28th November 2007 IASC GBV Guidelines Workshop Central African Republic, Bangui, 28th – 31st October 2007 Briefing on workshop outcomes, key challenges & opportunities

28th November 2007 Introduction 1. Background on IASC GBV Guidelines 2. CAR:  Humanitarian context  GBV in CAR 3. Workshop in Bangui on GBV  Identified gaps  Outcomes 4. Key opportunities to address GBV

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1. Background to IASC GBV Guidelines  2003: IASC GBV group formed (2003)  2005: Guidelines for GBV interventions in emergencies published: 4 languages (Arabic, English, French & Spanish)  2006: Roll-out process in the field: Colombia, Uganda, Thailand, CAR, Mozambique  2007: further roll-out: Liberia, Nepal, Haiti GenCap Advisors Distribution of tools

28th November CAR: Humanitarian Context  Regional context: 8,500 refugees from Darfur & Chad  Internal conflict in northern CAR: affecting 1 million (out of population of 4,2m) 750,000 of whom are women & children  Forced Displacement: 295, ,000 internally displaced 98,000 taken refuge in Chad, Cameroon & Sudan  CAP 2007: Amount requested: $49,5m - revised requirements $86,3m - committed $60,7m (November 2007, FTS)  One of world’s lowest human development indicators: HIV prevalence: 6.2%; 4.3% (m), 7.8% (f)

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Gender-Based Violence in CAR  Sexual violence: Rape a characteristic of the conflict SEA: eg. street children  Domestic violence: Widely accepted; rape within marriage not illegal  Harmful traditional practices: FGM: 36% of women & girls in CAR, widely practiced in North (UNICEF MICS 2000)  Societal level: Stigmatization of rape survivors by family & community  Climate of impunity & limited legal rights: Few convictions for rape Lack of confidence in police & judicial system regarding GBV

28th November 2007 International community response  ICC: Recently opened investigation into crimes, explicitly GBV, committed during coup d’état period (Oct – Nov 2002 & Feb – March 2003)  Studies on GBV: WHO & UNFPA (2006)  Programmatic response: IRC’s GBV programme in Kaga Bandoro hospital (Nana Gribizi district) & North axis – Ouandago clinic – 1,1100 survivors (6 months) MSF mobile clinics (Ouhanda)

28th November 2007 Local level response  3 principle organizations fighting against impunity & providing assistance: FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) OCODEFAD (Organization for Compassion and the Development of Families in Distress) Central African Human Rights League (LCDH)  Between 2002 and 2007, FIDH has assisted OCODEFAD & LCDH in gathering testimony and lobbying the ICC to investigate.

28th November Inter-agency GBV workshop Bangui, October 29th – 31st 2007  Co-organizers & co-facilitators: GenCap Advisor, UNFPA (Bangui & Nairobi), UNICEF (Gva)  Additional speakers: Representatives: GoCAR (Min Social Affairs), WHO, IRC  Participants: 50 humanitarian actors (Min of Social Affairs, UN, NGO, local human rights organizations)  Topics: Concepts, tools, political & socio-cultural background, legal environment, GBV programming, ethics and confidentiality, children as victims and witnesses  Group Work: Action sheets on clusters & cross-cutting issues

28th November 2007 Identified common challenges  Prevalence of SV  Climate of impunity & stigmatization  Limited access to health services  Very limited GBV programming  Lack of technical expertise  Lack of data collected in ethical manner  Limited funding  Lack of space to ensure confidentiality Structure of mobile clinics  High number of STDs & lack of treatment available

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NEEDS AMONG HUMANITARIAN ACTORS:  Improvement in coordination: Confidential information sharing Referral system for survivors Cluster Approach: GBV not a sub-cluster within Protection Cluster; Groupe Thématique Genre et Développement (GTGD) group not anchored within Cluster Approach  Building technical expertise on GBV programming in humanitarian settings  Capacity-building on Guiding Principles: security, confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination  Expertise for specialized interventions for child survivors/witnesses

28th November 2007 Key Outcomes of the Workshop  Group of trained & motivated humanitarian actors & representatives from GoCAR  Key recommendation to establish an inter- agency GBV coordination mechanism: Multi-sectoral & inter-agency membership with GoCAR TORs for a GT GBV drafted & presented to UNCT:  coordination of technical assistance; capacity-building; mapping of GBV activities; advocacy for multi-sectoral approach; problem-solving in GBV interventions Time-bound (one year), chaired by UNFPA

28th November 2007 Key opportunities  Momentum for building bridges & alliances  Improved coordination through Cluster Approach: Tapping into Protection Cluster through GBV TF  Improved data collection: Monitoring & Reporting system?  Improved advocacy & funding?: CAP 2008 & work of GenCap  Political level developments: ICC EU/UN multidisciplinary peacekeeping mission AU-UN initiative: International Conference on Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR) - Protocol to prevent & suppress SV

28th November 2007 Questions? Thank you!