Please note that this page includes resources for a generalized response to SGBV. If you are looking for support and/or guidance on how to respond to disclosure of an incident by a victim/survivor, please proceed to the 'Reacting to SGBV Disclosures' page.
SGBV is a multifaced issue, impacting survivors’ immediate sexual, physical and psychological health, safety, socio-economic capacities, access and enjoyment of rights, but also the wellbeing of their relatives, families, and communities.
Different consequences translate into different needs, with the main ones being those represented in this graphic.
Because of the complexity of SGBV consequences and survivor’s needs, we need a survivor centric, holistic, and multisectoral response:
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Survivor-centred: response which puts the survivor at the center of the healing process and is framed around 4 key principles of safety, confidentiality, respect and non discrimination
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Holistic: Comprehensive care, addressing the different types of care and support that SGBV survivors may need to recover, to heal and to be safe from harm
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Multisectoral: approaches that include prevention, response, mitigation but also advocacy
No single service provider can offer all these services alone, meaning that coordination among service providers is key to ensure timely access to services for SGBV survivors, reducing traumatization and the need for survivors to retell their stories multiple times. In each context, it is essential to develop a SGBV referral pathway, as a structured framework including all relevant services that SGBV survivors may need and designed to guide them to the appropriate care and services.
SGBV referral pathways should include at least healthcare, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and case management (if available in the context).
Movement partners are not expected to be able to provide specialized response for all SGBV related needs, but as Movement staff and volunteers are likely to encounter and engage with SGBV survivors, they are required to map/update available SGBV services in their area, develop and know the local referral pathway, and be able to provide information and facilitate the access to services, based on the survivor’s consent.
More specialized response can be provided according to specific capacities and expertise of personnel.
Because SGBV survivors may need different services, often provided by different actors, it is important to offer them timely information about all available services and options, and how to access them, known as referral pathway. A well functioning referral system allows to:
- reduce the need for the survivor to repeat their story and share confidential information on multiple occasions
- reduce the time and costs to access services
- contribute to a survivor centred response.
In order to establish referral systems, some key steps are needed, starting with a proper mapping and assessment of available services. Here below you will find some key tools to support you:
Key Resources:
Guidelines on Safe Referrals for National Societies (Danish Red Cross, 2025)
These Guidelines have been developed by Danish Red Cross. The objective of these guidelines is to foster a common understanding and approach within the Movement to safely identify persons’ needs and risks, and connecting them to the services and support they need in the most appropriate way. It is particularly (but not exclusively) focused on supporting people who have been exposed to violence, coercion, or deprivation (protection risk)1, especially for people and groups who are at heightened risk.
GBV Service Mapping & Assessment Tools - Questionnaire and Excel Mapping Template (French Red Cross)
- This two-part toolkit from the French Red Cross is a practical tool for mapping and assessing GBV response services in their operational areas.
- Tool 1: GBV Service Mapping Questionnaire - A comprehensive assessment questionnaire for systematically documenting available GBV services across all sectors of response.
- Tool 2: Rapid GBV Response Mapping Template - An Excel-based template designed to facilitate quick documentation and visualization of GBV service availability and referral pathways within a geographic area. This tool complements the questionnaire by providing a framework for organizing and analyzing collected data.
Medical treatment and health care to address the immediate and long-term physical and mental health effects of GBV. This can include initial examination and treatment, follow-up medical care, mental health care, and health-related legal services, such as preparation of documentation and provision of evidence during judicial and related processes.
Safe abortion/sexual reproductive health: suggested approaches on how to deliver sexual and reproductive health care at community level, including counselling, raise awareness on signs of SGBV, management of sexually transmitted infections, and management of unintended pregnancy.
- IFRC Care in Communities: Guidelines of National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies - Part 2A: Essential evidence-based health services packages for delivery at the community/home levels (IFRC, 2020): These guidelines were developed through consultation with and contribution from National Societies, subject matter experts and a range of key stakeholders. The result is comprehensive guidance on the implementation of community-based care and support programmes that are adaptable and suitable for implementation in diverse settings.
- Sexual, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (pg.33-37)
- Clinical Management of Rape Survivors (WHO, 2004): This resource clarifies how to provide emergency care following an incident of sexual violence (intended for specialised health staff)
- Provision of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) (WHO, 2024): This resource outlines what we need to know about kits composition, procurement and distribution (intended for specialised staff)
- First 72 Hours: Critical Support for Victim/Survivors of Sexual Violence (ICRC, 2020) : This video by the ICRC explores the critical support victims/ survivors of sexual violence require and must have access to in order to prevent a range of negative consequences - especially within the first 72 hours that the incident occurred.
Psychosocial care and support to assist with healing and recovery from emotional, psychological and social effects. This may include emotional and practical support for the survivor and her/his family, information and advocacy, case management. These support services are often provided through the case management process.
- A Guide to Psychological First Aid (MHPSS Hub, 2018): This guide has general information about psychological first aid, which is a direct response and set of actions that can be used to help someone in distress.
- Survivor-Centered Approaches to Providing MHPSS Support to Survivors of Gender-based Violence (MHPSS Hub, 2024): This video by the MHPSS Reference Centre explains the concept of survivor centered approaches when providing MHPSS support to survivors of gender based violence.
- IASC GBV Case Management Guidelines (GBVIMS, 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.
- IASC Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies Programming: Standard 5 Psychosocial Support (IASC, 2019): This resource presents 16 Minimum Standards for GBV prevention and response programming in emergencies. As a whole, the 16 Minimum Standards define what agencies working on specialized GBV programming need to achieve to prevent and respond to GBV, and deliver multisectoral services.
Safety and protection services for survivors and their families who are at risk of further violence and who wish to be protected, such as safe shelters, police or community security, relocation, or in the case of children, alternative care arrangements.
- Safety Planning Guide (Australian Red Cross, 2023): This resource is a practical tool about how to respond when someone discloses or is identified as experiencing SGBV.
- Family Violence Practice Guide (Australian Red Cross): This practice guide is designed to support Red Cross and Red Crescent practitioners to identify and respond to family violence concerns they may encounter when working with individuals, families and communities.
- IASC GBV Case Management Guidelines (GBVIMS, 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.
Socio-economic and livelihood opportunities to support survivors and their families to live independently and in safety and dignity. This can include referral pathways for existing livelihood, education programmes or services, non-formal education and adult learning options, and targeted economic interventions that can mitigate risks of GBV and foster healing and empowerment.
- 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 (GBV AoR/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
Legal and law enforcement services that can promote or help survivors to claim their legal rights, protection and reparations, such as criminal investigation and prosecution, legal aid services and court support. National societies can play an important role in engaging with national law enforcement authorities on how to better receive and assist SGBV survivors, but also facilitate connection with legal aid services.
Additional services, depending on the context and the specific needs of survivors. For instance, in displacement situations and migration contexts, lack of documentation can expose survivors to considerable further risk limited access to services. Supporting SGBV with legal documentation could be a valuable support action.
Family and Domestic Violence Toolkit (Australian Red Cross, 2023)
These guidelines developed by the Australian Red Cross outline the support available to Australian Red Cross people (employees, volunteers, and members) and contractors or sub-contractors, work experience students, trainees and apprentices who may be experiencing domestic or family violence.