Pledge on Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Emergencies – Focus on Situations of Conflict and Disasters

Combatting gender-based violence is a foreign policy priority of Switzerland, and from the beginning of 2017, one of four priority topics of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Department.

In late 2016, an operational concept 2017-2020 for this new priority topic was launched, which foresees the scaling of SGBV-specific projects providing protection and multi-sectoral services for survivors of SGBV in SDC/HA’s field operations, the promotion of SGBV mainstreaming and risk mitigation (in line with the IASC GBV guidelines, 2015), support towards effective humanitarian coordination on SGBV, in-country and global-level advocacy on SGBV, enhanced cooperation on SGBV with SDC/HA priority partners and local (women’s) NGOs, and research and advocacy towards a gender-inclusive approach, which responds to the specific needs of both male and female survivors of sexual violence.

The operational concept on SGBV covers preparedness, response to immediate crisis and the recovery phase.
Its principals of action include a survivor-centred approach, participation of women and girls in programming and decision-making, and the engagement of men and boys, as well as religious leaders. It promotes both internal and external capacity building while upholding a zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse in the Code of Conduct of members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. The operational concept is part of Switzerland’s global commitment towards gender equality and women’s rights.

In addition, SDC provides core contributions to partner organizations implementing SGBV-specific programmes (including access to sexual and reproductive health), including the ICRC (which includes multi-sectoral services for survivors and dissemination of IHL), IFRC, UNFPA, IPPF, UN Women, UNICEF, UNHCR and UNRWA, and is funding several bilateral projects on SGBV prevention and response across the globe.

Switzerland is partner to the Call to Action on protection from GBV in emergencies, has issued SGBV-specific commitments in the framework of the World Humanitarian Summit and under the Call to Action roadmap, and is currently co-chairing the Call to Action states and donor working group.
Switzerland supports the GBV AoR with its Regional Emergency GBV Advisers (REGAs), and is financing a gender and GBV expert for the current revision of the sphere handbook.