FOREWORD

Gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls remains a pervasive problem around the world1 and it is on the rise. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of GBV saw a sharp increase.2 The COVID-19 pandemic is only one of the crises compounding the rates of GBV against women and girls. This human rights violation, rooted in gender inequality, is further exacerbated by the unprecedented climate crisis, growing conflicts, deepening inequalities and democratic backsliding. Seventy percent of women experience GBV in humanitarian or crisis contexts,3 compared to the global average of 30 percent. In the aftermath of some climate emergencies, a three-fold increase in domestic violence cases has been reported.4

Recognizing the vast challenge posed by GBV to the realization of humanity’s aspirations of equality, peace and sustainable development, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and the Global Women’s Institute (GWI) at George Washington University forged a partnership to conduct research with the aim to identify survivor-centred approaches to addressing GBV in complex situations. New research in six countries across the globe – namely Afghanistan,5 Honduras, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Sudan, and Tunisia – provided the basis for the present report. The six country case studies offer different perspectives of complexity in accessing justice in situations of conflict, organized crime, climate disasters, and health emergencies, often intersecting with contexts of legal pluralism and political transition.

The partnership was an ideal mix of expertise and resources. As the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law to advance peace and sustainable development, IDLO has been researching, developing, and applying survivor/ victimcentered approaches in response to GBV, as part of its justice programming, for many years. Combatting GBV remains a key objective under IDLO’s Strategic Plan 2021-2024 and remains one of IDLO’s largest thematic portfolios. GWI is a globally recognized leader in the field of GBV and has pioneered research on the prevalence of violence against women and girls in conflict settings. Since its launch in 2012, GWI has brought together world class faculty, researchers, students, practitioners, and policymakers to focus on the most critical issues facing women and girls today through research, education and action for change.

Our new report shows, once again, that in situations of crisis and other complexities, women are more likely to experience violence and other forms of gender-based discrimination and less likely to receive justice. Survivors of GBV face a myriad of challenges in pursuing justice for GBV in these circumstances. They range from social norms that stigmatize or blame survivors, community pressure to withdraw a report, fear of reprisals, lack of economic resources, to constraints within justice institutions and, in many contexts, a general culture of impunity.

Our new report is very clear in highlighting these profound challenges. And it also moves forward to recommend concrete approaches and practices to increase access to justice for survivors of GBV in complex situations. The recommendations and the more detailed account of promising approaches in each substantive chapter are essential because they provide concrete tools for decision-makers and practitioners. We wish to underline the need to develop and implement a comprehensive survivorcentred justice response to GBV. This is, in fact, essential particularly in complex situations that are often characterized by a breakdown of the functioning of justice.

IDLO and GWI would like this report to contribute to ongoing efforts to stave off the assault on women and girls’ rights that is currently intensifying in many places around the world, regardless of their development ranking. We fully support the new vision for the rule of law

Jan Beagle Director-General International Development Law Organization as noted in the UN Secretary-General’s ‘Our Common Agenda’, the commitments to eradicate violence against women and girls, and promote peace, justice and inclusive societies as inscribed in the 2030 Agenda, and the bold action plan of the Generation Equality Forum.

International cooperation is essential and can create agreement on what needs to be done, but change, irreversible change, can only happen if survivors are listened to, believed, and included in all decisionmaking about their lives, with respect for their diversity. Change can only happen if women’s collective action and advocacy is supported.

We urge you to read this report in a spirit of urgency of the change that needs to happen. We invite you to take forward its recommendations. And we remain committed to our own partnership to put the findings of the report into action.

Mary Ellsberg Founding Director Global Women’s Institute