Paper details

Paper authors	Ilaria Michelis, Jane Makepeace, Chen Reis
In panel on	Mapping Feminist Approaches to Humanitarian Action
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a feature of crises around the world and part of a continuum of violence that affects primarily, but not only, women and girls. Since the 1990s, the international humanitarian system has developed approaches for addressing GBV which are premised on what’s termed the survivor-centered approach (SCA). We explore how the articulation of SCA within humanitarian discourse aligns with its feminist underpinnings, included its intent to return control to survivors and allow them to drive decisions regarding their pathways out, or through, violence. Our analysis reveals that existing power dynamics within a humanitarian system favor centralized control and standardized approaches which distort the application of SCA. Ultimately this leaves service providers and humanitarian actors in charge of assessing the best course of action for survivors, or severely limiting survivors’ choices within narrowly defined service options. Our paper, therefore, directly addresses the tension between feminist values and humanitarian approaches rooted in paternalistic models of protection and saviourism. In doing so, it contributes to discussions about the potential of feminist perspectives within humanitarian responses, pointing to the risks of their co-option and dilution. We also hope this inquiry supports feminist practitioners in re-centering feminist principles in GBV humanitarian approaches.

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