When conflict uproots people, the danger they are fleeing often follows them. For refugees and displaced families, gender-based violence is not a distant risk. It can shadow every stage of their journey, threatening their safety, dignity, and even survival.
Gender-based violence refers to harm inflicted because of socially constructed gender roles and inequalities. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees defines it broadly, including physical assault, sexual violence, psychological abuse, and economic control. It can take many forms, from domestic violence and rape to forced and child marriage, coercion, and increasingly, online harassment.
While GBV affects people of all genders, women and girls face disproportionate risk. Globally, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, according to UN Women. And in humanitarian crises, those risks escalate rapidly.
Displacement fractures protective systems. Families lose homes, livelihoods, and community networks that once offered safety. In overcrowded shelters with little privacy and limited access to services, vulnerabilities intensify. Economic stress, legal uncertainty, and prolonged instability can heighten tensions within households and communities. For many survivors, the collapse of support systems means violence becomes harder to escape and even harder to report.
Therefore, understanding GBV in humanitarian settings requires looking beyond individual incidents. It means recognizing how crisis environments can deepen existing gender inequalities and create new layers of risk for those already displaced.
How YCWS Tackles GBV
At Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS), we know stopping GBV takes more than just reacting—it takes real change. We believe everyone deserves food, a voice, and a place where they feel safe. Since launching in August 2024, building on years of work in Indonesia, we’ve put community-driven prevention and survivor-focused care right at the center of our Refugees and Migration program.
Alongside UNHCR, we run layered GBV programs that offer immediate help and long-term support. Our GBV Mentors—refugees trained as volunteers—are the first people survivors can turn to. They bridge cultural gaps and earn trust where stigma usually keeps folks silent. We run a 24/7 GBV hotline, offer counseling, arrange safe accommodation, and make sure survivors get medical and legal help.
We also believe prevention starts with honest conversation. At Refugee Talent Program (RTP) centers and local gatherings, we hold trainings and discussions, even around topics people usually avoid. Everybody’s involved—men, women, everyone—because changing harmful beliefs isn’t a one-person job.
16 Days of Activism Campaign
In December 2025, for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, YCWS joined UNHCR and Refu+ure to host an art competition on Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV). Over six days, 26 artists used visual stories to share what OGBV means to them. Five of them showcased their work in Bogor, in front of teachers, students, RTP staff, and three of our GBV Mentors.
One comic, in particular, got people talking—a story about a public figure whose video was leaked and faked with AI without her permission. That set off deep conversations about digital privacy, tech responsibility, and how to protect yourself when technology can easily fake intimate content. Afterward, a film screening helped everyone think more about how gender stereotypes in the community fuel violence.
What really stood out? Men showed up too including three of the five featured artists. Their involvement sent a clear message: GBV isn’t just a “women’s issue.” It’s something the whole community has to face together.
What We Learned and Achieved
The 16 Days campaign brought some big lessons. First, representation is powerful. Our GBV Mentors, Samira and Hodan, said that public speaking training was a game changer for them. They went from quietly helping individuals to leading open discussions on topics nobody used to touch.
Second, safe spaces make change possible. The art contest gave people a less intimidating way to talk about tough issues. Creative expression opened the door for conversations that might not have happened otherwise especially in places where GBV is a huge taboo.
Third, survivors need clear, easy ways to get support. Our GBV Mentors offer immediate help and safety planning, but they noticed the need for stronger referral systems to specialized services. Right now, a lot of survivors still hold back because they’re afraid of stigma or don’t know who to trust.
