世界发展银行-Gender-Based-Violence-and-Violence-Against-Children---Prevention-and-Response-Services-in-Uganda_rsquo_s-Refugee-Hosting-Districts_96页_6mb

Summary of the Document: Linking, Aligning, and Convening – Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Children Prevention and Response Services in Uganda's Refugee-Hosting Districts

Core Content

This document presents an assessment of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC) prevention and response services in Uganda's refugee-hosting districts. It is part of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP), a World Bank-funded initiative aimed at addressing the impacts of forced displacement in Uganda. The study focuses on 11 districts that host refugees, with an emphasis on the intersections between GBV and VAC, and the need for integrated, multisectoral approaches to improve service delivery and reduce risks.

Main Points

1. Context and Background

• Uganda is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the third-largest globally, with over 1.4 million refugees and asylum seekers as of May 2020, mostly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Women and children make up 82% of the refugee population, with 56% under 15 and 25% under five years old.
• Refugees are concentrated in 12 districts out of 134, including Kampala.
• Refugee-hosting areas are among the poorest and least-developed in Uganda, facing development challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and weak infrastructure.
• These areas are also more vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks due to the influx of refugees.

2. Policy and Legal Framework

• The 2006 National Refugee Act and 2010 Refugee Regulations provide refugees with rights such as access to social services, land, shelter, and freedom of movement.
• The National Development Plan (2015/16–2019/20) recognizes refugee-hosting districts as vulnerable areas and prioritizes them for development interventions.
• The ReHoPE (Refugee and Host Population Empowerment) framework, launched in 2017, aims to bridge humanitarian and development approaches and promote self-reliance among both refugees and host communities.
• The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), introduced by the Office of the Prime Minister, aligns with the New York Declaration and focuses on multi-stakeholder coordination.

3. Assessment Objectives and Scope

• The study aimed to:
  • Identify key risk factors for GBV and VAC, especially in host communities.
  • Map existing prevention and response services in both refugee and host communities.
  • Assess the effectiveness of referral pathways and information systems.
  • Provide recommendations for improving service integration and coordination.

4. Key Risk Factors

• Social and gender norms that normalize violence.
• Economic hardship and substance abuse.
• Poverty and lack of safeguards.
• Discriminatory practices, such as early marriage.
• Inadequate access to services due to distance and poor infrastructure.
• Trauma and aid dependency among displaced populations.
• Limited reporting mechanisms, especially in conservative communities.

5. Current Services and Challenges

• Services for GBV and VAC are provided by UNHCR, UN agencies, and NGOs.
• There is a lack of integration between humanitarian and national systems.
• Referral systems are inefficient, with gaps in protocols, case tracking, and follow-up.
• Survivors often face barriers to accessing multisectoral services (health, psychosocial, legal).
• Weak institutional capacity in sectors like justice, health, and education hampers effective service delivery.

Key Recommendations

1. Integrate GBV and VAC Risk Mitigation into Development Projects

• Development initiatives should consider GBV and VAC risks and embed mitigation measures.
• This includes grievance redress mechanisms, community mobilization, and training for stakeholders.
• Preventing shifts in gender dynamics and economic exploitation is essential.

2. Strengthen Multisectoral Services

• Improve case management and referral systems.
• Enhance capacity of duty bearers (health workers, police, legal officers).
• Ensure logistical and infrastructural support for service delivery.
• Build local leadership and refugee welfare committees (RWCs) to improve referral processes.

3. Scale Up Evidence-Based Prevention Approaches

• Implement community-based social norm change programs like SASA!.
• Promote school-based violence prevention (e.g., "Good School" toolkit).
• Focus on economic and social empowerment of women and adolescent girls.
• Develop positive parenting practices and community engagement.

4. Address Intersections Between GBV and VAC

• Break down conceptual "silent spaces" between GBV and child protection programs.
• Address shared risk factors, such as social norms and trauma.
• Train service providers to handle both GBV and VAC cases.
• Conduct assessments to evaluate the added value of integrated approaches.

5. Bridge the Humanitarian-Development Divide

• Align interventions with national systems and local structures.
• Promote the humanitarian-development nexus and the New Way of Working (NWOW).
• Strengthen funding and financing modalities for integrated and sustainable service delivery.

Key Information

• Data Collection: Conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak, but post-pandemic data show increased GBV and VAC cases.
• Methodology: Used qualitative data from focus group discussions, interviews, and consultations.
• Limitations: Data validation and institutional capacity were key challenges.
• Ethical Considerations: Ensured confidentiality and informed consent for participants.
• Partners: Involved UNHCR, UNICEF, NGOs, and local governments.
• Suggested Citation: Government of Uganda and World Bank. 2020. Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Children Prevention and Response Services in Uganda's Refugee-Hosting Districts. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes the urgent need for integrated, multisectoral, and sustainable approaches to prevent and respond to GBV and VAC in both refugee and host communities. It calls for collaboration between humanitarian and development actors, capacity building, and systemic change to address the root causes of violence and improve service access and effectiveness.