Call to Action at the Global Refugee Forum 2023
On the occasion of the Global Refugee Forum between 12-14 December 2023, the Call to Action (CtA), under the leadership of Germany, and with the support of UK, Australia, Chile and UNHCR, hosted the Parallel High-Level Event on “Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-based Violence”. The event also announced the Multistakeholder Pledge: Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence, calling for improved response to and prevention of Gender-based Violence in refugee settings.
This Multi-Stakeholder-Pledge is one of the top mobilizing pledges with 116 pledges submitted (as of April 30, 2024) aiming to protect 19 million displaced and stateless women and girls in 20 countries from Gender-based Violence. The Multi-stakeholder Pledge includes a number of flag ship pledges, such as the joint CtA pledge as well as additional mobilization of more than 3,8 million USD 15 million USD were pledged additionally for innovative partnerships with refugee women-led organizations
The CtA formulated its own pledge under the umbrella of the Multi-Stakeholder-Pledge. Through its pledge, the CtA has specifically committed to:
Incorporate enhanced focus on forced displacement, including refugees in core CtA processes and commitments;
Prioritize the participation and leadership of diverse local Women-Led Organizations and Girl-Led Organizations in the CtA;
Mainstream gender equality and Gender-based Violence protection in forced displacement and emergency response contexts.
During the High-Level Event, a diverse range of speakers from States and Donors (France, Chile, Moldova, Australia, UK, Ethiopia, US, Switzerland, Sweden, EU), International Organizations (UNHCR, UNFPA), NGOs (Plan International), Refugee experts and Women Refugee-Led Organizations (Whole World Women Association, Quinta Ola, Global Youth Refugee Network, Action Network on Forced Displacement, Maison Shalom) shared key recommendations to protect women and girls from Gender-based violence in humanitarian crises. They stressed the necessity to increase and further spotlight political will to address gender inequality and prioritize Gender-based Violence in emergencies and called for solidarity, accountability, and partnership to address the root causes of Gender-based Violence and to empower and protect women and girls in humanitarian crises.
“We know that sexual and gender-based violence have devastating effects not only for the survivors, but for their families and the wider community, too, and it’s going to be passed on to the following generations. It’s abhorrent to see that sexual violence remains widespread in armed conflict around the world. We need to do more to prevent these brutalities from happening day in and day out.”
Speakers also highlighted the importance of meaningful participation, inclusion, direct and flexible funding, capacity support, and mentorship for Women Refugee-Led Organizations and women and girls in refugee settings as well as investment in the inclusion of affected women and girls in national systems
