Key Points to Remember
Sexual and gender-based violence violates human rights. UNHCR
and States share the responsibility for ensuring that refugees and
other displaced persons are protected. Preventing and responding
to sexual and gender-based violence against refugees is thus part of
the overall strategy to protect refugees.
Women and girls make up the vast majority of victims/survivors of
sexual and gender-based violence, although boys and men can
also be victims/survivors.
Gender refers to what it means to be a boy or girl, woman or man, in
a particular society or culture.
A comprehensive prevention and response plan should focus on the
roles and needs of both women and men and how both can
become agents of change.
Most acts of sexual and gender-based violence are perpetrated by
someone known to the survivor.
Perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence are sometimes
the very people upon whom survivors depend to assist and protect
them.
Sexual and gender-based violence occurs in all classes, cultures,
religions, races, gender and ages. Interventions to prevent or
respond to sexual and gender-based violence should target
individuals, close relationships, the community and society, in
general.
Understanding the causes of sexual and gender-based violence will
help you to develop effective actions to prevent it; understanding
the consequences of sexual and gender-based violence allows you
to develop appropriate response packages for victims/survivors.
Gender inequality and discrimination are the root causes of sexual
and gender-based violence.
Equal access to and control of material resources and assistance
benefits and women’s equal participation in decision-making
processes should be reflected in all programmes, whether explicitly
targeting sexual and gender-based violence or responding to the
emergency, recovery or development needs of the population.
The potential for debilitating long-term effects of emotional and
physical trauma should never be underestimated.
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