Understanding Gender, Gender Based Violence and Stigma in Syrian Communities

During the 16 days of Activism, LDHR has been posting stories from three Syrian communities about gender-based violence and its related stigma. Today, as the 16 days of activism draws to a close, LDHR has the honour to release its report which showcases those stories and others,

Understanding Gender, Gender Based Violence and Stigma in Syrian Communities

A mapping of three different Syrian communities by Syrian First Responders

LDHR started its work responding to sexual violence in the Syrian conflict in 2012 as a group of doctors and lawyers being trained to document these crimes using the Istanbul Protocol through medical expert reports. Its documenters soon recognised that responding to sexual violence in a holistic way was necessary not only to provide their documentation and accountability work in an ethical, safe way, but most importantly it was critical to the outcomes for survivors. The challenges faced by survivors in their communities in the aftermath could be as life-threatening and destructive as the horror of sexual violence itself. Societal attitudes and stigma could be fatal.

The Syrian conflict has been marred by a high prevalence of sexual and gender based violence against women, men, boys and girls. How Syrian communities respond to sexual violence and its survivors will determine whether and how we can recover from the violence and trauma of this crisis. LDHR recognises – and this collection of gender experiences from Syrian communities emphasises – how gender norms shape lives and heighten the impacts of conflict. Gender norms, violence and stigma are intimately inter-related. Violence and stigma grow from the roots of harmful gender and societal norms. The resulting harm done affects not just the survivor, but their family and the fabric of each community.

Reflection and recognition can open the doors for change.

LDHR and its team of First Responders are sharing this mapping as a valuable collection of Syrian insights and real-life experiences which can help shape policy, humanitarian funding and priority needs, programming and community initiatives, as well as informing gender analyses, how programming needs to be shaped to address gender inequalities and remove gendered barriers to engagement and access. Understanding gender disparities and realities can also help stakeholders to avoid doing harm and further worsening the impact of such norms. LDHR is also using these insights to inform its own programming, foundational gender analysis, and its internal policies and practices. LDHR hopes to continue to add to this mapping with new communities and more detailed mapping work, and will share its results on an ongoing basis.

LDHR also includes recommendations for continuing work in Syrian communities to help make much needed changes and to help ensure survivors received the support they need and to put the community on the road to recovery

You can access to the report from  here