We must not wait for data before we act, we know that the barriers to disclosing SGBV are so high and increase in emergencies. We must reverse the burden of proof.
If you are looking for more resources on SGBV risk mitigation during emergencies, please proceed to the 'Risk Mitigation & SGBV Mainstreaming' page.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action (GBV Guidelines) (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 Guidelines provide recommendations across 13 sectors, namely:
- Camp Coordination & Camp Management
- Child Protection
- Education
- Food Security & Agriculture
- Health
- Housing, Land & Property
- Humanitarian Operations Support Sectors
- Humanitarian Mine Action
- Livelihoods
- Nutrition
- Protection
- Shelter, Settlement & Recovery
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Programming (GBV AoR, 2019)
The Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Programming define what agencies working on specialized GBV programming need to achieve to prevent and respond to GBV, and deliver multi-sectoral services.
Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) in Emergencies Toolkit - Chapter 2: Planning and Assessment (IFRC, 2018): The Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) in emergencies toolkit accompanies the IFRC Minimum standards on protection, gender and inclusions in emergencies (2018) and provides additional guidance to plan, implement and monitor those standards during an emergency response and recovery.
Not all tools will be used in each emergency response. Rather this is a compendium of tools, which can be drawn on and adapted when required. One of the most critical tools of this resource is section 3.2 Guidance of Basic Referral Mapping.
CARE Rapid Gender Analysis Toolkit (CARE, 2013): The Rapid Gender Analysis Toolkit provides quick and useful information on the different needs, capacities, and coping strategies of different genders in an emergency setting. Initially, it can be used to quickly inform humanitarian actors in preparation for the response. However, over time, it will also help them collect information to compile a Rapid Gender Analysis Report.
IRC GBV Emergency Assessment Tools (IRC, 2011): GBV Emergency assessment tools developed by IRC, includes safety audit tool, service mapping tool, key informant interview tool, focus group discussion tool.
Minimum Standards for Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) in Emergencies (IFRC, 2018): Emergencies exacerbate existing gender inequalities, and the incidence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), violence against children and trafficking in human beings often increase during and after emergencies. These standards are to be used by all Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers, and as a key reference for partners and other stakeholders.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) in Emergencies Toolkit (IFRC, 2018): The Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) in emergencies toolkit accompanies the IFRC Minimum standards on protection, gender and inclusions in emergencies and provides additional guidance to plan, implement and monitor those standards during an emergency response and recovery.
UNFPA Pocket Guide, Priority Emergency Response Interventions: Priority Actions to Address SRH and GBV Needs at the Onset of a Crisis (UNFPA, :
GBV Pocket Guide: How to support survivors of gender-based violence when a GBV actor is not available in your area (IASC GBV Guidelines, 2015): The Pocket Guide uses global standards on providing basic support and information to survivors of GBV without doing further harm. It is important to adapt this resource to your local context with the support of a GBV specialist and in a manner that maintains a survivor-centered approach.
Reacting to SGBV Disclosures: Whether you're a volunteer, field staff member, or front-line responder, you may be the first person a survivor reaches out to for help. The resources on this page provide essential guidance for anyone who may receive a disclosure of sexual or gender-based violence.
Inter-agency GBV Case Management Guidelines (IASC, 2017): This resource aims to set standards for quality, compassionate care for GBV survivors in humanitarian settings, with particular focus on the provision of case management services.
Standard Operating Procedures for GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: GBV SOPs Resource Package (UNHCR/GBV AoR,2023): The purpose of this GBV SOPs resource package is to support the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for gender-based violence (GBV) interventions in humanitarian settings.
WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies (WHO, 2023): This resources provides guidance on the specific issues that arise during the collection of information about sexual violence – including child and forced marriage or cohabitation – in emergencies. It includes eight recommendations to ensure the necessary safety and ethical safeguards are in place before data gathering begins, supported by examples of good practice in emergency and non-emergency settings.
IASC Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming - Standard 14: Collection and Use of Survivor Data (UNFPA, 2022): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in emergencies. The objective of the Minimum Standards is to establish a common understanding of what constitutes minimum prevention and response programming in emergencies. Standard 14 discussing ensuring survivor data is manages with survivors' full informed consent for the purpose of improving service delivery, and is collected, stored, analysed and shared safely and ethically.
GBV AoR Helpdesk, Handling GBVIMS Data Sharing Requests from External Actors (GBVIMS, 2020): This document provides guidance on how organizations using the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) should handle data sharing requests from external actors, outlining a step-by-step process covering purpose assessment, risk analysis, and ethical standards.
GBVIMS, Promoting Best Practices (GBVIMS, 2011): The Gender-based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) was developed to end harmful practices in data collection and sharing and to assist humanitarian actors and service providers with the management of their GBV information. This resource provides examples of best practices recognized and upheld by the GBVIMS.
GBVIMS, Chapter 7 - Sharing GBV Incident Data and Developing Interagency Information Sharing Protocols (GBVIMS, 2011): This resource discusses the importance of appropriate data sharing with regards to GBV data and provides some basic guidelines for how to safely and ethically share data generated through the GBVIMS. The main purpose of these guidelines is to protect survivors while promoting effective GBV coordination.
Example of Consent Form for Engaging with SGBV Victim/Survivors (GBVIMS, 2010): The document is a standardized intake and consent form used by GBV service providers to record information about survivors who seek services, while obtaining their informed agreement for how their data will be collected, stored, and potentially shared.
IASC Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming: Standard 8 - Women and Girls' Safe Spaces (UNFPA, 2022): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in emergencies. The objective of the Minimum Standards is to establish a common understanding of what constitutes minimum prevention and response programming in emergencies. Standard 8 outlines ensuring that women and girls only safe spaces are available, accessible and provide quality services, information and activities that promote healing, well-being and empowerment.
UNFPA, Women and Girls Safe Spaces Guidance (UNFPA, 2015): The creation of women and girls safe spaces has emerged as a key strategy for the protection and empowerment of women and girls affected by crisis. This document provides an overview of what safe spaces are, and what key principles should be followed when establishing such spaces in humanitarian and post-crisis contexts.
SGBV Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Package (IFRC, 2018)
The PGI team at IFRC has developed a package of IEC materials to increase the knowledge of staff and volunteers, including managers, on their duties to address SGBV in the communities they serve. These IEC materials also target communities where IFRC and National Societies are intervening to inform them about available services and trigger dialogue, when and where relevant, about SGBV prevention. The package includes posters, stickers, a job aid booklet for frontline staff/volunteers, and more.
The IEC materials can be used in any context, including in situations of disasters and other emergencies.
HRP Tip Sheets for GBV Risk Mitigation Mainstreaming in Shelter (Shelter Cluster, 2022): This Tip Sheet is developed for Shelter Cluster Coordinators to guide them on the GBV Risk Mitigation mainstreaming in preparation of the Shelter chapters of the HRPs.
Tools to Reduce the Risk of GBV in Shelter Programmes (Draft Guidance Note) (Shelter Cluster, 2016): The purpose of this toolkit is to support shelter programme staff to reduce the risks of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through better shelter and settlement programming and project implementation. The tools in this toolkit aim to help shelter practitioners to mainstream GBV risk mitigation into their shelter programming, ultimately reducing vulnerabilities to GBV, particularly for women and girls.
GBV Guidelines for Integrating GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings
GBV in Shelter Programming Working Group (Shelter Cluster): The GBV in Shelter Programming Working Group aims to provide tools to help shelter actors mainstream GBV risk mitigation in their programming, with a particular focus on reducing vulnerabilities for women and girls in humanitarian settings. It offers a range of practical resources for field practitioners, including guidance on site planning, distribution management, and tools like the GBV Constant Companion for responding to survivor disclosures
GBV Guidelines for Integrating GBV 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. 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.
GBV Guidelines for Integrating GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Actions - Health (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on health 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 ). The health TAG is a portable tool that provides practical guidance to assist health actors and affected communities to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate essential actions for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.
IASC Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming - Standard 5: Psychosocial Support (UNFPA, 2022): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in emergencies. The objective of the Minimum Standards is to establish a common understanding of what constitutes minimum prevention and response programming in emergencies. Standard 5 ensures women and girls safely access quality, survivor-centred psychosocial support focused on healing, empowerment and recovery.
IASC Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming - Standard 4: Healthcare for GBV Survivors (UNFPA, 2022): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in emergencies. The objective of the Minimum Standards is to establish a common understanding of what constitutes minimum prevention and response programming in emergencies. Standard 4 ensures GBV survivors access quality, survivor-centred health care, including health services for sexual and intimate partner violence and other forms of GBV, and referrals to prevent and/or reduce the effects of violence.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Minimum Standards - Emergency Health (IFRC, 2018): This guidance presents Red Cross and Red Crescent staff, members and volunteers with a set of minimum standards for protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) in emergencies. It aims to ensure that the emergency programming of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies provides dignity, access, participation and safety for all people affected by disasters and crises. It provides practical guidance on how to mainstream these four principles in all sectors, including Emergency Health.
Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP) For Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in Crisis Situations (Inter-Agency Working Group for Reproductive Health in Crises, 2019): 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.
GBV AoR Helpdesk, One Stop Centers - Model Standard Operating Procedures and Guidance (GBV AoR, 2022): This resource examines One-Stop Center (OSC) models for addressing sexual and gender-based violence, reviewing different approaches, examples from practice, and standard operating procedures — with OSCs defined as facilities that provide integrated medical, legal, counseling, and case management services in a single location.
GBV Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Livelihoods (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on livelihoods and GBV is part of the larger comprehensive Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing risk, promoting resilience and aiding recovery. The guide provides practical guidance that will assist livelihoods actors and affected communities in coordinating, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating essential actions for the prevention and mitigation of GBV.
Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming - Standard 11: Dignity Kits, Cash and Voucher (IASC, 2022): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in emergencies. The objective of the Minimum Standards is to establish a common understanding of what constitutes minimum prevention and response programming in emergencies. Standard 11 highlights the importance of women and girls receiving dignity kits, and/or cash and vouchers to reduce GBV risk and promote safety and dignity.
Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming - Standard 12: Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods (IASC, 2022): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in emergencies. The objective of the Minimum Standards is to establish a common understanding of what constitutes minimum prevention and response programming in emergencies. Standard 12 emphasizes women and adolescent girls accessing economic support as part of a multisectoral GBV response.
IFRC Guidance Note on CVA and GBV (coming soon)
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Minimum Standards: Cash-based Interventions (CBIs), Livelihoods and Non-food Items (NFIs) (IFRC, 2018): This guidance presents Red Cross and Red Crescent staff, members and volunteers with a set of minimum standards for protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) in emergencies. It aims to ensure that the emergency programming of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies provides dignity, access, participation and safety for all people affected by disasters and crises. It provides practical guidance on how to mainstream these four principles in all sectors, including cash-based interventions, livelihoods, and non-food items.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Education (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on education and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance to education professionals working to prevent and mitigate gender based violence in humanitarian settings. Better-designed education programmes can help mitigate risks—not only keeping girls and women safer and supporting them when they have been victimized by gender-based violence, but also providing them with the skills and knowledge to improve their own lives.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Food Security and Agriculture (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on FSA 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. The guide provides practical guidance that will assist FSA actors and affected communities in coordinating, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating essential actions for the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Minimum Standards - Food Security (IFRC, 2018): This guidance presents Red Cross and Red Crescent staff, members and volunteers with a set of minimum standards for protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) in emergencies. It aims to ensure that the emergency programming of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies provides dignity, access, participation and safety for all people affected by disasters and crises. It provides practical guidance on how to mainstream these four principles in all sectors, including food security.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programming (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on WASH and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance for WASH professionals working to prevent and mitigate gender based violence in humanitarian settings. Part of the newly-updated comprehensive Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing risk, promoting resilience and aiding recovery, the guidance in this TAG reflects the combined wisdom and experience of colleagues from the WASH sector and the wider humanitarian community.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Minimum Standards - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) (IFRC, 2018): This guidance presents Red Cross and Red Crescent staff, members and volunteers with a set of minimum standards for protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) in emergencies. It aims to ensure that the emergency programming of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies provides dignity, access, participation and safety for all people affected by disasters and crises. It provides practical guidance on how to mainstream these four principles in all sectors, including WASH programming.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Nutrition (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on nutrition and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance for nutrition professionals working to prevent and mitigate gender based violence in humanitarian settings. It is meant to be used from the preparedness stage of emergency response through to the recovery phase. Nutrition professionals are well positioned not only to improve the nutrition needs of women and girls in emergencies, but also to reduce the associated risks of gender-based violence—from providing safe spaces for mothers to breastfeed their babies to monitoring and mitigating the broader impact of food scarcity on families living through emergencies.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Humanitarian Operations Support Sectors (IASC, 2015): While most humanitarian actors in emergencies work directly with affected populations, some sectors work to ensure that an uninterrupted supply of life-saving relief items reaches women, girls, men and boys who have been exposed to a humanitarian emergency. Even if these sector actors have limited interaction with affected populations, they can play an important role in supporting efforts to prevent and mitigate GBV. This resource includes some of the common GBV-related actions that can be implemented by logistics and telecommunications support sectors operating in humanitarian settings.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Minimum Standards (IFRC, 2018): This guidance presents Red Cross and Red Crescent staff, members and volunteers with a set of minimum standards for protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) in emergencies. It aims to ensure that the emergency programming of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies provides dignity, access, participation and safety for all people affected by disasters and crises. It provides practical guidance on how to mainstream these four principles in all sectors, based on a consideration of gender, age, disability and other diversity factors. This includes limiting people’s exposure to the risks of violence and abuse and ensuring that emergency programmes “do no harm”.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) in Emergencies Toolkit (IFRC, 2020): This toolkit accompanies the IFRC Minimum standards on protection, gender and inclusion in emergencies and provides additional guidance to plan, implement and monitor those standards during an emergency response and recovery. It is not intended that all tools will be used in each emergency response, rather this is a compendium of tools, which can be drawn on and adapted when required.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action (IASC, 2015):
- Camp Management & Camp Coordination: This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on CCCM and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance to assist CCCM actors and affected communities to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate essential actions for the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence. The guidance is meant to be applied throughout the entire life cycle of a site – from planning and set-up, to care and maintenance, and through to site closure and longer-term solutions for affected populations.
- Humanitarian Mine Action: This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on HMA and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance to assist HMA actors and affected communities to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate essential actions for the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence.
- Housing, Land & Property: This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on HLP and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance to assist HLP actors and affected communities to coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate essential actions for the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence.
Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action - Child Protection (IASC, 2015): This Thematic Area Guide (TAG) on child protection and gender-based violence is a portable tool that provides practical guidance for child protection professionals working to prevent and mitigate gender-based violence in humanitarian settings. Better-designed child protection programmes can help to mitigate risks—from introducing gender-based violence risk reduction activities into child-friendly community spaces to seeking out hard-to-reach girls for participation, for example. And well-designed child protection programmes can also support healing—for example by incorporating gender-based violence response efforts in reintegration programmes for children who were formerly recruited by armed groups, and supporting child-friendly systems of care
IFRC Child Participation Toolkit: For the Design and Implementation of Activities Involving Children (IFRC, 2024): This comprehensive toolkit equips National Societies with practical steps to engage children safely and meaningfully, enhancing the relevance, quality, and effectiveness of your programming. Grounded in the IFRC policies and key inter-agency standards, this toolkit provides essential guidance on running consultation processes with children, ensuring their voices are heard in every phase of program development.