WHO / Chloe Sharrock
Psychologist at Viyan Organisation, photographed in the HQ Office, Justice Tower, Erbil, Iraq.
Ending violence against women is possible,
but only if we act together, now
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG). It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December, Human Rights Day.
Violence against women happens in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and girls. Risks and challenges to access care increase even more for women and girls living in humanitarian emergencies. Around the world today, prolonged and intense conflicts have resulted in a continuous rise in of all forms of gender-based violence.
WHO plays an active role in strengthening health systems and local health partner capacity to prevent and respond to VAWG in humanitarian emergencies. In addition, WHO is calling for all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and ensure access to essential health services.
Key messagesProlonged and intense conflicts around the world, alongside major displacements, are increasing risks of violence for millions of women and girls. Gender-based violence prevention and support for survivors are essential in every humanitarian response.
During emergencies, all forms of gender-based violence can spike, including sexual and intimate partner violence. 1 in 5 refugee or displaced women and girls living in complex emergencies is estimated to have experienced sexual violence. Trafficking, abduction, and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage also often increase during times of crisis.
Many survivors of gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies face immense hurdles to access essential health care and support services whether because of destruction of infrastructure, dangers of moving through conflict zones, or fear of stigma or reprisals.
Violence against women and girls is preventable. There is an urgent need to ensure prevention is addressed and funded in emergencies from the outset, including through engagement of health workers and front-line responders. All parties to a conflict have a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, while peace and development processes must explicitly address gender-based violence impacts and prevention.
Dalal's Story, Yazidi refugees 2024 Migrants and Refugees Health film prize5th HAFF, The Health for All Film Festival
Understanding and addressing the specific health risks and needs adolescents face today is key to improving their future health, as well as for broader social and economic stability.
What you can do
Ensure gender-based violence prevention and response measures are integrated and funded as an essential standard in humanitarian responses.
Raise visibility of the heightened risks of gender-based violence in emergencies, and the long-term health impacts.
Call on all parties to meet their obligations to prevent violence against women and girls during emergencies, and protect access to essential services that meet the needs of survivors.
WHO / Chloe Sharrock
Dr Hussein, psychologist at Heevie Primary health Care clinic in Shaviya IDP Camp during a counseling session with a Yezidi woman survivor of GBV. Duhok, Iraq.
