Gender Based Violence, SRHR, and Covid-19

Between January and September 2020, GHJG conducted rapid assessments of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States. Working with in-country GBV and SRHR experts, we reviewed funding data and legal and policy developments, surveyed 321 service providers, and conducted phone or videoconference interviews with 142 donors, service providers, and advocacy organizations. This research was funded by the Ford Foundation. 

Our research revealed stark failures by governments to prevent and respond to often predictable increases in GBV, and confused and inadequate efforts to ensure access to a full range of critical SRHR services. COVID-19 response GBV and SRHR programs in all countries were grossly under-resourced and failed to reach the most vulnerable, who were often adolescents, migrants and refugees, sex workers, LGBTQI, Afro-descendant, and Indigenous people.