Gender-based violence (GBV) is a term used to describe harmful acts perpetrated against a person based on socially ascribed differences between males and females, and is used to highlight how gender discrimination makes women and girls vulnerable to various forms of violence, including but not limited to: early/forced marriage, female genital cutting, sexual harassment, dowry/bride price abuse, intimate partner/domestic violence, deprivation of inheritance and property, sexual assault and rape.

Gender-based violence is a pervasive public health and human rights problem, affecting the physical and psychological health of survivors, as well as the health and wellbeing of families and communities. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to violence in emergency settings, when risks are compounded at the very time support systems are interrupted. International Medical Corps works with communities to address these risks and combat beliefs and practices that perpetuate violence against women and girls. International Medical Corps is also a leading agency in the delivery of quality, focused support services for survivors of gender-based violence. We tailor support services to different cultures and contexts, helping survivors to recover from traumatic experiences and safely reintegrate into communities.

Worldwide, one in three women have experienced violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner.

Women who have been abused by their partners are almost twice as likely to experience depression, and in some regions, 1.5 times more likely to acquire HIV.

Complications from pregnancy and childbirth is the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 in developing countries, where one in three girls will marry before the age of 18.

Our Response

Managing GBV Programmes in Humanitarian Settings

Since 2011, International Medical Corps has worked to deliver a multi-phased learning course for GBV program managers. The MGBViE program includes Phase I- a self-guided e-learning; Phase II—a face-to-face training workshop; and, Phase III—continued learning and networking opportunities.

With support from the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), International Medical Corps continues to organize MGBViE Phase II training opportunities for emerging GBV specialists from around the globe. International Medical Corps is also leading an initiative to partner MGBViE Phase II graduates with experienced GBV specialist mentors as part of MGBViE Phase III. To further advance networking and continued learning opportunities, International Medical Corps is also supporting the GBV AoR to launch a virtual GBV Community of Practice in 2017. Read more about the MGBViE learning course here >

International Medical Corps has helped to train 74 people through the MGBViE program, with plans to train 100 more over the next two years.

In surveys conducted six months after the MGBViE in-person training, 100% of graduates rated the usefulness of the training as high or very high, and more than 95% reported increased preparedness to manage a GBV program in an emergency setting.

Through the MGBViE program, 24 emerging specialists have been paired with expert mentors for continued professional support.

Areas of Specialty

International Medical Corps addresses the issue of Gender-Based Violence through Building Global Capacity, Support for Survivors, Women’s and Girl’s Empowerment, and Combatting GBV. Details of our work in each of these areas are presented below:

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