SGBV risks are factors that increase the likelihood of SGBV occurring (but are not the root causes). SGBV risks contribute to – but are not the same as – incidents of GBV or forms of GBV (such as sexual violence or intimate partner violence). SGBV risk mitigation refers specifically to actions taken to reduce identified risks.
Especially in the humanitarian sector, there are risks of SGBV linked to the context but also risks linked to the humanitarian response itself - how services and service modalities are conceived. For instance, food distribution organized without proper safety system in place may expose women and children queuing for the delivery of assistance, to risk of harm and harassment.
SGBV risk mitigation can refer to both: using assistance interventions to mitigate SGBV risks associated with the emergency and/or local context; and mitigating SGBV risks posed, or exacerbated by, assistance interventions themselves.
Integrating SGBV risk mitigation aims at promoting better, safer programming for all. The goal of GBV risk mitigation is to make humanitarian systems and services safe, effective and responsive to the needs and rights of women and girls. Concretely, SGBV risk mitigation aims at and covers the following aspects related to safer programming and capacity to mitigate risks and incidents:
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does not increase SGBV likelihood of occurring by creating additional/exacerbating existing GBV risks;
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seeks to identify and mitigate GBV risks;
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ongoing monitoring of access and barriers to services, particularly those faced by women and girls;
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capacity to safely and ethically refer SGBV survivors using available referral mechanisms or know what to do in areas where there is not referral mechanism.
Integrating GBV risk mitigation measures is a core responsibility of all humanitarian actors and improves the safety and well-being of people most affected by crisis across all sectors and of service providers.
By preparing for and delivering aid and services in the safest and most dignified way, access improves, and more people benefit - thereby strengthening overall outcomes. Failing to address SGBV concerns compromise the effectiveness of emergency preparedness and humanitarian response across all sectors.
IFRC Minimum Standards for Protection, Gender and Inclusion in Emergencies (IFRC, 2018): This is the foundational document for mainstreaming protection, gender, and inclusion—including SGBV prevention and risk mitigation—across all Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian operations. These minimum standards ensure that all National Societies identify and address SGBV risks as a baseline requirement in their programming in a variety of sectors. Regardless of the type of emergency response, this document offers practical guidance on how to "do no harm" and actively mitigate SGBV risks in humanitarian work.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action (IASC, 2015): The purpose of the Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action (GBV Guidelines) is to assist humanitarian actors and communities affected by armed conflict, natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate a set of core actions for mitigation of gender-based violence (GBV) across all sectors of humanitarian response. The goal of the comprehensive Guidelines is to reduce risk of GBV by implementing risk mitigation strategies, promote resilience by strengthening national and community-based systems that mitigate GBV, and aid the recovery of communities and societies by supporting local and national capacity to create lasting solutions to the problem of GBV.
Cash and Voucher Assistance/Livelihoods
Cash for Livelihoods in Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence (ICRC, 2019): On top of its physical and psychological effects, sexual violence also leads to long-term negative and economic and social consequences: women and men who suffer from sexual violence are often rejected and stigmatized by their families and communities, leading to a loss of social support, assets, and livelihoods. This case study report elaborates on the details, outcomes, successes, difficulties and recommendations from an ICRC/British Red Cross Society Cash for Livelihoods project that began in 2015.
Using Cash and Voucher Assistance to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Violence: A Practical Guide (ICRC, 2022): The guidance explains how to establish an emergency and longer-term response by means of CVA and how we ensure good internal coordination and cooperation addressing the needs of persons at risk and victims/survivors of sexual violence.
GBV Risk Mitigation in Cash and Voucher Assistance: Toolkit (UNFPA, 2022) : This resource is intended to guide and support CVA and GBV practitioners in identifying and mitigating potential GBV risk in cash programming
- How to Mitigate Gender-based Violence (GBV) Risks in Cash and Voucher Assistance: Video that accompanies the Risk Mitigation Toolkit
Migration & Displacement
Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking (IFRC, 2021)
These guidelines are intended for frontline staff in transit-reception centres for migrants and people on the move with the objective of supporting them to mitigate and respond to SGBV. The guidelines include the process of developing a set of new indicators which will serve to facilitate the identification of and assistance to potential and actual victims/survivors of HT and SGBV.
Health
Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations (UNFPA, 2020): The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in crisis situations is a series of crucial, lifesaving activities required to respond to the SRH needs of affected populations at the onset of a humanitarian crisis. These needs are often overlooked with potentially life-threatening consequences.
Shelter
PGI Shelter Guidance Checklist - Dignity, Access, Participation, Safety (IFRC, 2018): A practical checklist for integrating protection, gender, and inclusion considerations into shelter programming using the four core pillars: Dignity, Access, Participation, and Safety (DAPS). This tool helps shelter practitioners assess and improve their programs to ensure equitable access, promote meaningful participation, and enhance safety and dignity in shelter design and implementation. The checklist includes two dedicated pages specifically focused on SGBV risk mitigation and response, providing actionable guidance that support survivors while reducing vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence throughout the shelter response cycle.
IASC Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Shelter, Settlements & Recovery (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on shelter, settlement and recovery and gender-based violence is part of the larger, comprehensive Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing risk, promoting resilience and aiding recovery (IASC, 2015, available at . It is a portable tool that provides practical guidance for shelter, settlement and recovery actors and affected communities to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate actions designed to prevent and mitigate gender-based violence.
MHPSS
Rapid Assessment Guide for Psychosocial Support and Violence Prevention in Emergencies and Recovery (IFRC, 2021): This guide provides standards and directions on how to carry out rapid needs assessment for Psychosocial Support (PSS) and Violence Prevention (VP) initiatives including child protection and sexual and gender-based violence1 . In particular, this rapid assessment tool is designed to help gather data in an efficient and effective way to help inform integration of PSS and VP issues, as minimum standards, into the broader disaster management action plans in response to an emergency.