Integrated Services to address gender-based violence
Side-event to the 61st Commission for Social Development 2023
Time: February 15th 2023, 1:15 – 2:30 PM (NYC Time)
Location: Virtual event
Co-organized by: Swiss Ministry of Home Affairs (Social Insurance Department) and the OECD
Background:
Gender-based violence (GBV) affects one in three women worldwide at least once in her lifetime. And one in five women aged 15-49 suffers from violence from a life partner. In humanitarian crisis, 70% of women are at risk of GBV. Violence, especially intimate partner violence, dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore essential that victims/survivors and their children receive adequate support when they seek help. Offering services in one place is a promising way to achieve this.
A significant percentage of women who have survived violence have not sought help or even talked about it to others. By offering them a place where they can talk in safety, they are encouraged to seek help. If they can be referred to people who understand and support them their journey to empowerment and healing can be significantly simplified. Whether this place is a health service, a social service, an association or a women's collective.
Integrated policies to address the needs of women facing violence are advocated by several research studies highlighted by the OECD, are promoted in an international reference treaty (Istanbul Convention) and, are at the heart of different practices around the world.
