GBV disproportionately affects women and girls, and in situations of displacement their risk of exposure to GBV increases.
Different forms of GBV:
• Physical violence: any act of physical violence that is not sexual in nature and results in pain, discomfort or injury, such as domestic violence.
• Sexual violence: any form of non-consensual sexual contact, such as rape (including in the context of marriage), sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, trafficking and inappropriate touching.
• Economical abuse: Denial of resources, opportunities or services, assets or livelihood opportunities, education, health or other social services.
• Psychological/emotional abuse: threats of physical or sexual violence, intimidation, humiliation, forced isolation, stalking, harassment, unwanted attention, remarks, gestures or written words of a sexual and/or menacing nature, destruction of cherished things, etc.
There are several specialized GBV services that are accessible to survivors of GBV. For a list of UNHCR Partners providing free consultation and assistance, click HERE. For a list of GBV services provided by the Government of Ukraine and partners, click HERE.
1. GBV Case management: Case management process involves a social worker or a case worker supporting survivors to assess their multi-sector needs (health, mental health, psychological, legal, safety and security, livelihoods, etc.) and accompanying them to other services through referral with the consent of survivors.
2. Medical/health care services: The survivor can be referred to healthcare services including services related to Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) as soon as possible – within 71-120 hours after an incident of sexual violence.
3. Mental Health Services: The survivor can be referred to clinical treatment for mental disorders resulting from GBV incidents. This response requires specialized services delivered by qualified professionals.
4. Psychosocial Support: Services or support to GBV survivors to recover from emotional, psychological and social effects of GBV, including crisis care, longer term emotional and practical support, information and healing education. This can be done to help overcome stress, trauma and depression.
5. Legal assistance services: The survivor can be referred or supported with legal assistance services that can promote or help survivors to know their rights, claim their legal rights and make informed decisions in seeking access to justice.
6. Safe Shelter: The survivor can be referred/accompanied to a safe house or shelter that provides immediate security, temporary refuge, and support to survivors and their families in imminent danger who are escaping violent or abusive situations or are at risk of further violence.
7. Safe Spaces: The survivor can be referred to a women and girls safe space to feel physically, emotionally safe and comfortable and enjoy the freedom to express themselves without the fear of judgment or harm. It is a space where women interact freely, network and receive information about access to services. .
8. Security/Police: The survivor can be referred to the safety and security services provided by government police and security services.
9. Livelihood/Economic Empowerment Support: The survivor can be referred or supported with skill development, capacity building or provision of resources to enable survivors and vulnerable persons to gain knowledge and skills to seek employment or begin an activity that will provide them with income and empower them.
10. Emergency Basic Need Support: includes provision of any nonfood items (NFIs), or cash for basic needs. This support may include provision of hygiene kits, cooking materials, supplies for shelter, solar lanterns, clothing, baby items.