Taking international action to prevent sexual and gender-based violence

Recommendations on the UK’s G8 presidency and gender-sensitive security and justice reform

Addressing sexual violence is inevitably complex, and despite increased international attention on the issue in recent years, examples of bad practice in this area are easier to identify than good ones. However, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has elaborated detailed guidance for tackling violence against women and girls, which provides an invaluable resource for the UK Government and others to draw on as it further develops its recently announced Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI).

This briefing does two things: first, it recommends that the UK use its G8 presidency and accompanying diplomatic work to find new ways of encouraging the international community to fulfill its existing commitments on tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). We believe that if the PSVI is to be successful, it should take a holistic approach to preventing and responding to SGBV such as that developed by DFID. Second, the briefing recommends that the UK should take a lead on promoting gender-sensitive security and justice sector reform as a key means of tackling SGBV. Saferworld believes that developing capable, accountable and responsive security and justice systems through a gender-sensitive approach can have a ‘multiplier effect’ on preventing SGBV in armed conflict, by improving access to justice for survivors, tackling impunity and preventing abuses by security and justice providers, and also through its contribution to upstream conflict prevention.

“While the issue is complex, Saferworld believes that progress can be made if it is based on a sound analysis of the barriers to implementation and addresses the underlying causes of SGBV in all its forms.”

Saferworld on the UK's G8 presidency and addressing sexual and gender based violence