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Protecting IDP’s from Sexual and Gender-based Violence
This initiative provides counsellors to the camps of Internally Displaced Persons in Sri Lanka. By doing so they are able to provide psychological assistance and support to the victims of sexual violence.
Description
The Rural Development Foundation (RDF) was aware of the problem of gender-based violence against Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) and instituted this initiative to alleviate the problem. They appoint trained counsellors to IDP welfare centres, from whom they receive information on gender-based violence in the centres. The counsellors try to act in a way that is sensitive to each case. Solutions through discussions and agreements are sought in the first instance, failing which the affected persons are encouraged to seek legal assistance.
Aims / Objectives
The initiative aimed to reduce sexual and gender-based violence committed in the IDPs' welfare centres, and to help them by providing counselling, thereby aiding the psychological healing of the victims of this violence. It aims to educate and caution potential offenders against gender-based violence in the future. Through these means the initiative aims to make a positive contribution to the healing and conflict transformation process in the larger ethnic conflict, which is essential for sustainable peace building.
How it is Articulated
Initially, the counsellors are given 15 days residential training in counselling, and are then appointed at the welfare centers. There are 20 counsellors in Vavuniya and 5 in Anuradhapura, supporting over 2000 families. They listen to people at their offices and also at the family spaces. Discussions with both the victim and the perpetrator, often separately and at times together, are held and when solutions through friendly manner seems impossible, the support of police and other authorities are sought.
RDF's team conducts regular awareness programmes in the form of seminars and discussions on Human Rights, Health & Hygiene, Children Rights, Women Rights, Communication Skills, and Family Planning for the IDP’s, as a preventive measure for gender-based violence.
For the women to support each other living in the welfare centre and to increase protection for each other, self-help groups are formed as support networks. They are given financial assistance and advice to start self-employment, so that the women will receive more financial freedom and security.
Achievements / Learning Points
From the reduction in the number of complaints RDF receive at the counselling centres, it seems that a considerable number of problems are addressed through the initiative. A reduction of between 45% and 60% is perceived along with the increased awareness among women on their rights, and the authorities they can contact for support in cases of a sexual violence.
The usage of alcohol, which RDF perceive as a trigger for a lot of sexual violence, has reduced as a result of their awareness promotion activities.
The number of early marriages, where often women in their early teens are married off to older men are also reduced as a result of the initiative. This is helpful, as such marriages often result in the infliction of physical and psychological violence upon the women, at times resulting in their death.
Even though the issue of sexual violence is very much a sensitive one, and one that demands immediate attention, the root causes of the problem cannot be satisfactorily addressed immediately. It is a long process that demands the commitment of at least 3 to 5 years. Therefore in launching similar initiatives, RDF have to plan for a long term process in order to make a sustainable impact upon the target community.
Counselling is extremely important in this initiative, and it is important to give these counsellors more training in dealing with these issues in a healing manner. This would enable them to address the outcomes of the conflicts more effectively, thus making a valuable contribution to the peace building process.
Geographical Area of Operation
Vavuniya and Anuradhapura Districts.
Funding Resources
UNHCR
Stories
"In a welfare centre, where over a 1000 people live, the children go to school about a kilometre away. The road to the school runs through the jungle.
A girl of about 10 years old was walking home to the welfare centre from school alone. An unknown man was cycling past, but stopped to give the child a lift claiming that he would drop her at the camp.
He cycled towards the jungle with the student on his bike - by this point she had started crying. Ultimately, he forced the girl into sexual activity. He removed the child’s school uniform and, using a knife he had, cut the girls sexual organ and raped her.
The child fainted. He took her with him back to the access road. Luckily the camp inmates saw her and brought her back to her home. Her parents had her admitted to hospital.
The girl’s treatment in hospital took between two and three months, after which she was released. When she came home, she was nervous and talked like a mad person. We got involved at this point and provided school uniform, books, and toys, which have made her happier. The family have since been resettled to their village where the girl is now happily going to school.
The culprit could not be traced."
An RDF worker.