A decade of the Call to Action on GBV in Emergencies initiative: What comes next?

As we approach the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign that takes place from 25 November to 10 December every year, urgent questions remain about how we fight GBV around the world. Najah Almugahed, gender inclusion and protection advisor for Islamic Relief, explains why the initiative remains important.

Since its inception in 1991, the 16 Days of Activism campaign has worked tirelessly to eliminate all forms of GBV. Yet, the statistics remain alarming.

According to UN Women, 1 in every 3 women has experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner, or at least once in their lifetime.

Wars, conflicts, and climate related disasters exacerbate these risks.

During crises, over 70% of women and girls experience some form of GBV compared to 35% globally (during peacetime). Refugees and displaced women are particularly vulnerable, with at least 1 in 5 experiencing sexual violence.

Child marriage rates are higher in conflict affected areas, and adolescent girls, older women and women with disabilities experience more violence in humanitarian contexts.

The Call to Action on GBV in emergencies

In response to these critical needs, the Call to Action on GBV in Emergencies was launched in 2013. This global initiative unites governments, donors, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations to address GBV from the earliest phases of crises.

Leadership of the initiative has rotated among state actors including the UK, Sweden, Canada, Norway, and Germany. Guided by roadmaps (launched in 2016 and in 2021), its goals include establishing specialised GBV services and ensuring the integration of GBV and gender equality into all humanitarian programmes.

Partners of the Call to Action meet annually to discuss their progress and reaffirm their commitments to the initiative. This year’s annual meeting took place in Berlin, Germany, on 20 – 21 November, which coincides with the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

During this critical time partners are reflecting on their own commitments and priorities to fight GBV.

Islamic Relief’s commitment

Islamic Relief Worldwide joined this initiative in 2016, pledging 4 commitments. Our commitment helps in creating a framework for GBV prevention and related programming for Islamic Relief.

We also report on progress annually and aim to increase the number of GBV-related programmes.

In 2023, 47% of Islamic Relief projects included gender equality components, with 22 projects prioritising protection and inclusion as a primary area of intervention.

Islamic Relief’s commitments can be summarised under 4 thematic areas – accountability, capacity building, integration of GBV processes and consultations with women and girls. We implemented robust policies and systems to ensure institutional accountability for GBV, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and gender equality.

By integrating GBV considerations into needs assessments and response plans, Islamic Relief emphasised collecting sex, age, and disability disaggregated data (SADDD) to target vulnerable groups effectively.

These policies and systems are rolled out to all country offices, coupled with comprehensive trainings and capacity building for staff to be able to respond and prevent GBV into their programmes. It also included awareness raising sessions and GBV campaigns to strengthen community member’s understanding of GBV.

Islamic Relief engaged women, girls, and at-risk groups to identify needs, design interventions and enhance feedback mechanisms. This included developing an inclusive checklist for complaints and feedback mechanisms and updating GBV survivor referral pathways.

What has changed in a decade?

Despite these efforts, GBV in emergencies remains rampant. Conflicts and natural disasters – from Syria and Yemen to Sudan and Pakistan – have seen increased GBV rates. Sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war, as seen in the heartbreaking stories coming out of Sudan.

Collecting accurate data is difficult, but we know one thing for certain: GBV is not decreasing.

The demand is high, and the response from all humanitarian actors including partners for the Call to Action on GBV is limited. Less than 1% of all humanitarian funding is allocated to GBV programming.

After a decade, the Call to Action initiative is at a pivotal moment. Stakeholders are questioning its impact amid shrinking funding, escalating conflicts, and insufficient global accountability. There are also increasing concerns about the continuity of this call, as the current lead, Germany (2022 – 2024) has announced they will be stepping down, leaving a leadership void.

For Islamic Relief, the initiative remains invaluable.

It holds organisations accountable and serves as a critical framework that guides our GBV work. The potential loss of leadership is a wake-up call for governments and organisations. Protecting women and girls must never be optional. The potential leadership void is a critical concern, and stakeholders must step up to ensure its continuation.

Let this next phase of the Call to Action renew our commitment to ending GBV and creating a safer world for all.