women who are able to reach the temporary shelters found them ill-suited to meet gender- and culture-specific needs; in a social context where seclusion is practised as large number of men and women were crowded together with no respect to privacy for pregnant, lactating and menstruating women (UNEP 1997) (Enarson, 2009). Fundamental values of context-awareness and cultural sensitivity makes a big difference although it is clear that the primary aim is to address GBV.

- intimate partners [domestic violence]

60%

+

- community members - unknown individuals - service providers - teachers - employers - armed actors

40%

GBV perpetrators IN SIERRA LEONE, COTE D'IVOIRE AND LIBERIA SERVICE-BASED DATA CENTRES ON GBV PERPETRATED BY ARMED ACTORS WHEN MAJORITY REPORTED Sgbv BY INTIMATE PARTNERS

- intimate partners [domestic violence]

18%

- community members - unknown individuals - service providers - teachers - employers

45 % 37 % - armed actors GBV perpetrators service-based data done by the international rescue committee (irc) between 2009-2012 in eastern drc

The major suspected perpetrators differ from state to state and patien-care towards intimate GBV and that perpertrated by armed forces would differ greatly.

I N N O V A T I O N S

Discussion of preventative GBV methods GBV is a relevantly new discourse where understanding and response is still open to innovation and new ideas that strengthen the cross-sectoral nature which is divided between protection, WASH and shelter. There is still the opportunity for documenting, learning and disseminating good practice and literature of GBV. Many innovative interventions have been found to be impactful on other types of violence too as it raises awareness and allow communities to gradually assimilate the values into their lives. Some examples of innovative styles of awareness-raising are through cinema, radio, behaviour change and also through education.

A widely known reality is men too are affected as victims of GBV; and the taboo of speaking out about their victimisation is more severe than that of sexually abused women. A report noted that, between October 2004 and February 2005, MSF health clinics in West Darfur treated 297 rape victims, 99% of whom were women and that only 1% were men (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), 2005).

Targeting men instead can be regarded as an innovative solution and powerful message.

At least some research indicates that starting with and reinforcing positive behaviours, men’s role as protector of and provider for their spouses and daughters, for example, may be more effective (Berkowitz, 2004). It is therefore important to recognise the gaps in which men or women can be included strategically whether it is a women’s owner-driven reconstruction

programme, or transforming the existent powerful and competent social status of men into positive roles of protectors of women. For example, UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) supported a programme to train imams in using morals expressed in the Koran to speak out against GBV against women in their sermons. Radio and television programmes presenting imams emphasising these messages were celebrated, and several imams have signed a public declaration against domestic violence.

GBV is not only widespread through rural displacement situations; it can also be within the urban fabric of displacement. 35% of people are displaced into camps, where more than 50% of people are fled their homes and communities into urban settings. Not only that, GBV is not only prevalent within communities of displaced persons but also on the streets of the city without the onset of disaster that damages the social fabric and rule of law. “On average, violence makes up at least 25 to 30 per cent of urban crime and women, especially in developing countries, are twice as likely to be victims of violent aggression (including domestic violence) as men” (UN-HABITAT, 2007).

However mechanisms to confront GBV will differ to the assembly, governance and available infrastructure of the city. Some recommendations that would be more relevant in urban areas are for instance concerning addressing norms, attitudes and beliefs at all levels of society (Bott, 2005) as the social structure in camps would not be evident of such clarity in strata. Education too is a main driver with an extensive influence which facilities will be more accessible and available

in cities. Governmental and nongovernmental authorities and interests typically are in urban areas wherein the value of partnerships are more organised and part of the way things work.

“One man was told: ‘We have a programme for vulnerable women but not men” a Congolese rape victim.

A F T E R W O R D

The focus here has not been the response to GBV as shelter management plays a larger role in prevention and the active measures in displacement sites. Psychosocial treatment and community healthcare altogether will largely involve wider expertise and could be more effectively developed if aggregated with the study and observations of psychological impact of displacement. As practitioners, engaging

with SGBV hastily could risk traumatisation if not dealt with caution and preparedness. As indicated in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies, ‘Basic care and support for survivors must be available locally before commencing any activity that may involve individuals disclosing information about their experiences of sexual violence’. Innovative monitoring and evaluation techniques are worth investing in as there is still capacity for research and analysis.

GBV is a cross-cutting and contextually unbounded matter of contention, yet donors and other driving forces of humanitarian aid are extremely reliant on data of current occurrences.

Using service-based data, GBV can be tackled in parallel with the provision of services, with abuses more likely to be reported when victims are confident that they are able to receive support and treatment. This risk of stigmatisation and shame can affect safety and survival.

Hence, survivors did not report the violence they experienced until safe, trusted and confidential services were in place. Reflections mechanisms such as the After-Action Review (AAR) method, implemented by the IRC, is designed to provide first-line responders with an opportunity to pause, reflect and analyse how they applied learning and tools during a recent GBV emergency preparedness or response intervention, reflect on any obstacles to effective response, and formulate ways to improve future responses based on this experience (Bain, 2014).

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The shortfall in data can alternatively and simultaneously be applied in a real-time learning experience to emergency programming. NGOs should also consider a framework where GBV experts are integral to the team and not taken in as out-sourced persons or regarded as temporary training. Emphasis on how GBV is more complex and broad have deviated the issue to an expert-only basis. Expertise should be made more accessible to tackle growing segmentation instead of delegation of responsibility. Making progress on the prevention of GBV in these complex humanitarian settings is going to require renewed collective action, comprehensive, cross-sectoral approaches, a GBV prevention focus and lens on everything we do and a system of accountability for organisations and individuals that does not adhere to globally agreed guidance.

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Appendix

Toolkit 5: Shelter Shelter Function 1. Design and Layout

2. Space and Location

Tool - Consult both men and women in the design and layout of camps and shelters - Mobilise women and men to participate in the location, design and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities - Discuss with women how their activities are carried out and what suitable space allocations are needed, including use of activity clocks to identify needs of women/men - Strive to relocate windows, adolscent girls and physically and mentally challenged women in temporary shelters which are centrally located - Build temporary shelters close to schools and hospitals - Ensure that every shelter has an adequate minimum surface area of camp per person -Ensure that shelter is friendly to disabled persons - Shelter should be in close proximity to water and fuel collection and other activities involving off-site travel - Provide a common area for children’s play where family members can watch them from the shelter - Make adequate arrangements for lighting, particularly in common facilities like toilets - Provide adequate material for partitions between families in a temporary shelter - Women and girls should not be compelled to share accomodation with men who are not members of their immediate family Developed by authors of Women, Gender and Disaster; Global Issues and Initiatives (2009)

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• House, Sarah . (2013). Gender based violence and sanitation, hygiene and water. Available: http://www. communityledtotalsanitation.org/blog/gender-based-violence-and-sanitation-hygiene-and-water. Last accessed 30 March 2014.

• UN-HABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) . (2014). Gender. Available: http://unhabitat.org/urbanthemes-2/gendergender/. Last accessed 30 March 2014.

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• United Nations General Assembly. (20 December 1993). Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (48/104). Available: http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/48/a48r104.htm. Last accessed 30 March 2014.