Ireland takes action by Vivienne Forsythe and Angela O’Neill De Guilio Ireland’s leading development, humanitarian and human rights organisations – in conjunction with the Irish government – have pledged to become a significant international force in responding to gender-based violence. The Joint Consortium of Irish Human Rights Humanitarian and Development Agencies and Irish Aid aims to ensure that GBV responses and strategies have visibility, credibility, high-level leadership and wide support within its member organisations. The organisations involved in this initiative came together in 2004 following reports of very high levels of rape in Darfur. Realising that a more systematic approach was needed to address the problems of SGBV – not only in high-profile emergency situations like Darfur but also in other conflict, post-conflict and non-conflict environments – they formed the Joint Consortium of Irish Human Rights Humanitarian and Development Agencies and Irish Aid.1 The consortium commissioned an independent study to assess member agencies’ capacity to respond to GBV and to develop a model of best practice for GBV programming. The study indicated that the overall capacity of agencies was weak and there appeared to be little collective understanding of GBV. Of the consortium member agencies, only Amnesty International was systematically addressing GBV. Conclusions from country programme visits highlighted the inconsistency of organisational capacity and approach. [box] “…there has been a huge reluctance by the international community to engage on the issue of gender-based violence, despite the fact that it is probably the most widespread human rights abuse. This Irish initiative to take leadership on this abuse is crucial ... Ireland is a respected player in the area of human rights. I know that it will be listened to when it starts demanding global action to end this gross violation of human rights.” Dr Yakin Erturk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women [End box] It was recommended that each agency identify a few key actions on which they could move forward within six to twelve months. The consortium would act as a vehicle for sharing information and examples of good practice and would also act as a peer support mechanism. Several key actions were identified for all members: * establish a policy or integrate GBV response within existing frameworks * set and enforce standards of behaviour for all staff and partners * allocate lead high-level responsibility (a team rather than an individual) * integrate GBV into appraisals, regional country programme design, implementation and monitoring * build staff capacity through documenting programme experience, research and training * link with national and international human rights organisations to develop effective ways of working together * raise awareness of GBV internally and externally * draw lessons from HIV and gender mainstreaming approaches. The report emphasised the need to develop broader understanding of the issues, ensure that GBV prevention and response are central to programming, improve response delivery, engage with civil society and promote inter-agency coordination and collaboration. It was recommended that Irish Aid and consortium member agencies incorporate GBV response into all funding and monitoring mechanisms – and agencies themselves suggested that Irish government funding could be conditional on addressing GBV. [Box] ‘The challenge for us all is: if we know GBV exists, and if we tolerate or ignore it, are we not being complicit, are we not turning a blind eye to human rights violations? I congratulate this initiative’s commitment to place GBV at the centre of development and human rights work’. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former High Commissioner for Human Rights [End box] A summary of actions is included in the final report, Gender based violence – a failure to protect, a challenge to action, launched in Dublin in November 2005 by Mary Robinson and Conor Lenihan, Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights. A short awareness-raising CD-ROM was launched shortly afterwards.2 Moving forward The consortium is now working to ensure that GBV responses are an integral part of the policy and operational frameworks of agencies. Two working groups have been set up – one for documentation and inter-organisational sharing of experience and learning, the other focused on human resources and training. Best practice guidelines on institutionalising GBV within agencies were published in November. The overall experience of the Irish consortium has been positive. The Irish government has ensured that attention to gender-based violence is an integral component of all humanitarian project support. There has been strong buy-in from member agencies to improve organisational competence and capacity to address GBV. Aid workers, development agency staff and peacekeeping forces taking part in humanitarian programmes are being encouraged to learn more about gender-based violence before they travel abroad. There has been considerable dialogue and sharing of resources and experience. The consortium has made significant progress in raising member agency awareness of GBV and in starting to integrate GBV into policy frameworks and institutional structures. Member agencies recognise, however, the need for continued cross-organisational engagement and sharing of experience. The report Gender Based Violence – A Failure to Protect, A Challenge to Action is online at www.gbv.ie and at www.concern.net To get hard copies (while stocks last) of this and/or the awareness-raising CD-ROM, email angela.oneill@concern.net or write to Concern Worldwide, 52 Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. The guidelines, entitled A Guidance Note on Institutionalising Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response within Organisations, are online at www.dtalk.ie/gbv or www.concern.net   Vivienne Forsythe is an independent consultant. Email: vivienne_forsythe@yahoo.co.uk. Angela O’Neill De Guilio is a Regional Director with responsibility for leading GBV prevention and response strategy at Concern Worldwide. Email: angela.oneill@concern.net [use scan of front cover] 1 Amnesty International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, GOAL, Irish Aid, Oxfam Ireland, Self Help Development International and Trócaire were the eight founding members, joined later by Child Fund Ireland, DTalk, Action Aid Ireland, the Irish Defence Forces and the Irish Red Cross. 2 www.gbv.ie