Social Science Research Council

On behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Social Science Research Council organized and hosted a Technical Consultation on Sexual Violence and Exploitation (SVE) in Conflict Situations on December 15-16, 2005. Participants forged links between disciplines and initiated the design of a practically-applicable standardized service for the assessment, monitoring and reporting of sexual violence and exploitation in conflict situations. Despite substantial work on aspects of sexual and gender-based violence monitoring and assessment, there currently exists no agreed-upon method to be used on a routine, systematic basis for the generation of rapid data and analysis to inform effective response strategies and reduction interventions in conflict situations.

As part of their interagency discussions on an expanded and accelerated global effort to reduce sexual violence in situations of armed conflict, the WHO and UNFPA—within an overarching framework of promoting “gender justice”—are working together to institutionalize a routine system for assessing the prevalence of SVE in conflict situations, and developing and promoting a package of prevention, treatment, care and support services for women affected by SVE in conflict and crisis situations. The meeting brought together a diversity of expertise and perspectives on surveillance to develop more systematic approaches of measurement and response. Bringing together individuals from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines allowed the group to view the enormous challenge from a new perspective, and to build a foundation for future progress in addressing sexual violence in conflict situations.