Locally led action to address Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies

A linked event on locally led action to address gender-based violence (GBV) in emergencies, co-sponsored by the UK and Colombian governments, spotlighted (refugee) women-led organisations leading humanitarian response against GBV in emergency settings, with CARE International and German Federal Foreign Office’s (GFFO) support. The discussion reiterated the Gender Equality and Protection from GBV multistakeholder pledge’s call for greater inclusion and leadership of Women-Led Organizations (WLOs), including refugee women-led organizations (RWLOs), and the voices of women and girls in humanitarian decision-making spaces addressing GBV.

The event’s featured women leaders from CARE’s partner organisations: Razia Sultana, Rights for Women Welfare Society, Bangladesh; Erika Veloza Martinez, GENFAMI, Colombia, Assalama Maï Kéllema Gréma Ari, Comité des Jeunes Filles Leaders, Niger; Marie Louise Baricako, Inamahoro Movement for Women and Girls, Burundi; Angelina Nyajima Simon, Hope Restoration, South Sudan. Speakers highlighted strategies for engaging affected communities on the ground to address GBV and determining the humanitarian sector's role in systems change and accountability towards established commitments.

The discussion revealed common barriers, including funding and accountability issues. The speakers underlined the importance of fair, flexible and multi-year funding that covers core costs. (Refugee) WLOs advocated for systemic change, reimagining their role not merely as implementing partners but as leaders and shapers of humanitarian response and needs assessments. They also stressed the importance of ensuring accountability to global commitments at the country level.

This event gave space for (refugee) WLOs to directly share their lived realities during emergencies and concerns with the international humanitarian community. The discussion concluded with stakeholders acknowledging the critical role of WLOs, emphasizing the need for enhanced access to funding, ensuring the leadership of WLOs in decision-making spaces and pledges, and monitoring fulfillment of commitments at the local level. It is critical to ensure that local women leaders’ voices are heard and taken into consideration throughout the humanitarian project cycle.