Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Tigray Afar Amhara and Benishangul

This project aims to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for vulnerable populations in the Tigray Amhara Afar and Benishangul Gumuz regional states of Ethiopia. The project particularly targets women and girls including Internally Displaced Persons refugees and vulnerable members of host communities. Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) linked to conflicts in Ethiopia significantly increased the need for support to survivors and the need for prevention interventions. The project addresses immediate needs for women and girl’s safe spaces (WGSS) and for mobile medical teams to offer reproductive health care community outreach and initial clinical response and referral to other services for survivors of CRSV and SGBV. In addition the project also aims to assist in rebuilding local government capacity to prevent and respond to SGBV including by offering services to survivors increasing community awareness of SGBV and offering protection. Further essential SRHR services provided through the project reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and serve as an entry point to introduce SGBV education and services.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved access for women and girls including sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) survivors to quality comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services and information including lifesaving medical responses and rehabilitation; (2) mandated awareness of the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) enhanced humanitarian worker accountability and increased awareness of communities of PSEA reporting mechanisms; and (3) enhanced coordination among those working to address SGBV and SRHR related needs.