Recorded presentation

Maria Caterina Ciampi, Boston University, School of Public Health, 715 Albany, Boston, MA 02118, 617-365-6053, mariaciampi@hotmail.com

Refugees, internally displaced and post-conflict populations are at increased risk for sexual and domestic violence due to a multiplicity of stressors, exacerbated by the lack of resources to counter or contain these problems. In primary and reproductive health care programs around the world, women and girls generally are willing to disclose personal experiences of violence if asked directly; however, few providers have been trained to address these difficult issues, and few clinics have activities that specifically address the needs of GBV victims. While various international humanitarian organizations have been integrating GBV programs since the 1990’s, no relief agency has implemented active screening for GBV thus far.

This paper makes an argument for the introduction of active screening protocols for GBV in humanitarian settings, using Tanzania as an illustration. First, I will define GBV, assess its magnitude and describe the particular risks and consequences of exposure to GBV for women and girls in post-conflict settings and make an argument for the need for screening. Second, I will review literature on GBV, revealing the complexities of data collection and the controversies around the effectiveness screening. Third, I will report on current screening programs. Finally, I will consider the Tanzanian primary and reproductive health care programs in refugee camps and settlements as potential sites for the implementation of active GBV screening protocols in humanitarian settings. Drawing on the lessons learned in GBV screening programs in developing countries, I will identify the opportunities and challenges of introducing active GBV screening in terms of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Learning Objectives: