Description

Crisis situations exacerbate the risk of violence for women and girls. This is due to the fact that any type of crisis disrupts a pre-existent situation, which may alter the power dynamics in gender roles. Studies conducted in the context of natural disasters demonstrate that they affect women differently than men - gender-specific aftershocks include among others an increase in cases of rape and abuse or spikes in intimate partner violence reports. 

 However, vulnerability of women and girls in crises stretches far beyond natural disasters and extends to human-induced disasters such as armed conflicts. Subsequent forced displacement pushes the gendered dimension of migration to the forefront which exposes women to violence at all stages of their journey to safety. 

The study seeks to:

  • deepen the understanding of gender-based violence (GBV) occurring in crises 

  • review policies and legislative instruments relevant for prevention of GBV in the context of migration 

  • strengthen Member States’ institutional capacities for prevention, early detection and protection victims by integrating GBV in National Action Plans (NAP) required by the Women Peace and Security agenda 

  • collect and systematise existing guidelines, tools and methodologies focusing on prevention, early detection and protection of GBV victims in the context of migration  

  • develop practical guidance and recommendations for EU institutions and Member States for early identification of GBV in migration settings and protection of vulnerable migrants. 

Keep reading

Policy brief on Addressing gender-based violence in migration: How to strengthen national action plans on Women, Peace and Security across the EU.

Report: Women fleeing the war - Access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in the EU under the Temporary Protection Directive

Two years on: women fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine need more support