Cover image: © UNICEF/Bridget Donovan

About the course

Why focus on women and girls in emergencies? What are your responsibilities in handling disclosures from survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)? 

In this course, you will learn the core concepts underpinning Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) and how to handle disclosures using a survivor-centred approach. Find out why it is critical to prioritize women and girls in emergencies. Gender-based violence can occur at any point in a person’s life, in times of peace or instability. But in crisis settings, threats soar. Armed conflict, natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies can significantly weaken a society’s ability to protect women and girls from gender-based violence. 

The course begins with an introduction to the term Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and a look at how prevalent GBV is globally. It references and includes key texts like the, “Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action (2015)”. Through it, you’ll learn about common types of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), explore the root causes and consequences of GBV for survivors, families and societies and examine the key concepts of human rights, informed consent, power and violence.

UNICEF adopts a survivor-center approach to GVBViE programming. Through this course, you will develop an awareness of the set of survivor-centered principles that puts survivors’ rights at the forefront of all action. Practice identifying actions that are harmful and action that are helpful to survivors’ well-being.

Finally, you will learn how to handle a GBV disclosure. 

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Define terms including gender and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
  • Illustrate the prevalence of GBV naming a few key statistics reported herein
  • Identify root causes and consequences of GBV for survivors and communities
  • Describe a survivor-centered approach to GBViE programming
  • Use a survivor-centred approach (at or beyond the minimum response defined in the IASC guidelines) to respond to a GBV disclosure

Audience

UNICEF staff and partners

Length

This course should take about 45 minutes to complete.  

Methodology

This course provides direct instruction on the definitions, root causes and consequences of Gender-Based Violence. It draws from guiding documentation from multiple UN agencies and standing committees. Instruction is provided in the form of written text, narrated text and an animated motion graphic video. A mix of interactives energize the learner’s experience, giving them choice and a part in actively exploring information presented in the course. 

An interactive data slider allows learners to explore prevalence data. Learners click to reveal data insights around common types of VAWG. Eight key questions about GBV are displayed in an interactive graphic where learners click questions to reveal answers. A “focus-mode” roll-over enables learners to glide across the set of survivor-centred approaches to GBViE programming. This mix provides variety in modalities of reading, listening and interacting with content. Learners can practice discernment when asked to classify if a response is helpful or harmful in a scenario-based, drag-and-drop activity. 

Learners who score 80 per cent or higher on the final quiz receive a certificate of completion. Note that you must complete your course evaluation in order to receive your certificate. 

This course is part of the Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies learning playlist. This is the second course in the suggested sequence, although you may complete courses in any order you wish. 

Structure

This course is structured into the following topics:

  • Introduction
  • GBV key concepts
  • Survivor-centred approach
  • How to handle disclosures
  • Completion quiz
  • Summary

Contact details

Content issues and question: Sunita Joergensen (sjoergensen@unicef.org), Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Programme Section, Amman.

For technical issues, please contact the Agora Team using this support request form.