Gender Based Violence

In 2004, a group of Irish development and human rights NGOs got together on the initiative of Amnesty International and Irish Aid , to discuss how best to respond to the situation of very high levels of rape being reported from the conflict in Darfur, West Sudan. Very quickly it was apparent to the group that given the widespread endemic nature of Gender Based Violence (GBV) it was necessary to look beyond one high profile situation and that the Irish agencies needed to develop their respective institutional capacities to respond to the problem of GBV on a much more systematic basis. Thus the Joint Consortium of Irish Human Rights Humanitarian and Development Agencies and Irish Aid was established   to work towards addressing GBV, with particular reference to complex conflict environments. 

The consortium then commissioned a study to examine the capacity of the agencies to respond to GBV. Two independent consultants were recruited to conduct the study, under the guidance of a consortium steering committee. The funding of the study by consortium members was in itself a testimony to the concern that existed among the agencies on the pervasiveness of GBV and an acknowledgement of the need for action.

The work of the Consortium has developed over time and more details on the activities undertaken may be found in this area of the Dtalk website and at www.gbv.ie .

The Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence includes: Action Aid Ireland, Amnesty International, Childfund Ireland, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Department of Defence, Dtalk, GOAL, Irish Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs), Irish Red Cross, Oxfam Ireland, Self Help Development International and Trócaire. 

• Click here to download: Irish Agencies Collaborate to Address Gender Based Violence
• Click here to download GBV A Failure to Protect A challenge to Action