SGBV prevention and response

2017

SGBV will continue to be a key priority for 2017, building on the work completed in 2015 and 2016. Continuous assessment of the SGBV situation in the camps as well as the 2016 participatory assessment confirmed that SGBV is a key issue and a concern in the community.

The Congolese community is reporting SGBV incidences at a rate of 0.2 percent of the current population per month in Nyarugusu. This is expected to continue in 2017. Reporting of SGBV incidences reduced in 2015 compared to previous years. This is partly explained by reports from women and girls that they fear reprisals from family members and the community in general. Additionally, people of concern have reported that they do not wish to inform UNHCR or the authorities in case it would affect resettlement processing.

Increased staffing for UNHCR and partners working on SGBV prevention and response will be essential to conduct outreach to the community and provide quality case management services that are prompt and timely. This is expected to also re-build trust with the community and increase safe and confidential reporting.
 
Collaboration with the livelihoods, education and child protection sectors will be essential to providing a harmonized prevention and response strategy on particular issues such as sexual exploitation in schools, sex work and harmful traditional practices such as child compensation will be prioritized to address these key issues.
 
It is expected that in 2016 a solution will be found to provide an alternative source of fuel to the population, a key risk factor. Increased work with the community on prevention of SGBV will continue to be a priority as will the increased provision of PSS on issues such as depression and trauma which can lead to SGBV in a protracted refugee setting will be a priority.
 
Coordination and SGBV structures will be enhanced following the implementation in 2016 of the revised ISP, inter-agency standard operating procedures of prevention and response, the Inter Agency PSEA protocol and the establishment of community based working groups on SGBV.