Specialised GBV programmes, complex cases and ethical data management

1The Inter-Agency Minimum Standards (2019)

The Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Programming, published by UNFPA and the GBV AoR, set sixteen standards grouped into three sets: the foundational standards (guiding principles, women's and girls' participation and empowerment, staff care and support), the programming standards (healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, case management, referral systems, safety and risk mitigation, justice and legal aid, dignity kits and cash assistance, economic empowerment and livelihoods, transforming systems and social norms, women and girls safe spaces) and the coordination and management standards (preparedness, assessment, monitoring and evaluation, GBV data collection and use).

Each standard includes key actions and indicators. Examples: female staff for services to women, regular supervision of caseworkers, dignity kits designed with women and distributed as an entry point to services, a GBV risk analysis in all cash programming.

2Supporting complex cases

Some cases require careful analysis and close supervision:

• Child survivors: application of the Caring for Child Survivors (CCS) guidelines, the child's consent according to age and maturity, agreement of the parent or guardian unless that person is the perpetrator or puts the child at risk, coordination with child protection.
• Close or powerful perpetrator (husband, leader, humanitarian worker): reinforced safety plan, absolute discretion in movements, temporary accommodation solutions.
• Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian personnel: reporting through the dedicated PSEA channel, immediate assistance without waiting for the investigation, the victim is never confronted with the perpetrator.
• Mandatory reporting obligation: know it, explain it before the interview, assess its risks with the supervisor and apply it while minimising the risks for the survivor.

The rule remains the same: the survivor, or the child according to their maturity, takes part in every decision, and every action is preceded by a safety assessment.

3GBVIMS, Primero and the sharing protocol

The GBVIMS includes a standard incident classification, an intake form and a consent form, a recording tool (or its electronic version GBVIMS+ on Primero) and an information sharing protocol that specifies who receives which statistics, how often and for what purpose.

Good practices: specific consent for sharing non-identifying data, codes instead of names, grouping of small areas to avoid identification, trend analysis (types of incidents, time to access care, locations) to adapt programmes. A key indicator is the proportion of rape survivors who received PEP within 72 hours: a low rate signals access barriers to be removed.

4Quality, accountability and staff care

Quality is managed through supervision of caseworkers (case file reviews, observation, case studies), confidentially conducted client satisfaction surveys, focus group discussions with women on the accessibility of services and an adapted complaints mechanism. Feedback is used to adjust opening hours, locations and staff profiles.

GBV work exposes staff to vicarious trauma: a manageable caseload, supervision, recovery time and psychological support are part of the programme and the budget. An exhausted team makes confidentiality and safety errors.