Prevention and Response To Gender-Based Violence in Lagos State [Standard Operating Procedure]

Appendices
Bibliography
Table
of
Content
Acknowledgement
Acronyms
06
08
13
17
20
25
34
39
41
42
43
44
46
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2: DEFINITIONS AND TERMS
CHAPTER 3: GUIDING PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER 4: IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS
AND DISCLOSURE
CHAPTER 5: REPORTING AND REFERRAL
CHAPTER 6: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE
CHAPTER 7: CASE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 8: RESPONSIILITY FOR PREVENTION
CHAPTER 9: COORDINATION AMONGST ACTORS
AND AGENCIES
CHAPTER 10: RESPONSIBILITIES OF CASEWORKERS AND
AGENCIES FOR STAFF CARE
CHAPTER 11: INFORMING DISSEMINATION TO
STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE GBV SOPS
CHAPTER 12: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF
SERVICE QUALITY
CHAPTER 13: DOCUMENTATION, INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT AND DATA MONITORING
03

List of
Appendices
Appendix I Consent Form
Appendix II Intake and Referral Form
Appendix III Dignity Kit Checklist
Appendix IV Incident Report Form
Appendix V Referral Form
Appendix VI Case Planning Form
Appendix VII Case Follow Up Form
Appendix VIII Case Closure Form
Appendix IX Criteria: Minimum Requirements to be part of the GBV Pathway
Appendix X List of relevant Ministries and other Government Agencies responding to SGBV
Appendix XI List of Special Welfare Units - Addresses and other contact details
Appendix XII List of Security Agencies and Contact Details
Appendix XIII List of Participating Organisation - Consultative workshop for stakeholders to
develop SOP & Validation/Peer Review Meeting
04

Acknowledgements
The Centre for Women’s Health and Infor-
mation (CEWHIN) gratefully acknowledges
Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa the consultant
who worked tirelessly on this project and Dr.
Folashade Adegbite of the Faculty of Law,
University of Lagos whose contribution is
immeasurable. The centre is also grateful to
Ms. Titilola Rhodes-Vivour of the Domestic
and Sexual Violence Response Team
(DSVRT) for facilitating the consultations
with the stakeholders and other key infor-
mants. Gratitude also goes out to the
participants of the consultative workshop
for stakeholders and the validation/peer
review meeting whose contributions were
useful in contextualizing this SOP.
Special thanks go to the members of the
United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) Spotlight Spotlight Initiative Team –
Onyinye Ndubisi and Matilda Haling for their
technical support in implementing the
initiative.
We are deeply grateful for the contributions
of CEWHINs staff; Adebanke Akinrimisi,
Atinuke Odukoya, Sumbo Oladipo, Pamela
Stephens, Tobi Opadokun and Judith Agada.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
05

ACRONYMS
AS Action Sheet
AWLA African Women Lawyers Association
CBO Community-based Organisation
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women
CEWHIN Centre for Women’s Health and Information
CRL Child Rights Law
CMC Citizens’ Mediation Centre
CMR Clinical Management of Rape
CP Child Protection
CRA Child Rights Act
FBO Faith-based organisation
FIDA International Federation of Women Lawyers
FGM Female Genital Mutilation
GBV Gender-based violence
GBVIMS Gender-Based Violence Information Management
System
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HP Harmful Practices
IDPs Internally Displaced Persons
IASC Inter-Agency Standing Committee
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
IEC Information, Education, Communication
IOM International Office of Migration
ILO International Labour Organisation
IPV Intimate Partner Violence
LGA Local Government Area
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MHPSS Mental health and psychosocial support
MISP Minimum Initial Service Package
NAPTIP National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking
tin Persons
NFIs Non-Food Items
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation
NHRC National Human Rights Commission
OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
OPD Office of the Public Defender
PFA Psychosocial First Aid
PSS Psychosocial Support
PTSD Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
SEA Sexual exploitation and abuse
SGBV Sexual and Gender Based Violence
SOPs Standard Operating Procedures
SRHR Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
STI/STD Sexually transmitted infection/disease
SV Sexual Violence
UN United Nations
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
VAWG Violence against Women and Girls
VAW Violence against women
WHO World Health Organisation
06

1.1. General Background
1.2. Background to this SOP
1.3. Overview of the Current Situation
Until recently, society viewed gender-based violence
(GBV) as a private or family matter. There has, howev-
er, been a shift in this thought direction to accommo-
date the reality that GBV is both a public health prob-
lem and a human rights violation. GBV acts are acts of
aggression which result in, or are likely to result in
physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to
victims. These include threats or acts of coercion or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in
public or private life (United Nations Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993). In GBV,
the aim of the perpetrator is to control and/or domi-
nate the victim, particularly when the victim is known
to the perpetrator.
Over time, it has been uncovered that it is not just
women or girls who are at risk. Men and boys, children
and the elderly are possible victims. Similarly, anyone
in the society irrespective of social strata can be a
victim, whether educated, uneducated, poor, wealthy,
widowed or single. Nonetheless, the fact of women’s
higher vulnerability cannot be overemphasised. The
World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that at
least one in five women have experienced violence in
their lifetime.
Various groups and organisations including commu-
nity-based organisations (CBOs), non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), Faith Based Organisations
(FBOs) and governmental agencies participate in
different capacities to assist victims/survivors of GBV
find justice and/or healing for their trauma. However,
these organisations are often confronted with several
issues of “how”, “what”, “where” and “who”. No single
organisation can provide the different sets of aid
required vby a survivor in the spectrum of facilitating
access to justice to healing. Therefore, there is the
need for all groups to have a technical document that
provides an agreed-to and unified practical guideline
that will facilitate better output and ensure that survi-
vors get prompt and effective services in response to
their needs
Several forms of GBV occur globally based on the
imbalance of power relations between different social
groups in the society and often, it is rooted in social
and cultural norms. The power imbalance may be
between the old and young, parents and children,
between males and females. Women and girls
vis-à-vis men and boys have lesser power over their
persons, body, mind and resources.
Generally, social norms and values allow the use of
violence to enforce discipline and control; and it is
carried out with the intention to humiliate, make an
individual or group of individuals feel inferior or subor-
dinate and control their behaviour. Forms of the GBV
include physical violence, sexual violence, female
genital mutilation, child marriage, intimate partner
violence, trafficking for sexual exploitation, female
infanticide, stalking, forced marriage, socio-economic
violence,.
Several factors have been identified as causally relat-
ed to GBV and these include the socio-cultural factor,
legal factor, economic factor and political factor.and
psychological violence.
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
07
SOPs describe the clear procedures and standards for
all actors, outlining roles, responsibilities and present a
working manual for those who agree to work together
in pursuit of a common interest. SGBV SOPs are devel-
oped to assist in creating a coordinated multi-sectoral
response, referral and prevention structure for
persons at risk.
This SOP is as a one-stop document to provide the
response guidelines and pathways for intervenors and
other actors (individuals and organisations) respond-
ing to GBV and who are known as service providers. It
provides information about the proper channels for
reporting cases, referrals and facilitating access to
justice for survivors/victims of VAWG/SGBV/SRHR/HP in
Lagos State. It delineates the roles, responsibilities and
procedures for all actors for the best interest of
victims/survivors.

GBV is underreported because survivors are blamed,
stigmatised and regarded as guilty and deserving of
the violence. When survivors summon up courage to
report, the lackadaisical attitude and lack of empathy
of the law enforcement agents encourages a culture
of silence. Civil liberties institutions whose aim is to
respond to and seek justice for survivors are often
constrained in seeking redress by a grossly inade-
quate legal system.
1.3.2. Legal Factor
1.3.3. Economic Factor
Women who form a larger percentage of GBV survi-
vors lack access to economic resources and are not
financially empowered. They are often dependent on
the provisions for them by the male figures overseeing
their lives who may be a father, spouse, partner, uncle
or brother. In many cultural arrangements, land which
is a vital source of wealth creation is outside the own-
ership of female. This reality makes females more
economically vulnerable to GBV.
1.3.4. Political Factor
Women are underrepresented in politics and power
arena; the process of governance and its apparatus
are male dominated. Number is especially important
in policy making which can effect change in politics;
unfortunately; yet women are a minority in politics and
power. The insignificant representation of women in
politics means that it is often difficult to muster
sufficient political power to support needed action
including legislative reforms for protecting women
against GBV.
08
1.3.1. Cultural Factor
The dominant culture and tradition, which is patriar-
chal in orientation legitimises male superiority. In turn,
this confers legitimacy on the use of violence by the
male to control and dominate the female. It stereo-
types the female as weak, feeble minded and in need
of a firm masculine control and direction.
Culture also often dictates that children should be
subordinate to adults and casts a shadow of slight on
disability so that people living with disability (PLWD) are
treated as inferior to those without disability.
1.4. Need for Standardization
It is important for actors to have a common focus and
coordinated approach in responding to GBV. Several
organisations including government agencies work-
ing with GBV survivors may differ in their philosophy,
norms and practices in providing services. Attitudes
and practices which are not victim/survivor-centered
are often counterproductive or outrightly violating of
the rights of the victim/survivor. Additionally, actors
working around GBV are confronted with a myriad of
challenges; some are very subtle yet salient, while
others are glaring.
These challenges include:
Understanding and applying the survivor-centered
method which places priority on the rights of the
survivor, e.g. the rights to dignity and respect, priva-
cy and confidentiality, non-discrimination and
access to information.
Having a definite understanding and direction of
the referral structure to follow and the appropriate
response mode.
Having a clear understanding of the referral path-
way for access to justice survivors.
Managing confidentiality particularly within the
social environment which is typified by insecurity,
lack of safety and respect for survivors and groups
working with them.
Managing safety and security issues of survivors.
Handling child survivors, which requires actors to
develop a trust relationship with the survivor and
display commitment to adherence to the principle
of best interest of the child.
Managing with clear understanding the additional
complexities that attend GBV cases involving
children and persons with disabilities.
Integrating survivors into communities for proper
adjustment to post-trauma living.

09
To provide an all-inclusive guidance for establishing a
procedure that:
1.5. Objectives of this SOP
1.6. Scope of this SOP
This SOP provides the guiding principles, procedures
for response, prevention and referrals; the roles and
responsibilities of all stakeholders working with
victims/survivors of GBV such as NGOs, CBOs, FBOs,
government agencies and security agencies in Lagos
State. The SOP is applicable to all victims/ survivors and
persons at risk of GBV – women or girls, boys or men,
the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Ensures that survivors and those at risk of GBV
receive prompt, efficient and comprehensive
response.
Provides a coordinated response process and a
range of support services to meet the needs of
victims/survivors, including support and services for
psycho-social, medical and legal services and
safety/security needs.
Ensures consistency at all levels of participation for
all actors involved in GBV prevention and response.
Develops structure for monitoring and evaluation
while also raising awareness on referral pathways.
Standardizes the GBV response mechanism in
Lagos State.
Ensures all GBV actors adhere to the best practice
and minimum standards that align with interna-
tional ethical guidelines.
How to manage and address families’ and com-
munities’ negative reactions to child sexual abuse.
Role and extent of media participation in GBV man-
agement; whether it is more harmful and
encroaching on the safety/security of the survivor;
how to avoid excessive media attention and
unnecessary interviews.
Survivor’s identification, information gathering and
profiling; the limit to questioning to stay within
ethical standards.
Coordination among the various groups and agen-
cies working with GBV survivors for strengthened
outcome.
Having basic knowledge of mandatory reporting
and referral laws.

CHAPTER 2:
DEFINITION AND TERMS
2.1.General Definitions
The definitions offered in this Chapter are based on common usage of the terms in line with accepted international
standards. Where necessary, however, there is some adaptation based on the definitions proffered by the legal
frameworks of Lagos State and Nigeria.
Actor(s): Individuals, groups, organisations and institu-
tions involved in preventing and responding to GBV.
Actors may be individuals and communities, govern-
ment institutions and officials, NGOs, employees or
volunteers of international development agencies
such as the UN.
Advocacy: The deliberate and strategic use of infor-
mation initiated by individuals or groups of individuals
to bring about change. Advocacy work includes
employing strategies to influence decision makers
and policies, to changing attitudes, power relations,
social relations and institutional functioning to
improve the situation for groups of individuals who
share similar problems. (Guidelines for Integrating
Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian
Action: Reducing Risk, Promoting Resilience and Aiding
Recovery, 2015, IASC)
Assessment: The set of activities necessary to under-
stand a given situation which can include the collec-
tion, updating and analysis of data pertaining to the
population of concern (needs, capacities, resources,
etc.), as well as the state of infrastructure and general
socio economic conditions in a given location/area. In
humanitarian settings, NGOs and United Nations
agencies often carry out assessments to identify com-
munity needs and gaps in coordination and then use
this information to design effective interventions.
(Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence
Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing Risk,
Promoting Resilience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC)
‘At risk’ groups: Groups of individuals more vulnerable
to harm than other members of the population
because they hold less power, are more dependent on
others for survival, are less visible to relief workers, or
are otherwise marginalized. (Guidelines for Integrating
10
Community: A group of people that recognizes itself or
is recognized by outsiders as sharing common cultur-
al, religious or other social features, backgrounds and
interests, and that forms a collective identity with
shared goals in a given geographical defined area.
(Adapted from A Community Based-Approach in
UNHCR Operations, provisional edition, 2008, UNHCR)
Confidentiality: An ethical principle associated with
medical and social service professions. Maintaining
confidentiality requires that service providers protect
information gathered about clients and agree only to
share information about a client’s case with their
explicit permission. All written information is kept in
locked files and only non-identifying information is
written down on case files. Maintaining confidentiality
about abuse means service providers never discuss
case details with family or friends, or with colleagues
whose knowledge of the abuse is deemed unneces-
sary. There are limits to confidentiality while working
with children or clients who express intent to harm
themselves or someone else. (Guidelines for Integrat-
ing Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humani-
tarian Action: Reducing Risk, Promoting Resilience and
Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC)
Consent / Informed Consent: Refers to approval or
assent, particularly and especially after thoughtful
consideration. Free and informed consent is given
based upon a clear appreciation and understanding
of the facts, implications and future consequences of
an action. To give informed consent, the individual
concerned must have all adequate relevant facts at
the time consent is given and be able to evaluate and
understand the consequences of an action. He or she
must also be aware of and have the power to exercise
their right to refuse to engage in an action and not be
coerced whether by the use of force or threats or
threats or the pressure of persuasion. Children are
generally considered unable to provide informed
consent because they do not have the ability and/or
experience to anticipate the implications of an action,

11
and they may not understand or be empowered to
exercise their right to refuse. There are also instances
where consent might not be possible due to cognitive
impairments and/or physical, sensory or intellectual
disabilities. (Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based
Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reduc-
ing Risk, Promoting Resilience and Aiding Recovery,
2015, IASC)
Coordinating Agencies: The organizations (usually two
working in a co-chairing arrangement) that take the
lead in chairing GBV working groups and ensuring that
the minimum prevention and response interventions
are put in place. The coordinating agencies are select-
ed by the GBV working group and endorsed by the
leading United Nations entity in the country. (Establish-
ing Gender-based Violence Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs), Gender-based Violence Resource
Tools, 2008, IASC Sub-Working Group on Gender and
Humanitarian Action)
Disclosure of a GBV incident: The process of revealing
information about the GBV experience/incident.
Disclosure in the context of gender-based violence
abuse refers specifically to how a person (for example,
a caregiver, a health worker, a social worker, a
member of women groups, a friend, and a teacher)
learns about a GBV directly from a survivor. However,
the terms “identification” or “involuntary disclose” is
commonly used in the case of small children when
they are too young to speak about the incident and a
third person identifies the violence (a parent, a health
worker during examination, and so on). (Caring for
Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse, 2012, IRC/UNICEF)
Emergency: A term describing a state. It is a manageri-
al term, demanding decision and follow-up in terms of
extraordinary measures. A ‘state of emergency’
demands to ‘be declared’ or imposed by somebody in
authority, who, at a certain moment, will also lift it. Thus,
it is usually defined in time and space, it requires
threshold values to be recognized, and it implies rules
of engagement and an exit strategy. (Guidelines for
Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in
Humanitarian Action: Reducing Risk, Promoting Resil-
ience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC)
Empowerment of Women: The empowerment of
women concerns women gaining power and control
over their own lives. It involves awareness-raising,
building self-confidence, expansion of choices,
increased access to and control over resources, and
actions to transform the structures and institutions
that reinforce and perpetuate gender discrimination
and inequality. (Guidelines for Integrating Gen-
der-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian
Focal Point / Gender-Based Violence Focal Point:
Refers to the part-time or full-time role of designated
staff who represent their organization, community
structures and/or their sector and participate in meet-
ing and coordination activities related to GBV; it also
refers to individuals within services and associations
who have been appointed as contact person for GBV
cases (Guidelines For Gender-Based Violence Inter-
ventions In Humanitarian Settings, 2005, IASC)
Gender: Refers to the social attributes and opportuni-
ties associated with being male and female and the
relationships between women and men and girls and
boys, as well as the relations between women and
those between men. These attributes, opportunities
and relationships are socially constructed and are
learned through socialization processes. They are
context / time-specific and changeable. Gender
determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a
woman or a man in a given context. In most societies
there are differences and inequalities between
women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities
undertaken, access to and control over resources, as
well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part
of the broader socio-cultural context. (Guidelines for
ience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC)
Gender-Based Violence: Is an umbrella term for any
harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will,
and that is based on socially ascribed (i.e. gender)
differences between males and females. The term
gender-based violence is primarily used to under-
score the fact that structural, gender-based power
differentials between males and females around the
world place females at risk for multiple forms of
violence. This includes acts that inflict physical, mental,
or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coer-

12
cion, or other deprivations of liberty, whether occurring
in public or private life. The term is also used by some
actors to describe some forms of sexual violence
against males and / or targeted against LGBTI popula-
tions, in these cases when referencing violence related
to gender-inequitable norms of masculinity and / or
norms of gender identity. (Guidelines for Integrating
Health/Medical Care for GBV Survivors: Survivors,
especially female survivors, living with and/or having
experienced violence may need medical treatment
for injuries and mental health services as well as
sexual reproductive health services, such as sexually
transmitted infections (STI) and HIV testing, prenatal
care, contraceptive counselling and provision of
methods and other relevant treatment for other
common health consequences of GBV. For survivors of
sexual violence the essential components of medical
care - as defined by international protocols - are:
documentation and treatment of injuries, collection of
forensic evidence, evaluation for STI and HIV/AIDS and
preventive care, evaluation for risk of pregnancy,
prevention of pregnancy, psychosocial support, coun-
selling and follow-up. (Clinical Management of Rape,
2004, World Health Organization and addressing
violence against women and girls in sexual and repro-
ductive health services: a review of knowledge assets,
2008, UNFPA).
Informed Consent for GBV Survivors: Refers to approv-
al or assent, particularly and especially after thought-
ful consideration. Informed consent is voluntarily and
freely given based upon a clear appreciation and
understanding of the facts, implications, and future
consequences of an action; and according to the
circumstances can be verbal or written. To provide
informed consent, the individual must have the
capacity and maturity to know about and being
enough mentally sound to understand the services
being offered and be legally able to give his/her
consent. (GBVIMS User Guide, 2011; and WHO Ethical and
Safety Recommendations for Researching, Docu-
menting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergen-
cies, 2007, World Health Organization)
Information Management for GBV programming: The
way an organization’s information concerning GBV is
handled or controlled. Includes different stages of
processing information such as collection, storage,
analysis and reporting/sharing to ensure security and
confidentiality of the data, of the survivors and actors
providing GBV services. (GBVIMS User Guide, 2011)
Mandatory Reporting: Laws and policies that mandate
certain agencies and/or persons in helping profes-
sions (teachers, social workers, health staff, etc.) to
report actual or suspected child abuse (e.g. physical,
sexual, neglect, emotional and psychological abuse,
unlawful sexual intercourse). Mandatory reporting may
also be applied in cases where�a person is a threat to
themselves or another person. (Guidelines for
ience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC).
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS): This
is support that aims to protect or promote psychoso-
cial wellbeing and/or prevent or treat mental disorder.
An MHPSS approach is a way to engage with and anal-
yse a situation, and provide a response, considering
both psychological and social elements. This may
include support interventions in the health sector,
education, community services, protection and other
sectors. (Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based
2015, IASC).
Perpetrator: Person, group or institution that directly
inflicts or otherwise supports violence or other abuse
inflicted on another against his/her will. (Guidelines for
ience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC).
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): Is short-term antiret-
roviral treatment to reduce the likelihood of HIV infec-
tion after potential exposure, either occupationally or
through sexual intercourse. Within the health sector,
PEP should be provided as part of a comprehensive
universal precautions package that reduces staff
exposure to infectious hazards at work. (World Health
Organization website http://www.who.int/hiv/top-
ics/prophylaxis/en/)

13
GBV Prevention: Taking action to stop GBV from first
occurring e.g. by scaling up activities that promote
gender equality; working with communities, particular-
ly men and boys, to address practices that contribute
to GBV. (Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based
2015, IASC)occurring e.g. by scaling up activities that
promote gender equality; working with communities,
particularly men and boys, to address practices that
contribute to GBV. (Guidelines for Integrating Gen-
der-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian
Protection: All activities aimed at obtaining full respect
for the rights of the individual in accordance with the
letter and spirit of human rights, refugee and interna-
tional humanitarian law. Protection involves creating
an environment conducive to respect for human
beings, preventing and/or alleviating the immediate
effects of a specific pattern of abuse, and restoring
dignified conditions of life through reparation, restitu-
tion and rehabilitation (UNHCR Master Glossary of
Terms, 2006 UN High Commissioner for Refugees).
Psychosocial support for GBV survivors: Services and
assistance aimed at addressing the harmful emotion-
al, psychological and social effects of gender-based
violence. Psychosocial support seeks to improve a
survivor’s wellbeing by: i) Bringing healing to survivors
and their families; ii) Restoring the normalcy and flow
of life; iii) Protecting survivors from the accumulation of
distressful and harmful events; iv) Enhancing the
capacity of survivors and families to care for their
children; and v) Enabling survivors and families to be
active agents in rebuilding communities and in actu-
alizing optimistic futures. Psychosocial support focuses
more broadly on the individual whereas case man-
agement focuses on the immediate needs related to
the incident of violence. (Managing Gender-based
Violence Programs in Emergencies, 2012, UNFPA).
Psychosocial and recreational activities: Community
self-help and resilience strategies to support survivors
and those vulnerable to GBV, such as through wom-
en’s groups/recreational activities. (Managing Gen-
der-based Violence Programs in Emergencies, 2012,
UNFPA).
Response for GBV Cases: Response is determined by
the GBV survivor’s needs and the consequences of the
GBV incidents. It means providing services and support
to reduce the harmful consequences and prevent
further injury, suffering, and harm. Those services
should be provided through culturally-sensitive,
multi-sectoral care, including health and medical
care, mental health and psychosocial support, securi-
ty/police services, legal assistance, case manage-
ment, education and vocational training opportunities,
and other relevant services.(Sexual and Gender-Based
Violence against Refugees, Returnees and Internally
Displaced Persons Guidelines for Prevention and
Response, 2003, UNHCR).
Referral Pathway: A flexible mechanism that safely
links survivors to supportive and competent services,
such as medical care, mental health and psychosocial
support, police assistance and legal/justice support.
(Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence
Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing Risk,
Promoting Resilience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC)
Safety Audit: Tool used in visits to emergency-affected
areas, comparing conditions against a set of pre-se-
lected indicators about general and specific living
conditions of communities and people living in a given
area in order to improve safety and security. (GBV
Emergency Response & Preparedness: Participant
Handbook, 2012, IRC) The audit method varies accord-
ing to the context. In Syria, safety audits may include
observation, focus group discussions, and key infor-
mant interviews.
(GBV) Survivor: A person who has experienced gender
based violence. The terms ‘victim’ and ‘survivor’ can be
used interchangeably. ‘Victim is a term often used in
the legal and medical sectors. ‘Survivor’ is the term
generally preferred in the psychological and social
support sectors because it implies resiliency. (Guide-
lines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interven-
tions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing Risk, Promoting
Resilience and Aiding Recovery, 2015, IASC)
Survivor-centred Approach: A survivor-centred
approach means that the survivor’s rights, needs and
wishes are prioritized when designing and developing
GBV-related programming.(Guidelines for Integrating

14
Rape: non-consensual penetration (however slight) of
the vagina, anus or mouth with a penis or other body
part. It also includes penetration of the vagina and
anus with an object. The attempt to do so is known as
attempted rape. Rape of a person by two or more
perpetrators is known as gang rape. Date rape is rape
that takes place when a person is out on a date with
another.
Sexual Assault: any form of non-consensual sexual
contact that does not result in or include penetration
and it includes attempted rape, unwanted kissing,
fondling, or touching of genitalia and buttocks. Female
genital mutilation (FGM) is an act of violence that
impacts sexual organs, and as such should be classi-
fied as sexual assault.
Physical Assault: an act of physical violence that is not
sexual in nature. Examples include hitting, slapping,
choking, cutting, shoving, burning, shooting or use of
any weapons, acid attacks or any other act that
results in pain, discomfort or injury.
Child Marriage/Early marriage: child marriage or early
marriage is a formal marriage or informal union in
which one spouse is below the age of 18. Even though
some countries permit marriage before age 18, inter-
national human rights standards classify these as
child or ‘early’ marriages, reasoning that those under
age 18 are unable to give informed consent.
Forced Marriage: marriage of an individual against
her or his will. Early marriage is regarded as forced
marriage because a child cannot give an informed
consent to a marriage.
Denial of Resources, Opportunities or Services: denial
of rightful access to economic resources/assets or
livelihood opportunities, education, health or other
social services. Examples include a widow prevented
from receiving an inheritance, earnings forcibly taken
by an intimate partner or family member, a woman
prevented from using contraceptives, a girl prevented
from attending school, etc. “Economic abuse” is
generally included in this category.
The definitions below are frequently used in local
contexts to provide a more comprehensive picture of
GBV and inform response. The definitions are com-
piled from information of the core type of GBV, the
accused/perpetrator, age of the survivor, incident
context, and specific cultural practices etc.
Child Sexual Abuse: Is generally used to refer to any
sexual activity between a child and an adult or other
child. It could be closely between related family
members (incest) or between a child and an adult or
elder child from outside the family. It involves either
explicit force or indirect coercion. It includes different
forms of sexual violence.
Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence: term
used to describe violence that takes place between
intimate partners (spouses, boyfriend/girlfriend) as
well as between other family members. Intimate
partner violence applies specifically to violence
occurring between intimate partners. WHO defines it
as behaviour by an intimate partner or ex-partner
that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm,
including physical aggression, sexual coercion,
psychological abuse and controlling behaviours. It
may also include the denial of resources, opportuni-
ties or services.
Harmful Traditional and Cultural Practices: social
and religious customs and traditions that can be
harmful to a person’s mental or physical health. Every
social grouping in the world has specific traditional
cultural practices and beliefs, some of which are
beneficial to all members, while others are harmful to
a specific group, such as women. These harmful
traditional practices include female genital mutilation
(FGM); child marriage; the various taboos or practices
which prevent women from controlling their own
fertility; nutritional taboos and traditional birth prac-
2.2. Incident-Type Definitions
2.3. Other definitions
Psychological/Emotional Abuse: infliction of mental or
emotional pain or injury. Examples include threats of
physical or sexual violence, intimidation, humiliation,
forced isolation, stalking, harassment, unwanted
attention, remarks, gestures or written words of a
sexual and/or menacing nature, destruction of cher-
ished things, etc.

15
tices; son-preference and its implications for the
status of the girl child; female infanticide; early
pregnancy; and dowry price. Other harmful tradition-
al practices affecting children include binding,
scarring, burning, branding, violent initiation rites,
fattening, forced marriage, so-called “honour” crimes
and dowry-related violence, exorcism, or “witchcraft”.
Sexual Exploitation: means any actual or attempted
abuse of a person in a position of vulnerability,
differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes,
including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily,
socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of
another.
Transactional Sex: is defined by the power relation-
ship between survivor and perpetrator, as well as the
circumstances surrounding the incident; underlines
whether the sexual violence being reported is exploit-
ative in nature. It also sometimes called ‘survival sex’
when individuals are compelled by circumstances
such as limited access to resources to resort to
transactional sex to help advance their education,
gain employment or business opportunities, or simply
to meet basic survival needs. It also includes accept-
ing sex and tolerating physical or sexual violence to
sustain relationships, which provide critical income.
Sexual Slavery: indicates whether the incident was
perpetrated while the survivor was: a) being forcibly
transported (trafficked); b) being forced to join an
armed group (forced conscription); c) held against
her/his will, abducted or kidnapped.

The survivor-centered approach is a set of principles
and skills applicable to all actors irrespective of their
roles in preventing and responding to GBV. The
approach ensures that survivors have access to
appropriate, accessible and good quality services
such as healthcare, psychological and social support.
This approach aims at providing a supportive environ-
ment for the respect of survivors’ rights and their digni-
fied treatment. It helps in promoting the survivor’s
recovery and strengthens his/her ability to identify and
express need and wishes; it also reinforces the survi-
vor’s capacity to make decisions about possible inter-
ventions. Actors applying a survivor-centered
approach prioritise the rights, needs and wishes of
survivors; hence, it is also a human-rights based
approach.
A survivor-centered approach recognises that every
survivor:
16
CHAPTER 3:
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
3.1 The Survivor-Centered
Approach
Guiding principles are the broad philosophy that forms
the bases and outlook on which actors may make
interventions in GBV. They create the culture and value
that direct actors’ interactions with victims/survivors
and other stakeholders in GBV. Although principles are
not enforceable in law, they may have attained inter-
national recognitions as best practices and ethical
guidelines.
Guiding principles are also usually extracted from
human rights instruments and help the development,
implementation and monitoring of GBV interventions.
Failure to abide with these principles can have grave
and harmful effects on GBV survivors such as increas-
ing their shame, distress and social isolation and
further exposing them to more violence. Actors should,
therefore, adhere to these sets of principles as they
work to cooperate and assist each other in preventing
and responding to GBV cases.
Has the right, appropriate to his/her age and
circumstances, to decide who should know about
what has happened to him/her and what should
happen next.
Should be believed and treated with respect,
kindness and empathy.
Has an equal right to care and support.
Is different and unique.
Will react differently to their experience of GBV.
Using the survivor-centered approach, actors should:
Validate the survivor’s experience- it is important
that survivor know that his/her story is believed
and that he/she is not judged or blamed.
Seek to empower the survivor- the survivor is
placed at the center of the helping process with
the aim of empowering them to regain control
over their bodies and minds.
Emphasize the survivor’s strengths: the
approach seeks to understand and build upon a
survivor’s inner and outer resources and the
inherent resilience.
Value the helping relationship- it emphasizes
that a helper’s relationship with a survivor is a
starting point for healing. All encounters with
survivor must be viewed as an opportunity to
build connection and trust.

17
Respect the privacy of the survivor and his/her
families at all times.
Information obtained from survivor should be
kept confidential at all times.
Informed consent of the survivor must be
obtained before his/her information can be
share.
For purposes of help or referral, when informed
consent of survivor is obtained to share informa-
tion, only pertinent information should be shared.
In the instance that the survivor cannot read and
write, an informed consent statement should be
read to him/her and a verbal consent should be
obtained.
The main guiding principles are respect, safety,
non-disclosure and confidentiality.
3.1.1 Respect
A GBV survivor’s dignity has been assaulted through the incident;
therefore, actors should endeavor to restore the dignity of the survivor.
Failure to respect the dignity, wishes and rights of survivor can
increase the feelings of helplessness, self-blame and shame of the
survivor. Actors should therefore adhere to the following principles:
Respect survivors’ dignity, wishes, choices and rights.
Do not blame survivor for attracting violence to him/her-
self and believe his/her story.
Interviews should be conducted in private settings.
Ask only relevant questions. Over-critical or over-particu-
lar questions should be avoided except it is absolutely
required to provide services.
Interviewer should be patient and not press for more
information when the survivor is not ready to volunteer
such information.
The survivor’s choice to keep certain information confi-
dential should be respected, until the time he/she wishes
to disclose such.
Female staff should conduct interviews and examina-
tions for female survivors, including translators.
Male survivors should indicate his preference of a man or
woman to conduct his interview.
Female staff is usually the best to interview and examine
small children.
Avoid asking survivor to repeat story in multiple
interviews.
Simple language that the survivor understands should
be used.
The same Case Manager should handle the survivor’s
meetings and interviews throughout his/her case
management process.
3.1.2 Safety
This refers to the physical, emotional and psychosocial
safety of survivors.
Safety and security of the survivor and that of
his/her family, where applicable should always be
ensured.
Maintain consciousness of the safety and security
of service provider and any other persons helping
the survivor such as friends, family members,
healthcare givers etc.
In documenting, reporting, monitoring and case
management, ensure that the risks are not greater
that the benefits to the survivors.
Service providers should bear in mind that a survi-
vor may be at further risks from the perpetrator,
people protecting the perpetrators and members
of the survivor’s family due to notion of family
‘honour’.
3.1.3 Confidentiality
Confidentiality should be maintained through strict
information sharing practices that rest on the principle
of sharing only what is absolutely necessary to those
involved in the survivor’s care with his/her permission.

18
There should be no discrimination in all interac-
tions with survivors and in all service provision.
Survivors should be fairly and equally treated
irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, religious,
cultural and sexual orientation.
Survivors should be accorded the high level of
regard; condescending, judgmental or disre-
spectful attitude should never be shown to individ-
ual or his/her person, culture, background, family
or situation.
All written or recorded information of survivors
must be securely kept against unauthorised
access.
If any report or data are to be made public, name,
address etc. should be withheld in the compila-
tion, reporting and sharing of data.
Ensure privacy before interviews starts with survi-
vors. A secured and conducive environment that
will give the survivor the sense of safety, security
and privacy.
Accurate information on available services,
access to such and the potential risk and conse-
quences of such services should be made avail-
able to survivors.
3.1.4 Non-Discrimination
Every survivor has the right to the best possible assis-
tance without unfair discrimination, therefore:
Organisations should familiarise themselves with and
follow the ethical and safety recommendations in the
WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for
Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual
Violence in Emergencies (WHO, 2007). Organisations
that agree to this set of guiding principles should:
3.2. Guiding Principles
Collaborate and cooperate between each
other in preventing and responding to GBV.
Ensure that staff, volunteers and ad hoc work-
ers within their organisations are committed to
integrating GBV into their operations and are
adequately skilled to do. Staff and volunteers
are also to adhere to all ethical and safety
standard for research, documentation, and
monitoring in GBV interventions.
Integrate and maintain GBV interventions into
all programmes and all sectors.
Ensure accountability at all levels.
Engage communities to fully understand and
promote gender equality.
Establish and maintain careful coordinated
multi-sectoral and inter-organizational inter-
ventions for GBV prevention and response.
Extend the fullest cooperation and assistance
between organizations and institutions in
preventing and responding to GBV. This
includes sharing situation analyses and
assessment information to avoid duplication
and to maximize a shared understanding of
situations.

19
The Best Interest of the child should be the overrid-
ing consideration in handling a child-survivor. In
arriving at the best interest of the child, factors
such as age, sex, cultural background, family
background, past experiences and general
environment should be taken into consideration.
To this end, actors should adhere to the spirit and
content of the Child Rights Law and seek profes-
sional advice from experts.
The rights of the child should always be upheld in
providing services, including their right to partici-
pate in decision making that will affect them.
3.3.1 Children
Ensure equal and active participation by
women, girls, men and boys in assessing, plan-
ning.
Implementing, monitoring and evaluating
programmes through systematic use of partic-
ipatory methods.
Engage the community fully in understanding
and promoting gender equality and gender
power relations that protect and respect the
rights of women and girls
The child must be consulted and given all the
information he/she needs to make an informed
decision. Ability to provide consent depends on
the age, mental capacity and maturity of the
child-survivor and capacity to express him/herself.
In the event of the decisions of the child not being
in his best interest, the service provider should
through a transparent manner take the child
through the process of a better decision.
Ensure the physical and emotional wellbeing of
the child (both in the short and long term). In
deciding the course of response, the least harmful
course is always preferred.
The child should be encouraged to express
him/herself through the use of child-friendly tech-
niques.
The child should be listened to and believed;
paying particular attention to their concerns and
fears helps the child to feel secure.
The interviewer should be empathetic.
Interview should be in a friendly manner so that
the child will speak in his/her own words, the child
survivor should be helped to express him/herself.
Interview can be recorded.
When appropriate, there can be multi-disciplinary
team around to listen to the child survivor.
A child-survivor may be frightened and needs
assurance of his/her safety, ensure the child is safe
at all times, ensure that he/she is not placed in a
situation of further risk of harm. Children, who
disclose sexual abuse, need to be comforted,
encouraged and supported. They should not be
blamed for the incidence.
Carry out a safety assessment for help from
people who can provide security, such as police,
elders and leaders within the community etc.
Let the child know and understand that the infor-
mation supplied by him/her will only be shared
with their caretakers or other appointed legal
guardian where it is safe to do so and if it will
ensure the safety and security of the child.
3.3. Guiding Principles for
Working with Specific Survivors
In addition to the guidelines provided above, addi-
tional guidelines and principles apply for these
categories of GBV survivors in providing response
and services to them.

20
Male victims/Survivors of GBV require additional guide-
line in service providers’ response to the ones listed
above perhaps because of cultural perspective of
‘manly strength’. Though response to male survivors is
similar to the above listed one, these additional consid-
erations should be included:
3.3.2 Girls & Women
For victims/survivors of sexual abuse, particularly
rape, provide first line support response such as
medical care which may help in preserving
evidence and preventing post- exposure prophy-
laxis such as HIV
Minimize further trauma while interviewing and
taking history.
Service Provider must acknowledge that men and
boys can be victims of GBV and as such require
response and care. Service Provider should
encourage the man/boy to freely express himself
without giving him a condescending attitude.
3.3.2 Boys & Men
In instances where the law prescribes mandatory
reporting, the child and his/her caregiver should
be informed of this at the beginning of the process
and carried along.
Informed consent of the legal guardian of the
minor must be obtained prior to any response
service or sharing of information. Where, however,
the perpetrator is the legal guardian or has the
support of the legal guardian, this requirement
should be waived.
All children should be treated fairly and equally. No
child should be treated unfairly for any reason.
Assist children to heal and strengthen their
resilience as each child has the capacities and
strength to heal. As such, the service provider
should build upon the child and family’s strength
as part of the recovery and healing process.
Make them realize that men and boys can be
victims of GBV, and that seeking help is the right
thing to do.
They should be believed and made to feel safe
and cared for.
They should not be shamed or made to look less
‘manly’ for their disclosure.
Build their trust; let them know that their case will
be handled confidentially. This is particularly
important to men.
Allow Male survivors choose the service provider
they feel comfortable with.
People with disabilities are one of the most vulnerable
of GBV survivors. WHO reports that persons with
disabilities experience violence 4 to 10 times more
than people without disabilities. Perpetrators of these
abuses are often family members and people close
and known to the survivor. The situation is more
precarious for people with mental health challenges
such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), chronic depression etc. or intellectual impair-
ments such as autism, ADH disorder, Bipolar, Down’s
syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, etc
People with disabilities have the right to access to
GBV services without discrimination. Hence, aside the
general guidelines which should be duly considered
in providing response to persons with disabilities in
GBV programmes, additional guidelines include:..
3.3.4 People with Disabilities
Respect for the principle of participation and
inclusion in treating persons with disabilities.
This principle aims at engaging persons with
disabilities in wider society and in making deci-
sions that will affect them. It also encourages
them to be active in their own lives within the
community.
Focus should be on the whole person and not
the survivors’ disabilities. People with disabilities
have identities such as mothers, friends, lead-
ers, neighbours, etc.

21
Inquire for the preferred means of communica-
tion and use preferred option. Some survivors may
use lips-reading while others use simple gestures
or communicate through writing.
Find out whether the survivor understands and
uses sign language and make effort to provide
the specialist.
The survivor should be allowed to sit in the place
he/she chooses or prefers to sit to put him/her at
ease.
The staff/personnel of an institutional service
provider should always introduce self and organi-
sation to the survivor.
Pictures, written documents and vague languag-
es should be avoided. If it is necessary to use any
of such, the content should be described in as
much detail as possible.
Always tell the survivor you are moving or leaving
their space – do not just walk out.
It is good to give an initial tour of the environment
to this category of survivor at their first visit to
make them feel comfortable.
Support people with disabilities to develop their
own sense of agency and power to make their
own decisions. However, do not assume for a
survivor with disability what they want or feel;
rather explore with them to identify their
concerns and interests and give them opportu-
nities as is given to other GBV survivors.
In responding to persons with disabilities, work
with their family members (non-perpetrating)
as well to identify their skills and capacities,
using this to inform, implement and evaluate
the GBV programme that will be designed for
them.
Ensure physical access and adapt office
environment e.g. entrance and other physical
structure within and around the GBV actors and
service providers to accommodate needs of
people with disability, e.g. having a ramp at the
entrance.
Specific considerations need to be considered
while communicating with people with disabili-
ties and/or providing services to them. Make
provision for experts and professionals to aid
communication with people with special com-
munication needs.
Survivors with physical impairment should be
met in places that are easily accessible to them
and with adequate privacy.
Discuss transport options for activities and
events. Consider what is going to be the safest,
most affordable and the least amount of effort
for the individual and family.
If survivor is using a wheelchair, interviewer
should sit at the survivor’s level.
Be sensitive about physical contact.
Do not lean or move survivor’s wheelchair or
assistive device without their permission.
Survivors with
physical impairment
Survivors with
hearing impairment
Survivors with
visual impairment
Survivors with
intellectual impairment
Sentences should be short and easy so as to com-
municate a point at a time.
Questions may need to be repeated using other
sets of words which may better describe what you
are trying to communicate.
Always give sufficient time for response.
Be patient and make sure the survivor is not
rushed.

22
Interviews and discussions should be held in
conducive environment to reduce distractions
Pictures can be used to communicate to survivors
with intellectual impairment.
Adults should be treated as adults and not as
children.
Survivors with
speech impairment
Always allow a survivor to complete his/her
statement; avoid the mistake of completing it for
him/her.
More time is needed for proper communication
with survivors with speech impairment, so plan
for it.
Never assume, always ask a survivor to repeat
the point if you do not understand and narrate it
back to confirm that you got the right narrative.
The use of questions with short and direct
answers – Yes or No - is useful.

Disclosure is when an adult survivor chooses to share his/her GBV incident to someone while identification refers
to the situation where other persons inform service providers that another individual has experienced GBV.
Disclosure could be to anyone including family members, friends, peer, Community leaders, School teachers,
Police or Security personnel, NGOs/CBOs/FBOs, Healthcare providers or anyone whom the survivor perceives can
be of help.
When an actor who is not a GBV specialist receives a report identifying someone as having experienced violence,
they should contact a GBV specialist who has experience in implementing appropriate steps and follow-up. A
survivor has the right and freedom to report a GBV incident to anyone he/she chooses.
Actors in non-GBV areas are the entry point to GBV referral pathways for survivors who disclose GBV incident and
need referral. It is therefore important that all actors understand and comply with this disclosure procedure.
CHAPTER 4:
IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS AND
DISCLOSURE
23
An actor who receives a disclosure of GBV
from a survivor, should provide the survivor
the following:
a. Psychosocial First Aid.
b. Information on services that are
available to the GBV survivor.
c. Details on how to access these services.
d. Appropriate support to help the survivor
access these services.
If at the point of entry, the Actor who is not a GBV specialist is unsure
of how to proceed, he or she should consult a GBV specialist without
disclosing identifiable information about the survivor’s situation; and
in situations where a GBV specialist is not available, the non-GBV
specialist should follow the Guiding Principles outlined in this SOP to
ensure that the survivor is not left without service.
All organisations and actors, including those are not specialised in
providing GBV services should prepare and train their staff/volunteers
on GBV guiding principles and standard operating procedures
relevant to their specialisation.
In handling disclosure from a survivor of GBV, an actor
should BE MINDFUL of the following:
4.1 Handling Disclosure
GBV survivors’ needs are numerous; therefore,
coordination amongst service providers is
important in meeting these needs. Service
providers must maintain functional referral
system to be able to provide timely access to
quality service for survivors.
Actors have the duty to provide objective and
comprehensive information on services and
options available in the community to survivors
who approach them. It is essential that the full
range of choice for support services should be
presented to the survivors regardless of personal
beliefs
The Actor may refer survivor, as he/she requests,
to service providers as per the agreed upon
referral system in Lagos State including health,
psychological, security and legal services and
should provide assist the survivor through the
referral process in the service provider. For

24
4.2 Steps in Disclosure Procedures
Be aware of available services.
Know how to communicate with survivors in a
survivor-centered manner.
Increase your knowledge and skill as a non-GBV
service provider
PREPARE
Find a safe and quite space to talk
.
Ensure they are not left alone.
Ask the survivor what their immediate concerns
are.
Assess the security and safety of the survivor,
evaluating this together.
Remove the person from immediate danger,
identify together actions to help (key people to
contact, safer locations).
If the survivor is a very distressed, help them to
calm down.
Ask what the survivor needs to be comfortable
(clothing, food, water etc.)
Ask if you can provide help
WELCOME
Act in a respectful manner to build trust with the
survivor and listen to them.
Allow the survivor to disclose their distress and
seek help.
Do not pressure the person to talk and do not
expect them to display particular emotional reac-
tion.
Listen in case they want to talk about what
happened.
Listen actively (e.g. give your full attention, gently
nod your head, make eye contact, use appropri-
ate body language).
Assure survivor that it is common to feel strong
negative emotions in these situations.
LISTEN
example, the Actor should escort the survivor to
the referred service provider or facilitate the
survivor’s access.
In cases of sexual violence and/or bodily injuries,
health assistance is the priority, particularly the
first 72 hours. Assistance rendered from case to
case must be in accordance with best practices
or relevant Guidelines. For example, assistance
rendered in the case of rape should follow the
WHO Clinical Management of Rape and Intimate
Partner Violence Guidelines, 2020 which includes
the provision of emergency contraception and
post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.
Service providers should inform the survivor of
what assistance they can offer and clearly relate
what cannot be provided or the limitations to
services, to avoid creating false expectations.
All service providers in the referral network must
be knowledgeable about the services provided
by any actor to whom they refer a survivor.
Children must be accompanied to all services
within the referral pathway.

25
Inform the survivor they are entitled to protection
from violence, abuse and exploitation, and to
receive care and support.
Inform the survivor of services available, and the
benefits and consequences of the available
options.
Use language they will understand.
Inform the survivor of a realistic timeframe within
which services can be expected. If you do not
know, contact the service provider to find out.
For sexual violence survivor, provide information on
health services.
Explain to the survivor the importance of seeking
healthcare within 72 hours to minimize risks of
sexually transmitted disease (including HIV/AIDS)
and unwanted pregnancies.
For adult survivors, inform them they have the right
to decide what service they wish to receive and
with whom they wish to share information.
Give the survivor time to take breaks and ask for
clarification.
Respect the survivor’s right to decide what support
he or she need.
Do not impose advice or opinion on what the survi-
vor should do
PROVIDE INFORMATION
If survivor requests or consents to access service,
follow this SOP’s procedure for referral.
Refer the survivor to a GBV Case Management
service provider, if available in your location for
follow up
REFERRAL
Finish the disclosure in a positive way.
Reaffirm to the survivor that he or she are entitled
to protection from violence, abuse and exploita-
tion, and to receive care and support.
Reaffirm it is not their fault.
Reaffirm it is common to feel strong negative emo-
tions in these situations.
Reaffirm to the survivor that he/she has the right to
live free from violence and risk of violence.
CLOSE
4.3 Sample Healing Statements
(culled from Kurdistan Region, Iraq, p.23)
Build relationship / rapport
“Thank you for sharing that with me” / “I’m glad
that you told me”
Empathy
“I’m sorry to hear what happened to you” / “I’m
sorry to hear you are going through this”
Trust
“I believe you”
Reassuring & Non-Blaming
“What happened to you is not your fault” / “You
did not deserve what happened to you”
Empowering
“You are very brave to talk with me and I will try to
help you.”
Confidentiality
“I want to let you know that what you shared is
confidential and I won’t tell this to anyone else
without your consent”

CHAPTER 5:
REPORTING AND REFERRAL
This chapter gives details on what GBV and non-GBV service providers can do when a survivor reports an incidence
of GBV to them. In providing services, providers should take note of the following:
GBV actors must maintain functional referral
systems that will provide timely access to quality
service for GBV survivors.
In creating and maintaining referral structures, it
is important that the survivor should be able to
have access to service provision through any
entry point of his/her choice. There should not be
a designated first point of contact; rather, here
should be multiply entry points from which the
referral system proceeds.
The service provider that receives the initial
disclosure from the GBV survivor should recog-
nise that the survivor has the freedom to choose
whether to seek assistance, the forms of assis-
tance, and from whom to seek the assistance.
Service providers should clearly provide infor-
mation to the survivor on the assistance they
can render and those they cannot render so as
that the survivor does not have wrong expecta-
tions of them.
All service providers within the referral network
must be aware of the services being provided
by others to whom they refer a survivor, whether
or not they are first point of contact for a survi-
vor.
Children must be accompanied to all services
within the referral pathway.
There should be a 24-hour (including weekends)
all round service provision of accommodation
for child survivors.
Children in need of temporary accommodation
should not be denied under any procedural
guise. Immediate needs of such a child survivor
should be the overriding consideration. Perfec-
tion of process can always be done after the
immediate safety and security of the child has
been ensured.
Presence: Whether the service is regularly avail-
able and fully functional.
Geographical Location: The proximity of the
service to the survivor.
Accessibility: How the survivor and/or communi-
ties can access the service freely, safely and
confidentially.
Availability: The forms of services available
Accountability: The persons/group responsible for
following up the service.
Factors that should be considered in evaluating
services to which a survivor will be referred are:
During referrals, actors need to share information
about the survivor and the GBV incident. However,
such information is extremely sensitive and confi-
dential, and needs to be well-managed. It is not
impossible that such information can have serious
and potentially life-threatening consequences for
the survivor and those assisting him/her. The survivor
has the right to control how the information about
his/her case is shared and with whom it is being
shared. Further, his/her consent must be obtained
before steps are taken in handling the GBV incident
being reported. Asking for informed consent from
the survivor means asking for permission to under-
take any action (including referral) and to share
information about them to others. The informed
consent of the survivor should also always be
obtained in sharing of information and such infor-
mation should also be kept confidential by the
forwarding actor and the receiving actor.
5.1. Information sharing during
Referral: Consent and Confidentiality
26

Informed consent can only be said to be given
when an individual agrees to participate in an
activity or to allow something to occur after
he/she has knowledge of or has received all
the information about the activity. For the con-
sent to be termed informed, the individual
must:
In obtaining the informed consent of a survivor,
actors must ensure that:
There is no consent when agreement is obtained
through the use of force, fraud, abduction, coercion,
manipulation or misrepresentation. Also, there is no
consent when threat to withhold benefit to which the
survivor is entitled to is used and/or a promise is
made to the survivor for further benefit.
However, in very exceptional circumstances,
informed consent of the survivor can be done away
with especially when:
When a survivor does not give consent, his or her
information should not be shared with other organi-
sations or service providers, but such survivor is still
entitled to receive appropriate and timely care.
Have all the information needed to reach
such consent;
Be of legal age to make or give the con-
sent;
Have mental capacity to understand the
agreement and the consequence;
Must possess equal power relation with the
person asking for the consent.
All relevant information and options are made
available to the survivor (or in the case of a
child, the parents/trusted caregiver/guardian)
in order to give his/her informed consent. This
information should include the implications of
sharing information about case with other
actors and the options/services available from
the different agencies.
All possible pros and cons of the situation are
discussed.
Consent is given voluntarily without any force or
coercion.
It is obtained by an individual that the survivor is
comfortable with.
It is taken in a place where the survivor is com-
fortable.
Consent should be taken in writing where legal
and medical services are provided.
1.
2.
3.
4.
A survivor is suicidal.
A survivor threatens to seriously harm other
people.
Child abuse or neglect is suspected, and it is in
the best interest of the child
When mandatory rules apply.
i
ii
iii
iv
5.2. Informed Consent
27
Informed consent from minor survivor would
need to be taken in consultation with
Parents/guardians (non- perpetrating) who are
acting in the best interest of the child.
5.3 Children and Consent
5.4 Use of Consent Forms
Permission to proceed should be sought both from the
child and their non-perpetrating caregivers (parents
or guardians) and the informed consent should be
obtained although, identification as opposed to
disclosure is more common with GBV child survivor. In
obtaining the informed consent of a child survivor, the
guiding principles explained in the Chapter 3 MUST be
adhered to.
Consent forms should be used by GBV specialists
within the framework of case management when
referring the survivor to specialised GBV service.

28
Steps to follow in obtaining the
Informed Consent of a Survivor
All possible information and options available
should be provided to the survivor. This should also
be explained to him/her in simple language he/she
can understand.
Survivors should also be informed that they have
the right and freedom to decline or refuse any
aspect of any services being offered.
STEP 1: Provide and Explain All Information
The benefit and risk attached to the services should
also be explained to the survivor. The survivor should
also know that he/she has the right to control what
information will be shared, how it will be shared and
whom it will be shared with.
STEP 2: Ensure the survivor understands the
implications of any referral
The survivor should be made to understand that
there is need to share information to others who will
provide additional services
STEP 3: Explain limitation to confidentiality
The survivor should be asked directly for consent to
contact other service providers and to share
certain information.
STEP 4: Ask and obtain consent
Attention should be paid to whether the survivor
placed a limitation on the types of information to be
shared and to whom
STEP 5: Check limitation of consent
The survivor should sign the form when necessary to
show they agree to the services they are being
referred. For survivors who are unable to sign,
thumbprint should be used or an ‘X’ be placed in the
appropriate place or verbal consent be obtained.
The survivor should be made to understand how
service provider will store and disseminate the infor-
mation. Signature of the survivor may not be appro-
priate when it will pose risk to the safety of the survi-
vor. A suggested template of the Consent form is in
Appendix I.
5.5 Referral Options
Two options are opened to a survivor who chooses to
access support, and he/she should be informed of
these two options. The actor should provide survivor
with information of where services are available or if
the survivor chooses the second option, should be
refer after obtaining necessary consent

29
This provides information and details of organisations and specific service providers or professionals
and their contact details. The individual or organization who is the first point of contact for the survivor
should act in accordance with the referral structure and this includes respecting the freedom of the
survivor to withdraw from services at any stage of the process. Information must be provided to survi-
vors on the type of services available and how to access them and refer survivors to those services.
Referral pathways differ for organisations that are GBV specialist and those that are not.
5.6 GBV Referral Pathway/Directory
5.6.1. Type One Referral Pathway
Point Of Entry
Non - GBV
Members
Actor /
Community
Specialized Service
Provider
GBV Service
Provider
Health Care
Provider
GBV Service
Provider
Judiciary /
Court
5.6.2. Type Two Referral Pathway
Point Of Entry
SECURITY AGENCIES
GBV Service
Provider
Judiciary / Court
Specialized Service
Provider
Health Care
Provider
5.6.3. Type Three Referral Pathway
Point Of Entry
GBV SERVICE PROVIDER
Judiciaary /
Court
Security
Agencies
Specialized Service
Provider
Health Care
Provider
5.6.4. Type Four Referral Pathway
Point Of Entry
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
Judiciaary /
Court
Security
Agencies
GBV Service
Provider
Specialized
Service
Provider

30
It is important that the various categories of actors
in the GBV response should have a comprehensive
RFERRAL DATA BASED DIRECTORY for easy and
accessible referral pathways. In achieving this
therefore, the various sectors within the actors:
5.7 Building Referral Pathways for
an All-inclusive Response
Must be aware of the assigned police
station covering its area to which referral
can be made when needed and should
maintain an active link with the local police
station.
Should create a Referral Data Base Directo-
ry and it can include services and profes-
sionals related to:
Should create linkages and rapport with the
media to ensure prompt support for the
cases where survivors choose to share their
stories. In doing this, all the guiding princi-
ples for survivor-centered approach should
be observed. The privacy and anonymity of
the survivor and persons related to them
Legal and Medical Aid
Police Stations and Area Commands
Financial Aid Services
Mental Health Services (psychologist/-
psychiatrist)
Government Remand Homes
Government and Private Orphanages
and Shelters/Hostels
Community-based and national NGOs
Institutions dealing with chemical/drug
dependency and rehabilitation
Hospitals – government and private
within the actor’s vicinity
Vocational Training Institutes
Social Welfare department
Schools in the area
Local Government Officials
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
should be respected. As such, photographs
of survivors should neither be taken nor
made public.
Should create and maintain active link with
local government, hospitals (primary and
secondary healthcare facilities).
Should network and keep robust relation-
ship with other GBV and non-GBV service
providers.
Visit those identifiable referral services to
assess their facilities, qualities and sensitivi-
ties to survivors, particularly, women and
children and issues affecting them.
Make sure that the Referral Directory is
regularly updated, and re-referrals should
be made on the basis of feedback from
referred survivors.
Where necessary and possible, have a
formal Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) signed with referral services/profes-
sionals.

31
5.8 Steps in Making Referrals
Information should be given to the survivor about
possible referrals for services in a safe, ethical and
confidential manner.
Prior to any step of referral, survivor’s agreement
should be obtained, and informed consent for
information sharing should be obtained.
NOTE: The survivor has the right to choose to which
service for referred and to ask for limitations on
the shared information.
Prior to any step of referral, survivor’s agreement
should be obtained, and informed consent for
information sharing should be obtained.
STEP 1 INFORMATION, AGREEMENT AND
INFORMED CONSENT
Survivor should be interviewed in a safe and
confidential way, obtaining more details to
get a good understanding of incident.
Personnel collecting information from survi-
vor should be appropriately trained in follow-
ing the guidelines, and should carry out this
duty with compassion, confidentiality and
with respect to the survivor.
Provide complete and correct information
about service providers, i.e. Who (which
institution/organisation provides services to
GBV survivors, adding contact information or
a person ( name, telephone number) that
can be reached as an entry point to that
service); What (what sort of assistance survi-
vor can expect to receive from a specific
service provider, adding cost information
related to that service); Where (the exact
address of the indicated services).
NOTE: Do not raise the survivor’s expectations by
giving false information/impression which you
will not meet
STEP 2: INTAKE
It is important that all actors jointly do an
assessment of further risk of violence to
survivor; this will assist in planning for appro-
priate referral and increasing survivor safety
STEP 3: SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Survivor should thereafter be referred to the
appropriate service provider.
To avoid survivor having to repeat stories and
multiple interviews, referral should be accom-
panied by a short, written report and telephone
discussion with the other service provider.
STEP 4: ASK AND OBTAI CONSENT
In suitable situations, the survivor should be
accompanied to the referred service provid-
er.
STEP 5: ACCOMPANY
5.9 Mandatory Reporting
A survivor has the freedom and right to disclose or
not, and this should be respected. However, there
are instances in which a person receiving a GBV
report is required to report. One of such is incidents
of sexual exploitation.
All actors should be familiar with the relevant
Lagos State law and policies and their organi-
sation’s internal policies regarding reporting
cases.
Service provider should inform the survivor
about the duty to report certain incidents in
accordance with laws or policies or if there are
concerns for the safety and security of the
survivor.
Service provider should explain the reporting
mechanism to the survivor and what they can
expect after the report.
The incident should be reported with the survi-
vor’s consent.
The informed consent of the survivor should be
obtained, although the survivor has the right not
to be involved in the reporting and investigating
process of the case. When the survivor wishes
not to be involved, referral should be made
concealing his/her name and identity while
access to service should still be prioritised.

32
5.10 Media Reporting
Publicity or media reporting is not the usual course
of response and can be used only in exceptional
instances where it will add meaningful value to
justice and healing of the survivor. In giving publicity
to any GBV case, a service provider must ensure
that the survivor is at the stage when he/she can
make an informed decision about being involved in
or granting permission to such media reporting.
Instances when media reporting may be useful is
when some survivors decide to help break silence
and assist others. Further, publicity can be used
when the survivor requests for it despite being
informed of the possible negative repercussions.
The following considerations are recommended
before going ahead with media reporting or public-
ity:
Before a report is made to the media, thewrit-
ten consent of the survivor (or non-perpetrat-
ing parents or guardian in case of children)
must be obtained and the survivor should be
adequately informed of the possible implica-
tions of revealing their case to the media.
In case a public statement is required to be
made regarding a case, any such statement
should be given with both the verbal and
written consent of the survivor (or non-perpe-
trating parents or guardian in case of
children). The service provider should appoint
one staff member who acts as the focal point
of contact with the media.
The survivor must never be used for advanc-
ing the interest of the activist(s)/supporter(s)
or the service provider(s) or organisation(s).
Using a survivor in such a manner is highly
unethical; and it is also a form of exploitation
and must never occur.
Stories or image that might put the survivor,
his/her siblings, peers and other concerned
relatives at risk, should not be published, even
when identities are changed, obscured or not
used.
When names and images of survivor are not
used in the media, details that will easily give
away his/her identities such as address, school,
etc. should not be used.
Ensure that the media do not further stigmatise
any survivor; avoid categorisation or descriptions
that expose a survivor to negative reprisal –
including additional physical or psychological
harm, or to lifelong abuse, discrimination or rejec-
tion by their local communities.
When there is a press conference or media inter-
view, survivor should be prepared for possible
kind of questions and also be apprised of his/her
right to refuse questions he/she does not wish to
answer.
5.11 External Reporting
Reporting to other external actors and organisations
e.g. progress reports to donor, policy papers, or
government should be done adhering strictly to the
guiding principles about privacy and confidentiality.
Such reports should not contain confidential and
identifying information about survivors. Also, such
report should not contain information that may
pose as risks to safety and security of the survivor
and service provider, if it gets into the wrong hands.

CHAPTER 6:
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE
This chapter specifies the roles and responsibili-
ties of specialised actors in dealing with GBV
cases. Specialised actors can receive cases either
through disclosure from survivors or through
referral from other actors. In dealing with GBV, all
specialised actors should ensure that the frontline
serves are accessible, private, confidential, safe
and trustworthy.
Some survivors of GBV may not be in need of these
specialist services. However, some others want
and need the assistance such as psychological
first aid (PFA) and clinical health interventions
which are delivered through multi-sectoral
approach in accordance with the international
standards and protocols. A multi-sectoral
response to GBV is a holistic and coordinated
approach directed at harmonising and correlat-
ing programmes and actions developed and
implemented by a variety of institutions and
actors.
The needs of GBV survivors differ. They are not only
different in dimensions, but some are also imme-
diate and prompt, while others are in phases and
may be needed on short or medium and even
long term. Survivor may have immediate needs
such as basic assistance to ensure their wellbe-
ing, safety and security. These include material
needs like food, non-food items (NFIs) and shelter
which should be arranged by GBV service provid-
ers through quality and timely referrals to
non-GBV service providers. In instances when GBV
survivors need it, Dignity Kits should be provided
for immediate use. (See Appendix III).
Survivors should not be exposed to further risks and dangers; assistance should be closely guided by the
principles of confidentiality, safety, respect and non-disclosure.
It is better to identify a safe and easily accessible space that allows for privacy to meet survivor. Home
visits are not recommended when supporting GBV survivors except it is agreeable to survivor and it poses
no risk to the survivor or service provider. Home visit may put the survivor to more risk and/or stigmatiza-
tion. However, in instances when home visit is essential, strategies should be put in place to minimize the
risk to survivors and service provider. Discreet and low profile should be the watch word. The following can
help in minimizing the risk:
In providing immediate assistance to survivor, actors should take the following into consideration:
33
The needs of GBV survivors differ. They are not only
different in dimensions, but some are also immedi-
ate and prompt, while others are in phases and may
be needed on short or medium and even long term.
Survivor may have immediate needs such as basic
assistance to ensure their wellbeing, safety and
security. These include material needs like food,
non-food items (NFIs) and shelter which should be
arranged by GBV service providers through quality
and timely referrals to non-GBV service providers. In
instances when GBV survivors need it, Dignity Kits
should be provided for immediate use. (See Appen-
dix III).

Multiple households including the survivor’s household can be visited at a time to provide information or
some other non-GBV related types of services to those other household. By doing this, attention will not
be drawn to the survivor.
Know the day and time to visit the survivor; the day and time that will be most conducive to the survivor
and form of help to be rendered, for example when there will be fewer members of the community
around and/or when perpetrator will not also be around or near the house.
Having a signal and/or code with the survivor to signal presence or absence of risk and danger to stop
visit or cut short visit. Mobile phones can be used when available or other objects such as cloths, sticks
etc. that will signal that visit should not be done or that it is not safe for discussion.
If it is anticipated that the survivor may be confronted about service provider’s visit, discuss with such
person what they can say to others about your person and purpose of your visit so as not to expose
themselves to risk.
You need to be sensitive in requesting for information from the survivor in the presence of relatives or
members of the community; this might have impact on the survivor’s protection.
Home visit should not be used to identify GBV cases. GBV actors should not go out in communities to
actively identify GBV cases. Outreach teams can visit homes and communities to provide general
information on services available but such visit should not include questions or discussions about
personal experience of violence within the household.
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
34
Should be well equipped with the basic and
immediate psychosocial support to facilitate
the treatment of the survivor, including trauma
counseling.
Medical and health caregivers are important in
cases of GVB and are often the first responders.
They treat injuries, conduct thorough medical
screenings and forensic examinations, provide
psychosocial support, and provides treatment
which prevent further harm and health conse-
quences. They are often generally the first point of
call to provide appropriate referrals and follow-up.
Medical response and health caregivers include
private sector caregivers.
Medical and health care providers should identify
staff who are the first points of contact when a
survivor enters the health facility and such should
be trained in the survivor-centered approach in all
health assistance to protect GBV survivor. Such
health care staff:
6.1 Health and Medical Response
Should never determine whether a legal offence
e.g. rape or sexual assault occurred; this is
largely a legal issue for determination by the
legal actors.
Should know the relevant protocol to use in the
care of GBV survivors in line with internationally
approved standards e.g. standards relating to
the clinical management of rape (CMR) survi-
vors.
Provide medical care, record details of the histo-
ry and the physical examination and other
relevant information.
Collect forensic evidence; this should be done
with the survivor’s consent (or parent/guardian)
Should know and understand the importance of
other services including legal and social
services when responding to GBV.
Should have a constructive and professional
relationship with other service providers and

35
actors assisting the survivor or investigating the
crime. Networking with other service providers
can help ensure comprehensive care.
Should be free of prejudice or bias in dispensing
their roles and should maintain high ethical
standard in the providing their services.
NOTE: Every health facility should have a link with a
Child Protection Service to ensure that it is able to
draw on or provide referral to specialist services.
Table below shows the response and preventive`
roles of healthcare provider
RESPONSE PREVENTION
Examine survivor, history
taking and basic coun-
selling
Provision of needed
treatment based on the
individual needs of GBV
survivors.
Completion and provi-
sion of medical reports
and any necessary
evidence.
Refer to relevant service
provider (check the
referral pathway).
GBV health service
provider will give
evidence in court when
appropriate and
required.
Provision of health care,
if needed for perpetra-
tor(s)
Training of all health care
givers on GBV response
and SEA awareness
Sensitizing health care
personnel on GBV and
SEA issues as part of
health education.
Health care providers
who accede to SOP
should send representa-
tives to joint meetings on
GBV with other actors.
Health care facilities
should have policies that
ensure that perpetrators
seeking healthcare are
not discriminated
against.
6.1.1 Sexual and Reproductive Health for GBV
Survivors
Women/Girl survivors should have access to a
full range of health services including sexual and
reproductive healthcare beyond the clinical
management of rape and/or sexual assault.
Women/Girl survivors should not be shamed or
stigmatized for their choices of sexual/ reproduc-
tive health.
Women/Girl survivors have autonomy over their
healthcare decisions and do not need consent
from male relatives, guardians or husband to
receive health care or referrals.
For sexual/reproductive health provisions such
as contraception, family planning and STI man-
agement, health care providers should not
require for the consent of a male guardian before
providing women and girls with services.
NOTE: Elective abortion is allowed in Lagos State for
therapeutic reasons – that is, to save the life or
health of woman or girl survivor. The National
Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for
Legal Indications (2018) adopted by the Federal
Ministry of Health provide helpful guidance.

36
Some special considerations that must be noted in
the providing services to a GBV child survivor are:
6.2 Mental and Psychosocial
Response
6.1.2. Special considerations for Child
Survivors
Before a health care service provider exam-
ines a child survivor, the procedure for care
and treatment should be explained to the
child (and his/her non-perpetrating
parents/guardians); and consent for each
stage should be obtained. When the
parent/guardian is the perpetrator, then the
police or representative from the GBV service
provider may sign the consent form.
NOTE: generally, child survivors should not be
compelled to undergo an examination or
treatment unless it is essential to save the
child’s life and for the best interest of the child.
Mindful of the possibility that the adult(s) pres-
ent with the child is the perpetrator, it is always
important to ask a child survivor who he/she
wants around and this wish should be
respected.
Reassure the child survivor that he/she will be
safe, is not to blame. Also reassure such a child
that he or she is not in trouble.
Any form of stress reactions from the child
survivor should be managed patiently.
It is important to take note of persons present
during interview, examination and treatment.
Under no circumstance should a child survivor
be restrained, forced or frightened into com-
pliance for examination or treatment. Also,
they should not be mocked, body-shamed,
belittled or punished for any form of non-com-
pliance.
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is
the support people receive to protect and promote
their mental and psychosocial wellbeing. It aims at
preventing/treating mental disorder such as
depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Caregivers should promote a sense
of safety, calming, self and community efficacy,
social connectedness and hope. This response
helps maintain a continuum of family and commu-
nity-based care and support after a GBV incident
and prevents immediate or long-term health disor-
der following the traumatic incident.

37
Clinical
Services
Focused Psychocosial
supports
Strengthening community and family
supports
Social Considera�ons in basic services and
security
Fall under four layers of inter-
ventions as shown below: Clinical, mental health care
(whether by PHC staff or
mental health professionals)
Basic emotional and practical
support to selected individuals
of families
Activating social networks
Supportive child-friendly
spaces
Advocacy for good humanitari-
anpractice: basic services that
are safe, socially appropriate
and that protect dignity
Examples
6.2.1 MHPSS Interventions
6.2.1.1 First Layer: Basic Services and Security
The larger number of persons as reflected at the
base of the pyramid recover their mental and
psychosocial well-being when the basic safety and
security is established, or when they get social
materials such as food and NFIs.
As indicated on the second level in the pyramid, a
smaller but substantial number of persons (survi-
vors) need additional support from their families
and communities in order to recover their psycho-
social well-being. Support with social re-integra-
tion such as vocational training, empowerment
programmes, school reintegration and literacy
training, family tracing and reunifications, wom-
en’s groups, youth clubs, parenting/family
support, structured recreation and creative activi-
ties. These types of services can be provided by
other service providers and community members.
The support focuses on responding to immediate
and non-complex psychosocial distress. It also
aims at preventing more severe forms of distress
and mental health disorder.
6.2.1.2 Second Layer: Community and Family
Support
This is support given to a smaller number of
persons who need more focused services to
regain mental and psychosocial wellness as
shown in the pyramid. This is provided by psycho-
social workers and trained GBV responders, child
protection workers and MHPSS actors who can
give psychological first aid (PFA) to survivors or
provide case management. PFA responds to the
emotional and psychological distress of the survi-
vor. Response provided may include basic emo-
tional and practical support, providing opportuni-
ties for survivors to discuss their experiences,
discouraging negative coping mechanisms,
providing one-to-one or group psychosocial
support (PSS) sessions and encouraging partici-
pation in everyday activities. This intervention
also includes provision of counseling for individu-
als, groups or families as well as psycho-social
education about trauma and stress.
6.2.1.3 Third Layer - Focused, non-specialized
support
There is yet another smaller percentage of
persons who require more specialised care for
their mental and psychosocial well-being.
These persons require professional support from
trained health professionals and international
medical organisations such as clinical psycholo-
gists,
6.2.1.4 Fourth Layer - Specialized Services

38
gists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists. This
intervention is for survivors with severe mental
and emotional disorder suffered whether pre or
post the GBV incident.
GBV survivors can be helped to access the basic
needs contained in the first layer as well as the
second layer, that is, reconnect with family and
community support system. However, when it is
determined that a survivor needs a higher level of
mental health care, GBV case management can
aid the survivor in getting access to such care.
Referral to specialised mental health profession-
als in the fourth layer should be made when:
6.2.2. When GBV Survivor requires MHPSS Care
6.3 Security and Safety Response
Security and safety are important in responding
to GBV incident because survivors, their families
and the service provider may be at risk. It is there-
fore essential that all actors should prioritize
security and safety. The relevant actor to provide
safety and security when needed should be
pre-identified and have clearly delineated
responsibilities. In providing services to survivors,
there may be occasion when survivors would
need to be relocated away from their assailants
to a secure and safe environment. This necessi-
tates that Actors should identify shelter options
for survivors at risk. Short-term shelters can be
provided through safety networks and foster
families for survivors especially girls and children.
Where a child is involved, it is emphasised that the
best interest of the child is the priority consider-
ation in the provision of shelter and care.
Service providers upon receiving a case of
domestic violence may work with survivors to
explore options and strategies to stay with or
leave family depending on safety considerations.
The following considerations can help ensure the
safety and security of GBV survivors:
Find strategies that will enable survivors stay
with their family when appropriate or finding
a trustful family member to stay with. How-
ever, this should be done when family mem-
bers are not the aggressors. Non-offending
family members should be involved as care-
giver in the healing process particularly
when one of the parents of the child GBV
survivor is the aggressor.
NOTE: Safe houses (or orphanages) should
be considered as a last option because of
the various complexities involved, and
where it is used, should be used as
short-term intervention while longer-term
solutions should be worked at.
The survivor may be provided with a means
of communication such as phone or airtime
credit to enable him or her to contact case
manager. However, this should be done only
after a risk assessment that shows that
neither the survivor nor service provider is
put at risk. In the alternative, trusted persons
should be involved in reaching survivor
when the survivor is without a means of
communication.
Immediate alternative shelter should be
provided until better and longer-term alter-
natives are identified.
A survivor referred to a shelter should be
monitored till safe arrival at this destination;
NOTE: Again, this should be used when the
risk associated is not enormous.
Emergency hotline number should be
provided.
Actors should follow leads and be willing to
support survivors to press criminal charges
in a professional and appropriate way.
There should be frequent follow-up where
the survivor is at risk if the alternative of
relocation is not possible.
Personnel involved in GBV case manage-
ment should be trained to identify GBV survi-
vors at risk of doing harm to themselves.
Organisations providing services (GBV and
other services) should ensure that their
personnel know and comply with security
procedures, and code of conduct.

39
GBV cases that constitute offences are to be
investigated and prosecuted by security agents
and law enforcement officers. In doing this securi-
ty agents and law enforcement officers should
display a high level of professionalism and
adequate knowledge of the response strategy in
handling GBV incidents because their response
has implications for access to justice for survivors.
In instances where there is repeated or
escalated domestic violence, service
providers should help survivors establish a
safety plan including helping them to identi-
fy the means of decreasing triggers that
lead to aggression.
Provision of expert statements, report and
testimony to courts where and when neces-
sary.
Service providers who are not security
agents should never assume the duties of a
security agent; they have no power to detain
suspects.
Survivors should be encourage reporting all
cases to the police and following through
with the legal process, Again, it is empha-
sized that in following through with this
process, the survivors’ consent must be
obtained and also all victim-centred stan-
dards in the referral pathway to the legal
process must be adhered to. Support should
be provided for survivors with the view to
minimize stigma and to promote individual
rights.
Participate in awareness raising activities
within the communities and promote/influ-
ence behavioral change within the
socio-cultural environment.
Actors should make referrals to other service
providers available including medical,
psychosocial and legal aid in accordance
with the expressed wishes of the survivor
A healthy synergy should be created and
maintained between the security agencies
and other service providers. By virtue of their
mandate, they may also be the first point of
call for GBV survivors.
Medical treatment should be given priority
before interviewing survivor especially in
cases of rape and other forms of sexual
assault unless otherwise is deemed neces-
sary.
Obtain the informed consent of the survivor
before referral to other service providers.
A GBV-desk should be designated at every
police station to ensure appropriately
trained officers are available to attend to
GBV cases. Designating GBV-trained officials
in specific police stations with Family
Support Units (FSU) is inadequate.
Every policing and security agency e.g. the
Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps, the
Neighbourhood Safety Corps should have a
Gender Desk with an appropriately trained
officer.
Survivors should be interviewed in a private
setting and handled with confidentiality
following the necessary guiding principles.
Officers of same gender with the survivor
interview the survivor except where the
survivor expresses a wish for or consents to
being interviewed by an officer of another
gender.
Cases should be handled with extreme
confidentiality;
Where and when necessary, the police
should visit the scene of the incident at the
earliest opportunity to obtain necessary
evidence and effect arrest.
A case file should be opened and all relevant
6.3.1 Security Agents/Law Enforcement
Some key considerations that security and law
enforcement agents must work with are:
Appendix 4 for a List of Security Agencies in
Lagos State and their contact details.

40
documents be processed and sent to the
Ministry of Justice or the judiciary if/when
necessary;
All effort should be put in to ensure that
persons accused of GBV are apprehended
and processed successfully through the
criminal justice system by ensuring that a
high quality of investigation and prosecu-
tion of such cases.
In handling GBV cases, each member of the
security agents team on each case should
be properly briefed and involved on every
stage so as to ensure continuity and justice
in the eventuality of any of the team mem-
bers being posted out of the station before
the completion of investigation and/or pros-
ecution,
When survivor needs temporary protection
particularly during investigation, referral to
appropriate service providers should be
made and the security agents should ensure
that the survivor has access to social
welfare, forensic and psychosocial services.
The survivor and his/her family members
should be protected when necessary from
intimidation and/or further assault from
perpetrator or his friends and family.
Obtain the informed consent of the survivor.
In the case of rape, it is of outmost impor-
tance that the survivor receives lifesaving
medical services as a first priority.
A case file should be opened from where all
the relevant documents should be kept and
processed; incidence should be document-
ed in appropriate registry.
Ensure proper consultation and communi-
cation with other service providers with
whom survivor has been referred.
6.3.2. Capacity Building for Security Agencies
/Actors on GBV Incidents
Security agents must be trained to know and
understand their roles and responsibilities in
handling GBV cases. This training should be part of
their rehearsal exercise, scenario-based training
and in-mission refresher course. Training should
also move away from the theoretical base to
conceptualized practical approach that meets
with field challenges.
These trainings should include:
Human rights, guiding principles for the
prevention and response to GBV, women and
child’s rights, Code of Conduct.
Emotional and Psychological state of GBV
survivors, their reluctance in allowing securi-
ty actors’ interventions.
Communication techniques particularly for
children, in making them comfortable and
trusting enough to disclose and talk.
Treating survivors with dignity and compas-
sion, not insinuating blame.
Exposure to gender-based security threats,
rather than being limited to cultivating
awareness only on the prevention of sexual
exploit and/or domestic abuse, particularly
when used by armed groups.
Maintaining awareness of GBV security
issues in the setting, particularly those
affecting children, women and girls.
Follow-up on the wellbeing of the survivor
ensuring access to social welfare, medical,
forensic and psychosocial services;

6.4 Legal/Justice Response
Information about existing measures that
can prevent further harm by the alleged
perpetrator;
Information on court procedures, and any
issues pertaining to national justice mecha-
nisms
Information on available support in the event
that legal proceedings are initiated;
Information on the pros and cons of all exist-
ing legal options which include highlighting
the inadequacy of any traditional justice
solutions that do not meet international legal
standards;
Options for obtaining legal representation
before the court if the survivor wishes to take
legal redress;
The survivors should be informed of any cost
implication from the beginning;
Child survivors should be consulted on the
option for legal justice and made aware of
the available services and their limitations.
The child’s needs, wishes and feelings are
taken into consideration and every effort is
Provision of the legal/justice-related services are
multi-dimensional and are offered by different
agencies of the justice administration process.
These multi-dimensional services and how each
group of actor should respond are described
below:
6.4.1 Judicial Procedure
Providing legal assistance to survivors often
involves engaging with various sectors within the
justice system. Depending on survivor’s first point
of contact. Participants relevant in the legal/justice
response include the security and law enforce-
ment agents such the Nigeria Police, the Armed
Forces (in some instances), National Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), NANTIP, the Ministry
of Justice and its agencies such as OPD; Director-
ate of the Public Prosecutor (DPP, the courts – High
Court (including the general Criminal Division and
the special divisions such as the Sexual Offences
Court and the Family Divisions, the Magistrates’
Court and the Customary Court. The court may
issue a Protection Order under the Protection
Against Domestic Violence Law of Lagos State
(2007) for a determined duration for protection
purposes if necessary or when requested by a
survivor or anyone representing survivor. If the
Protection Order is violated, the offender may be
imprisoned.
Legal/Justice responses are services which
include legal counseling, assistance, and repre-
sentation for survivors both adult and children
when they desire to press charges against the
perpetrator or in instances relating to personal
status such as divorce, custody of children, main-
tenance, etc. Legal response also includes the
provision of information on existing measure that
can prevent further harm by the aggressor; the
court procedures and justice mechanism for
redress; the attendant pros and cons of legal
options available; the cost implication and emo-
tional and psychological implications of lawsuits.
Information that should be provided to survivors
as soon as a report is received include:
made to enable the child to express
himself/herself and to take part in the deci-
sion-making process;
The child is accompanied to all court
proceedings, including pre-trial sessions,
trial and sentencing and is provided with
legal representation before the court.
41

STAGES SERVICES
Preventive measures to
prevent GBV including enlight-
enment and campaigns
Initial Contact
Investigation
Pre-trial/Hearing Processes
Trial/Hearing Processes
Perpetrator Accountability and
Reparation
Post-Trial Process
Carry out awareness-raising
activities about services, laws,
policies and procedures
A positive initial contact
experience with the justice
system, respectful of the
survivor’s right, is important for
survivors of violence
Assessment and investigation
should begin promptly and be
conducted professionally.
Survivor’s safety, security and
dignity should be considered
and maintained
There is the need to carry out
non-biased criminal, civil,
family and administrative
pre-trial/hearing processes
that is sensitive to the specific
needs of the survivor and
which guarantee their rights to
justice.
There should be measures in
place to prevent further
hardship and trauma that may
result from attending the trial.
Ensure that trial processes
maximize the survivor’s coop-
eration, promote her capacity
to exert agency during the trial
state while ensuring that in
criminal mater, the burden of
seeking justice is on the State.
Appropriate sanctions to hold
perpetrators accountable for
their actions and providing for
just and effective remedies to
the survivors for the harm or
loss they have suffered.
Measure to support healing
and rehabilitation
42
6.4.1.1 Judicial Institutions/Courts
Judicial officers should ensure
that cases of GBV are prioritised
for hearing. This will safeguard
against witness fatigue. Special-
ised hearing and the prioritiza-
tion of GBV cases should be
available for sexual violence
offence in the High courts should
be extended to all offences and
available at the Magistrate and
Customary courts.
Customary courts judges should
be trained on issues of GBV and
encouraged to adopt this SOP to
guide its processes.
Safety and security measures
should be put in place during the
trial GBV cases particularly rape
and sexual assault and when it
involves children.
The court should sit in private
(that is, out of the view of the
public) especially when the case
involves a minor.
Protect the rights of perpetra-
tors/defendant by advising the
perpetrator/defendant of their
rights and providing legal aid
where necessary to give a fair
trial.
When children are involved,
social worker should be intro-
duced particularly when such
children are expected to deliver
official statement or give
evidence to court.
To ensure that GBV child survivor
are speedily and safely
re-housed in a temporary
accommodation, there should
be dedicated magistrates to
issue care order; and they
should be accessible all-round
the day, weekend inclusive.

43
6.4.1.2. Prosecutor/Defence
Prosecutor should do an evaluation to deter-
mine whether or not to prosecute and whether
there is sufficient evidence to support the
prosecution
When case file is submitted by the relevant
security agent, criminal lawsuits should be
initiated
Free or low-cost legal aid should be provided
where necessary, exploring services of the
Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and
Citizens’ Mediation Centre.
Prosecutor should coordinate with other
Actors including police or appropriate security
agent, health professionals, psychosocial
service provider to promote prompt investi-
gation of the crime and support for the survi-
vor.
Office of the DPP should fast track its response
in providing advice on GBV cases to ensure
speedy dispensation of justice before
damage to/loss of evidence and witness
fatigue.
Survivor or parents/guardian in case of minor
should be kept informed about the case.
Prepare the survivor for trial when he/she will
be giving evidence in court.
Give necessary information to survivor on
upcoming hearing dates.
Defence counsel should respect the rights of
the survivor.
Defence counsel should clearly and honestly
inform the defendant of the procedures,
limitations, pros and cons of all possible legal
options.
6.4.1.3. Ministry of Justice
Provide adequate training for its staff on GBV
procedures.
Personnel should adhere to the guiding princi-
ples in handling GBV cases.
Liaise with all the Actors to ensure effective
and ethical investigation of all GBV cases.
Provide resources for the GBV trial process.
Coordinate with other Government Minis-
tries/Agencies involved in GBV and the Judi-
ciary to ensure an integrated and effective
response.
Inform survivors of other available legal
options particularly civil options for compen-
sation.
Afford the survivor the right to initiate a civil
proceeding in regard same incidence for
different reasons such as divorce, child custo-
dy, compensation, injunctions etc.
6.4.2 Roles and Responsibilities of Ministries
and Governmental Agencies
Create and strengthen network and collabora-
tion among Actors.
Provide training and provision of supportive
supervision for health and psychosocial work-
ers.
In collaboration with other actors, provide
education and enlightenment to the public on
GBV prevention, responses and available
service providers.
Ensure information sharing and coordination.
Mobilize resources and raise funds to address
health and psychosocial needs of GBV survi-
vors.
Conduct regular assessment on quality of care
for GBV survivors and lead situational analysis
assessments.
Provide legal support for other Actors.

The mediation process itself often maintains
and contributes to the abuser’s ongoing
power and control over a survivor.
The process of mediation presumes that both
parties can speak freely, confidently and
safely but all too often, because social norms
do not enable women to speak freely or have
their views considered as having equal weight
or worth, it is unlikely that a survivor is going to
feel that she can speak freely and without fear
of consequences.
It is also possible that just making a referral to
mediation can cause harm to the survivor; as
the abuser may get angry that survivor has
told others about the violence.
Mediation rarely results in an end to the abus-
er’s violence, and can actually lead to an
increase in violence.
There is a high risk of survivor blaming within
the mediation process. The perpetrator, who is
used to blaming the survivor, will have a
platform to articulate his position, and given
the cultural and social norms in place, and the
fact the survivor may feel intimidated or
scared to answer back, the perpetrator may
sound convincing. The survivor may be asked
to change his/her behavior as a condition for
violence reduction.
Provide accessible healthcare to vulnerable
members of the society particularly women
and children.
Create and maintain a highly confidential data
base system on health and psychosocial inter-
ventions.
Liaise and collaborate with other Actors includ-
ing security services.
Develop capacity of health and psychosocial
responders.
Ensure community participation in GBV preven-
tion and response activities.
Social Welfare Department should ensure
all-round service provision, including weekend
services.
Ministry of Education in collaboration with the
Social Welfare Department should establish a
school social work desk in every school to offer.
6.4.3 Mediation and traditional justice
mechanisms
Mediation is a process that is frequently used in
informal justice and under customary law to solve-
disputes between community members, families
and family members. Cases of interpersonal
violence (IPV) and domestic violence are common-
ly brought forward for ‘settlement’ by traditional or
religious leaders, as such is considered a private
family matter.
However, in general, mediation is not recommend-
ed as a response to IPV because of the safety risks
that it poses for the survivor. Survivors seeking help
from organizations responding to GBV may want
their cases to be handled through mediation
because they want the violence to stop and may
perceive mediation as a way to facilitate this. In
some cases, they even request that social workers
carry out the mediation. It is important that organi-
zations have clear guidelines on how to respond to
these requests in a way that is survivor-centered.
Mediation is not a recommended response for most
GBV cases because rather than stop the violence
from happening in the long term, it has the potential
to escalate violence, causing more harm to the
survivor. This is because:
Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that
any survivors have recourse to traditional justice
mechanisms to get justice for GBV. They may do
this voluntarily but at some other times, involun-
tarily as a result of direct and indirect pressure. It is
therefore important that conscious, careful, and
respectful attention should be given to the actions
of such mechanisms in responding to reports of
GBV. These may require interventions such as
44

45
Actively engaging members of traditional justice
systems in discussions and training workshops
about human rights, women and children’s rights;
and survival centered approach in assisting the
members to analyze the system from a human
rights perspective and, when needed, working
towards introducing changes to improve the stan-
dards.
Supporting the meaningful participation of women
in such systems
In collaboration with the formal justice system,
determine if traditional or alternative forms of
dispute resolution meet national and international
standards of protecting the rights of women and
girls, and offer sufficient protections to the women
and girls involved in these proceedings.
6.5. Roles and Responsibilities of
non-government GBV
Service Providers within this
SOPs
As there are several organisations with different focal
concerns around which they work, there are different
roles and responsibilities identifiable for them. The
roles and responsibilities of an NGO providing GBV
services would depend on its focus although some
tasks and responsibilities may overlap. Below are
recommended responsibilities for each focus group:
6.5.1. The Health Group:
Ask detailed questions about what happened
during the incident
Ask detailed questions about injuries
Conduct a medical examination of survivor
Document injuries and collect forensic evidence
Provide emergency contraception, and treat-
ment for injuries and STIs
Provide a medical certificate
Provide testimony in court
Provide information about possible health
consequences of sexual violence or other
violence
6.5.2. The Psychosocial Support Group
Where trained professionals are available,
conduct individual counselling or group coun-
selling and if the survivor appears unusually
distressed or is unable to function in daily life,
conduct a mental health assessment of the
survivor.
Provide skill-training for survivors
Provide material support to survivors (e.g.
clothes, food, shelter)
Facilitate access to income-generating activi-
ties for survivors to empower them
Ensure that available mental health services
are equipped to deal with disorders resulting
from sexual violence
Work with the community to reduce stigma
and discrimination against survivors of sexual
violence and to mobilize community support
and protection against further harm for survi-
vors
Enhance and promote the welfare and rights of
vulnerable such as children, women and
persons with disabilities
Provision of legal aid through the various pro
bono activities of NBA, FIDA, AWLA and other
groups within the legal profession. Legal aid
should be extended to lower courts such as
magistrate and customary courts.
Promote sexual and reproductive health
education and rights
Fight against child labour, human trafficking,
etc.
Promote social and/or political change on a
broad scale or very locally.
6.5.3. Legal Services Provision Group

CHAPTER 7:
CASE MANAGEMENT
Various harmful physical, emotional social conse-
quences arise from GBV incidence which make
survivors need multiple services, some which are
complex. Hence, survivors may need to access
services from a several range of service providers,
groups and organisations. Also, the needs of each
GBV survivor vary and the effect of the incident
differs from one survivor to the other. The conse-
quences of a GBV incident may have a lifelong
effect on some survivors, their relationships,
wellbeing, communal and societal interaction.
Such survivors would need longer, and more
lasting care through case management
Case management is a structured method for
providing help to GBV survivors. Through case
management, the survivor is informed of all
options available to them; and issues or problems
facing a survivor are identified and followed up in a
coordinated way. Case management aims at
achieving survivor’s wellness and autonomy
through advocacy, communication, education
identification of service resources and service
facilitation..
It also helps to reactivate the coping mechanism
of survivors and aid healing. In the process of case
management, the survivor is empowered with
information and awareness of the several choices
Ensure the survivor is the primary actor in case
management;
The survivor should be empowered and
involved in all aspects of planning and service
46
available to them as they seek to deal with the
problems confronting them and assisted to make
informed decisions about what to do about those
problems.
A case management approach is useful for survi-
vors with complex and multiple needs who seek access
to services from a range of service providers, organiza-
tions and groups. Case management serves as a means
for achieving survivor wellness and autonomy through
advocacy, communication, education, identification of
service resources and service facilitation. The goal
of case management is to empower the survivor
and, where appropriate their families or caregiver
by giving her/him increased awareness of choices
they have in dealing with the problem, and assist-
ing her/him to make informed decisions about
what to do about the problem. Case management
ensures that the survivor is involved in all aspects
of the planning and service delivery.
In the case management approach, service
providers must adhere to the following basic guid-
ing principles in handling cases:

47
delivery. The types and limit of service to be
provided should be discussed at the initial
contact with the survivor so as not to give a
false hope to the survivor.
The wishes, rights, dignity and capacity of the
survivor must be respected always.
Conducive environment should be created to
enable the survivor to freely interact and
unburden his/her mind.
A trust relationship should be built between the
survivor and the case management service
provider. This helps to create a supportive
environment in which the survivor can begin to
heal.
There should be no discrimination of whatever
kind; every survivor should be treated with
dignity irrespective of religion, sex, race,
ethnicity, family background and circum-
stances of the incident.
Survivors should be provided with information
on available services which will enable them to
make informed choices. Providing information
to the survivor to allow him/her make informed
choices about services requested;
Service providers must be empathetic and
provide survivors with emotional support.
Possible options for civil justice should be
brought to the attention of survivors. The
Citizen’s Mediation Centre (CMC) desk in every
LGA should be service providers in this regard.
7.1. Steps in Case Management
STEPS TASK
STEP ONE:
Introduction and
Engagement
STEP TWO:
Assessment
STEP THREE:
Case Action Planning
STEP FOUR:
Implementing the
Case Action Plan
STEP FIVE:
Case Follow-Up
STEP SIX: Case Closure
STEP SEVEN:
Service Evaluation
• Greet and Comfort the
survivor
• Build trust and rapport
• Assess immediate safety
• Explain confidentiality and
its limits
• Obtain permission
(informed consent) to
engage the person in
services
• Understand the survivor’s
situation, problems and
identify immediate needs
•Provide immediate emo-
tional and material support
•Give information
•Determine whether the
survivor wants further case
management services
•Develop a case plan based
on assessment with survivor
•Obtain consent for making
referrals (if necessary).
•Document the plan
• Assist and advocate for
survivors to obtain quality
services
• Provide direct support (if
relevant).
• Lead case coordination
• Follow up on the case and
monitor progress
• Re-assess safety and other
key need.
• Implement a revised action
plan (if needed).
• Assess and plan for case
closure
•Evaluate the efficiency/ef-
fectiveness of services
provided

48
7.2 Options in Case
Management
In case management, service may be extended,
that is, long term assistance for specific or special
groups of survivors depending on the severity of
the incidence, the nature of the survivor and how
the survivor is able to respond to services provided.
Services can come in form of cash support,
integration into several community groups. Below
are recommended options available:
1. Education
2. Financial support
3. Skill building and Vocation
7.2.1. Education
In case management process, education plays a
vital role when it comes to child survivors. Schools
often provide a safe space for children to lean and
develop and helps in integration of survivor into
the community and prevention of GBV. Survivors
can be enrolled in educational institutions as a
form of response in case management. Adult
survivors may also benefit from adult education as
a means of healing and re-integration into the
community.
7.2.2. Financial Support
For a survivor-centered care, cash is a vital factor
in responding and/or preventing GBV. Financial
support can be lifesaving because cash can help
support the recovery of survivors and further
ensure safety and security. For example, money
may be needed to meet the cost of new accom-
modation, food, clothing and some medical needs.
At other times, survivors may not be able to take up
the financial responsibility for some types of
services e.g. legal and medical care. In such cases,
cash support facilitates access to services. Before
financial support is given to the survivor, a case
management service provider must ensure:
That it is appropriate and meets the need
of the survivor
That it does not further expose the survivor
to danger or harm.
That it is monitored closely for the survi-
vor’s needs through the GBV case man-
agement process.
7.2.3. Skill building and Vocation
In some instances, survivor’s healing and reinte-
gration can only be fully achieved through skills
acquisition for the survivor. When GBV occurred as
a result of the vulnerability of the survivor based on
non-existing means of livelihood, the survivor
needs to acquire livelihood skills. Skill acquisition
can reduce and/or eliminate vulnerability to abuse.
Skill acquisition promotes independence of the
survivor from continual dependency on an aggres-
sor or the situation or environment which facilitat-
ed the GBV. Case managers should do a proper
assessment to determine whether the survivor
needs to acquire further skill and vocation as a
form of response.
7.3. Case Management with
Women and Adolescent
Girls
The World Health Organization has stated that one
in every three women will experience either physi-
cal or/and sexual violence by a partner or non-part-
ner in their life-time.
According to UNWomen (2011), Facts and Figures on
Violence Against Women, among 15 to 44-year old,
violence causes more death and disability than
cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war com-
bined.
There is widespread discrimination and gender
inequality which expose women and adolescent
girls to multiple forms of violence throughout their
lives. Almost half of sexual violence against women
are towards girls aged 15 and below. Women also
are the most vulnerable in times of crisis, war, natu-
ral disasters, conflict and humanitarian emergen-
cies. Risk associated with women include:
Women and girls are at risk of sexual
assault and rape during emergencies,
especially if food, water or fuel source are
far from settlements or located in unsafe
areas.

49
7.3.1. Sexual violence
Survivors of Sexual violence faces many barriers
to accessing care and support mainly because
they:
Feel shame and embarrassment.
Blame themselves or fear blame by others.
Want to protect perpetrator.
Think what happened is normal.
Fear from perpetrator or his family
Know there is a possibility that the
response from family, community and
authorities could be so negative that they
could be blamed, stigmatized, ostracized,
punished and in extreme cases, even killed.
Fear they will not be believed or will not be
treated well
Lack proof that the incidence occurred
Do not think that what happened is a crime
or it is serious enough to report to the police
Do not know how to report.
Doubt that the justice system will provide
redress.
Women and girls are at risk of sexual
exploitation – including the exchange of
sex for essential goods and services,
trafficking and sexual slavery.
Women and girls suffer sexual violence in
the hands of members of law enforcement
agencies, military and other armed groups.
Violence by intimate partners and male
members can escalate during emergen-
cies. This tends to increase as crises
worsen and men lose their jobs and status
– particularly in communities with tradi-
tional gender roles and where family
violence is normalized.
Girls are vulnerable to forced and early
marriage during emergency situations.

50
Case Management of early marriage depends on
whether there is a risk of imminent marriage or
there is an early marriage already in existence.
Below are recommended guidelines for both:
7.3.2. Early Marriage
Identify the circumstances in which the
survivor is most in dangers.
Access risk of escalated violence. Deter-
mine if the survivor is at risk of life threaten-
ing physical harm.
FOR IMMINENT
RISK CASES
FOR GIRLS WHO ARE
ALREADY MARRIED
• Get consent to work with the girl
• Assess how she feels about marriage.
• Provide information to the girl about the
consequences.
• Identify with her a supportive family member
or other trusted adult.
• With the girls consent, engage the support
ive family member or other trusted adult.
• If person identified is parent/caregiver:
- Discuss pros and cons of early marriage.
- Provide information on the consequence of
early marriage.
• If person identified is not parent/caregiver:
- If it is safe, to do so, support the person to
have conversation with the decision maker
in the family (with the girl’s consent).
• If Marriage is likely to go forward, focus on
risk reduction.
- Assess the girl’s concern and questions,
potential risks related to her safety and
health.
- Carry out safety planning.
- Provide information about service and make
referrals
• Get consent working with the girl.
• Assess her needs.
• Provide information about the consequences
of early marriage.
• Provide information about services available
and make referral.
• Carry out safety plans.
- Help her identify a supportive person in her
life.
- Help her identify positive coping strategies.
- With her consent engage (or continue to
engage) a supportive adult.
7.3.4. Working on Intimate Partners Violence
Working on this category is complex because of the
continuing exposure the survivor had to violence and
how it impacts her physical and psychosocial safety
and wellness. Survivors of Intimate Partners Violence
situation are at continuous risk if harm. Therefore:

51
Plan for safety.
Never assume or communicate that leav-
ing is going to be better for the survivor. Do
not advise her to leave.
Focus on ways they can reduce their risk of
physical violence and help them to think
through what they would do if they had to
leave temporarily or permanently.
Explore potential safety strategies. The
following questions can help to develop
safety plan with survivor:
i. Identify her existing responses – what do
you do when you are in danger, discuss
how this is working
ii. Identify her existing resources (people,
money, material).
Discuss what would happen if she needed
to/decides to leave –who else will be in
danger, her children etc.
7.4. Case Conference
Persons using the case management approach
serve as link between the survivor and service
providers who advocates for timely and quality
care for the survivor. However, for this to be effec-
tive there is need for regular communication and
follow-ups with the other service providers. This
requires case conferencing, which is a planned
and structured meeting convened by the case-
worker in which a particular case is discussed with
other service providers. These are essential for
case conferencing:
a. Review activities, progress and barriers
to goals
b. Map out roles and responsibilities
c. Resolve conflicts and strategies solu
tions
d. Adjust current actions and plans
Survivor must consent to case conferenc-
ing; he/she must also consent to informa-
tion sharing during the case conferencing.
Case conferencing is done on ad hoc basis
which differ from the usual ongoing service
coordination or case reviewing.
Service providers are to participate in case
conferencing only on invitation.
The guiding principles of confidentiality
and dignity should be maintained.
The aim of case conferencing is to:
7.5. Case Follow up and Closure
7.5.1. Case Follow-Up
Following up cases is an integral part of case man-
agement. When cases are being followed up, case
worker should:
Monitor the case
Make sure the survivor is safe and getting the
help they need, and identify and overcome
barriers or problems.
Identify new challenges/problems and solu-
tions.
i. Meet with or contact the survivor as
agreed
ii. Re-assess safety
iii. Reassess Psychosocial state and
functioning
iv. Review the case action plan with the
survivor
v. Revise the case action plan
vi. Implement revised case action plan
In following up, case worker will:

52
When the survivor’s needs have been met
and/or the support systems (whether
pre-existing or new) are functioning
When the survivor wants the case to be
closed, e.g. when the survivor leaves the
area or is relocated to another place, or
when you have not been able to reach the
person for a minimum of 30 days.
7.5.2. Case Closure
The duration for the management of each case
vary depending on several factors including the
survivor’s need and the context in which the case
worker is working.
Closure should be built in from the beginning of the
programme and the closure should do no harm to
the beneficiaries particularly the GBV survivor.
Cases can be closed:
When the decision is reached that the case
should be closed then the case worker should:
Document when the case is closed and the
specific reasons for doing so – complete a case
closure form, review all the forms in the survi-
vor’s file and make sure they are complete.
Store safely, the closed file by moving the closed
case to another cabinet where closed files are
kept. It is important to note that you should not
include the consent form in the closed file.
Administer a client feedback survey, if the survi-
vor is reachable.
7.5.3. Closure due to Emergencies
When cases need to be closed based on an emer-
gency such as funding restrictions, lack of compe-
tent personnel, security issues, operational restric-
tions, etc. the following procedure is recommended:
A replacement organisation should be sought
and case referred to the organisation.
Ensure that ethical and secure management of
data.
Consult with both staff and beneficiaries about
the closure
Intake of cases should cease.
Communicate the closure to all stakeholders.
1
2
3
4
5

8.1. Educational Institutions
GBV responses also include preventive measures,
consequently, prevention and response are
inter-related. Preventing GBV means identifying
and removing those factors that make certain
members of the local community vulnerable to
violence and designing activities that improve
their protection. To prevent gender-based
violence, GBV causes and contributing factors in a
given context should be identified, understood,
and addressed. However, this cannot be done
without engaging and mobilizing the community
to become aware of gender roles and stereo-
types, men’s power over women, and how the
community’s silence about this power imbalance
perpetuates violence against women and girls
and GBV. In order to achieve this, GBV actors
should at the outset:
Although persons working in this sector can be
trained on GBV prevention and response, which
will be of immense assistance, the school pres-
ents a widespread platform for which GBV occur.
Preventive activities should be aimed at potential
victims, and potential perpetrators and those
that will assist them. Preventive activities that will
impact communities, staff of government and
non-NGOs should be embarked on. These activi-
ties, which may include campaigns, enlighten-
ment programmes, mass media jingles, and
several awareness-raising initiatives should be
used in response activities and be targeted at the
general public. Various structures and institu-
tions in the community have a great role to play
in creating, implementing and evaluating strate-
gies to prevent GBV.
Actors need to collaborate and work with the
various sectors within the community to identify
volunteers who will support and run GBV preven-
tive/response activities. Groups within the com-
munity that act as GBV preventive responders
and with whom actors can collaborate for
prevention include:
Map out local representatives from key
institutions (e.g., health care providers,
religious leaders, teachers, lawyers, law
enforcement, etc.).
Identify local resources and engage
people from the community who can
support the overall implementation of
preventions activities;
Educational institutions
Religious organisations/Leadership
Community groups
Women’s Groups
Men’s Groups
Youth Groups
Children’s Groups/Clubs
CHAPTER 8:
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVENTION
53
Select and provide coaching to focal
points in collaboration with the community
and follow protection criteria to help plan,
design, and implement activities;

8.2. Community/Religious
Organizations and their
Leadership
The various leaders of thoughts in the religious
organisations are great influencers and role
models for a number of their followers, they play
enormous role in directing the thought and action
of individuals within the community and they can
become active partner in GBV prevention. They
should be encouraged to make pronouncements
on human rights and the evils of violence. Also,
they are often first point contact for GBV survi-
vors, they should be educated and informed on
importance of referral.
8.3. Community Groups
For success to be achieved in GBV prevention
response, the participation of the community is
very vital. There must be the community buy-in
which must reflect in the cultural attitudes
towards children and women (in particular).
Community participation should not be limited to
specific groups; several groups within the com-
munity should be integrated including boys and
men’s groups. The community groups can be
taught the basic human right principles particu-
larly as regards children and women.
8.4. Women’s Groups
Women groups are very viable in mobilizing
prevention and response to GBV. The several
groups within the community should be trained in
GBV prevention and response. They can also be
provided targeted leadership training to support
their meaningful participation in public deci-
54
It is important that schools should adopt a Code
of Conduct that clearly prohibits GBV and all
forms of sexual abuse and exploitation. Schools
also present the opportunity for child survivors to
be re-integrated into the system. Actors can
collaborate with schools to offer various activi-
ties for enlightenment of both students, families
and staff on GBV
8.5. Men’s Groups
Men’s groups are important tools in GBV preven-
tion and response as they assist in promoting
positive non-violent masculine norms and
behaviors. They can recreate a new socio-cultur-
al order that is inclusive and gives acknowledg-
ment to women, children and their rights. There-
fore, this group is an essential component for GBV
prevention and response; they should be suffi-
ciently involved in all GBV activities. Men groups
should be engaged in activities that will promote
gender equality, prevent domestic violence;
sexual violence; and other forms of harmful tradi-
tional practices. Further, men groups should be
involved in programmes that will effect individual
attitudinal changes in the short term resulting in
an incremental societal change in the longer
term. Men groups should also be made to know
and understand that men and boys can be
victim/survivors of GBV; therefore, male survivors
should be identified. Activities and programme of
Men’s group should be complementary to women
and other groups not competitive.
8.6. Youth Groups
This age range being vibrant and energetic can
be of immense help awareness-creating activi-
ties on GBV prevention and response.
8.7. Children’s Groups/Clubs
Children’s groups/clubs present a very viable
platform for reaching out to children; to teach
them on abuse and to build their confidence for
reporting. Children should be engaged in aware-
ness-raising activities that will teach children on
how and where to report abuse. It may further
assist in helping to make referral mechanism
child friendly.
sion-making processes including traditional
justice systems to uphold women’s right.

CHAPTER 9:
COORDINATION AMONGST
ACTORS AND AGENCIES
9.1. Coordination amongst
Security Agencies
The sole focus of coordination amongst GBV
actors and stakeholders is partnering to comple-
ment one another. Competition and blame trad-
ing should be avoided. Personnel and staff of all
service providers and actors should speak to one
another in friendly and operate in professional
and team-like manner.
The Police are statutorily empowered to prose-
cute GBV. However, some other agencies may
also share this power. For example, when GBV
relates with human trafficking, NAPTIP has the
statutory power. In cases where the statutory
mandate is shared, it is imperative that there is
coordination between the relevant agencies
e.g. NAPTIP and the Police for effective and
speedy investigation and prosecution of
cases.
55
When the receiving organisation of the GBV
survivor is law enforcement agency but one
without prosecutorial powers such as the
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) and the Lagos State Neighbourhood
and Safety Corp, or any other security outfit
created by law, all GBV guidelines in this SOP
must be followed. Thereafter, the case should
be referred to the Police to undertake the pros-
ecution; or referred to other appropriate Minis-
tries. (see Appendix V).
NOTE: Referral, even at this stage, should be
with the consent of the survivor.
A receiving security agency should a follow-up
the referral till the appropriate conclusion of
the matter.

9.2. Coordination amongst Gover-
nment Agencies and Non-
Governmental Organisations
Government Agencies which include all Ministries
and governmental agencies (see Appendix V), and
NGOs are GBV stakeholders and service providers.
In working together, the following should be
reinforced:Government Agencies which include all
Ministries and governmental agencies (see Appen-
dix V), and NGOs are GBV stakeholders and service
providers. In working together, the following should
be reinforced:
The Referral Pathway stated in this SOPs should
be adhered to, in order to achieve appropriate
result
The Social Welfare Units in Lagos State should
create and maintain an accessible and function-
al hotline, open to all Actors for referral at any
time including weekends and public holidays.
Actors, and service providers should avoid build-
ing service provisions and responses around
individuals, rather it should be well structured
and institutional.
Participating organisations should demonstrate
their commitment to the SOP
.
56

Persons involved in the GBV services are
often exposed to highly stressful situations
and the risk of vicarious or secondary
trauma. If there is inadequate support or
supervision, caseworkers become over-
whelmed and begin to feel hopeless and
helpless since they have been exposed to
various traumas from survivors’ stories and
experiences. Therefore, organisations need
to make explicit commitment to the staff
wellbeing and implement specific strategies
for promoting it.
Staff should be encouraged to prevent stress
from becoming overwhelming by practicing
self-care.
Create a supportive climate – regular check
on the well-being of staff, create an environ-
ment where staff feel comfortable sharing
information and concerns with you.
Establish routines – including for supervision
and team meetings
Regularly demonstrate appreciation for staff,
this can be as simple as communicating
gratitude or praise for something they did or
arranging to have refreshments at meetings
to something more elaborate such as “staff of
the month award”.
Manage information – Routinely share infor-
mation and create an environment of trans-
parency.
Each organisation should develop its own strategy
and plans for meeting these challenges based on
structure and funding. The following are however
recommended:
CHAPTER 10:
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CASEWORKERS
AND AGENCIES FOR STAFF CARE
57
Monitor the health and well-being of staff.
Monitor stress levels – Support staff to identify
and monitor stressors in their lives and to
develop self-care plans.
Provide opportunities for exercise, recreations
and access to the outdoors
Organise “staff care” days that allow staff to
come together to do something fun or relax-
ing.
Encourage staff to identify a ‘self-care buddy’
–another staff person with whom they
connect on a regular basis to discuss how
they are and what support they need from
each other.
Create opportunities for staff to share experi-
ences and stressor.
Connect staff to psychosocial support if
available in the context, connect staff to
mental health professionals on regular basis.

For an effective GBV response and case manage-
ment, a positive relationship is necessary. The qual-
ities of warmth, empathy, acceptance, respect and
genuineness exhibited by the personnel of Service
providers go a long way in determining the success
and seamless operation of GBV response and case
management. It is important that caseworkers
exhibit these qualities to achieve a trust relation-
ship with GBV survivors. Therefore, a case worker
should work at exhibiting these qualities in handling
GBV survivors:
Respect - there should be an unconditional
positive regard for the survivor, regardless of
class, background or social strata in which
the survivor comes from.
Non-judgmental: Workers should be kind,
accepting and accommodating.
10.1. Quality of a Case Worker
58

• Women’s networks
• Teachers
• Religious leaders
• Service Providers
• Humanitarian/Human Rights actors
This SOP is valuable only to the extent that stake-
holders and actors working around GBV are aware
of it and commit to adhering to the standards it
stipulates. Information about it should be widely
disseminated to all GBV and non-GBV service
providers as well as the community. The content of
this SOP stipulating guidance for service providers
should be communicated to all relevant groups to
inform them of procedures relevant to accessing
service and ways and best standards related to the
carrying out of their responsibilities.
While actors – individuals and organisations work-
ing to provide GBV services and non-specialist
services should each have the SOP to guide their
work, it is also recommended that community
members be widely informed about the existence
of the SOP and its contents as this will help in
enhancing the quality of service demand and
service delivery.
Target Groups includes:
Information should be circulated within the com-
munity to inform the community members about
the services available and standards relating to
service delivery to survivors and the larger commu-
nity. Information can be disseminated through:
Information dissemination to the community should
be guided by the following:
Posters
Referral pathways pamphlets
Hotlines
Radio Jingles
Digital/Online information dissemination
CHAPTER 11:
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION TO
STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT GBV SOPs
Develop a dissemination plan with timeline and
specific responsibilities;
Information to communities about existing
services;
Messages should focus on safe and confidential
access to assistance for GBV survivors.
Ensure a coordinated approach and consistent
messages;
Ensure that the development of messages is
focused on safe and confidential access to assis-
tance for GBV survivors;
Ensure that information is provided on emergen-
cy medical responses and other services
Provide messages that are culturally acceptable
and in a format that protect individuals access-
ing these services from risk of harm.
Ensure that all messages are also available in the
local language
59
Social Media
Awareness creating activities
Television Adverts

It is important that services provided should be
adequately monitored and proper evaluation
carried out periodically for improving standard of
care and service provision. This is an ethical obliga-
tion, but it is often also a requirement for receiving
external funding as it helps to ensure accountabili-
ty and quality assurance.
This is used to assess the survivors experience on
services being provided by service providers.
Client Feedback Surveys:
Client surveys should only be voluntary and survi-
vors should participate in client surveys only with
free and full consent.
Client feedback survey instruments/forms should
be given at the end of session or at the closing of the
case. This may, however, be inappropriate when
referrals are made after first contact.
When case management is on for a longer time,
feedbacks can be used frequently (e.g. monthly or
quarterly).
The following process is recommended for adminis-
tering clients’ feedback survey to survivors:
Client feedback surveys
Case file audits
Ongoing supervision of caseworkers
a
b
c
CHAPTER 12:
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF
SERVICE QUALITY
The purpose of the survey should be explained
to survivor, i.e. to improve the services of the
organisation.
Information should remain anonymous and
survivors are to be so informed
Help service providers/case managers to
identify what is being done well and areas for
improvement.
12.1. Means for monitoring of
quality of service provision and
case management
12.1.1. Client Feedback surveys
60
Assist service providers in identifying chal-
lenges in the service provision process.

Continued staff capacity development is needed
to ensure quality service delivery. It is therefore
necessary in GBV case management and service
provision that all organisations providing GBV
services have at least one case supervisor
responsible for ensuring that staff are trained and
prepared for case management. Such a person
can also play a monitoring role with respect to
case workers. Case supervisors should be persons
with several years and direct experience of work-
ing on GBV cases. Supervision can be provided
through one-on-one support, in-groups, through
on-the-job- observation and coaching and in
regular team meetings.
- Consent forms
- Assessment forms
- Case Planning forms
- Case notes
- Case Closure Form
Should be regular and consistent
Collaborative: Case supervisors should
encourage case managers to attend meet-
ings with clearly laid out agenda, identifying
the cases they want to discuss, asking specific
questions they have or topical areas for tech-
nical support.
These sessions should be used to support
caseworkers’ learning and professional devel-
opment.
Case supervisors should ensure that supervi-
sion meetings feel like a safe space for case-
workers without fear of being judged; where
case workers can receive constructive feed-
back and not criticism.
The meeting should be a good model for the
promotion of good case management prac-
tice in terms of communication, respect,
dignity, empathy, etc.
When an organisation has a good case documen-
tation system, reviewing of case files on regular
basis can help improve the overall service being
provided. The following should be noted in the use
of Case File Audit:
12.1.2. Case File Audits
12.1.3. Ongoing Supervision of Caseworkers
12.1.4. One-on-One Supervision
Case file review should never take the place of
in-person supervision.
Case file review should be complemented
with other supervision models.
When case files are being reviewed, you
should look out for the following.
61
A person other than the case worker should
administer the survey.
Due consideration should be given to survi-
vors with disabilities.
Before choosing to administer feedback
survey, organisations should have proper
resources to administer the survey in an
anonymous way and to analyse the informa-
tion from them.
Understand background of the case – who is
the survivor; what happened; who is the
perpetrator; how was the case reported.
Understand immediate need identified -
safety, medical and health, psychosocial
needs.
Understand how case worker did case plan-
ning – safety plans, referrals, identification of
immediate risks e.g. suicidal tendencies.
Support the caseworker with follow-up.
Close the supervision session.
12.2. Structuring Supervision
Conversation
The following should be followed when discuss-
ing a new case with a case worker:

62
12.3. Peer Supervision Sessions
This is a forum where staff within the organisation
meet to discuss about their work. Staff meet to
reflect on the work they do, draw lessons from one
another’s experiences as they share information
about successes and challenges. This type of
supervision session affords valuable feedback
and enables strategizing.
Duration and frequency should depend on
each organisation and the severity, urgency
and number of cases being managed.
Irrespective of the above, there should be regu-
larity, and in this regard, it is best to draw up
periodic meetings schedule.
Agenda should be prepared ahead of meeting
and circulated prior to meetings to allow case
workers enough time to review materials and
come prepared for learning and discussion.
12.4. Accountability
Accountability is important amongst GBV stake-
holders and actors. The use of technology should
be employed. A central website should be created
wherein cases can be monitored to ascertain the
case progression after referral. Where the use of
interactive platforms such as WhatsApp is cheap-
er and more accessible, these should be used with
the caveat that there must be strict adherence to
the guidelines that protect survivors and informa-
tion about them as elaborated in other parts of
this SOP.

CHAPTER 13:
DOCUMENTATION, INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT AND DATA SECURITY
Each survivor should have a separate case
containing all relevant case management
forms.
A code should be assigned to each form used
by an organisation.
Names should never be written on the front of
• Consent forms
• Case Plan Forms
• A written Safety Plan
• Case Notes
• Referral Form
• A Case Follow-up Form
• Case Closure Form
A very crucial part of GBV case management
practice is documentation. Documentation is the
process of recording information collected in
respect of a case and storage of information
collected. Documentation is used to keep track of
the discussions with the survivor, steps agreed
with the survivor to address his/her needs. Given
the duty of confidentiality and also the need to
ensure that all needed information on a case is
available and easily accessible for use when
needed, it is necessary that the process of docu-
mentation and data storage be efficient, confi-
dential, safe, secured and in line with international
best practices.
Several forms and documents are likely to be
used in service provision and case management.
These may include:
In documentation,
13.1. Documentation
A Lagos State GBV Information Management
System (GBVIMS) is needed and should be put in
place as a robust system for collecting, storing
and sharing key information on GBV incidents. It is
needed to harmonize data collection on GBV, to
provide a simple system for GBV project manag-
ers to collect, store and analyse their data, and to
enable the safe and ethical sharing of reported
GBV incident data. The GBVIMS will assist service
providers to better understand the GBV cases
being reported, and to enable actors to share data
internally across project sites and externally with
other agencies for broader trends analysis and
improved GBV coordination.
13.2. GBV Information Management
System
Information collected from GBV survivors are
often extremely sensitive and should be treated
13.3 Data Security
63
the case files as well as photos or pictures in
the case files.
A separate case file should be created which
will contain through special coding survivors’
names. This file should be stored in a different
location or stored electronically and should
only be accessed through protected pass-
words.
Survivors should have access to read and
review the information recorded about them at
any time.

Limit information that is printed, print only
when it is necessary.
Where it is possible, promote a paper-free
working environment to reduce amount of
information to be printed
In instances where information is printed,
register each copy by using serial or coding
method to track them on a spreadsheet.
Only authorised persons should have access
to documents and should be made aware that
they are personally accountable for the secu-
rity of the documents they have access to.
Printed materials should be stored in locked
file cabinet and other secure means of storage
All printed materials that are no longer needed
should be destroyed in an untraceable way
(preferably by shredding).
Rooms and offices where sensitive information
is stored should be firmly locked when staff
leaves such rooms or offices.
Have a plan in place for destruction in instanc-
es of emergency or evacuation.
All staff should be made aware of the impor-
tance of vigilance on the ingress and egress of
rooms where sensitive information are stored.
For electronic storage, emails should only be
used when absolutely necessary, and caveat
should be included in the message to the fact
that message and/or attachment is sensitive
and/or should not be redistributed or should
only be shared with permission
The use of digital security measures such as
64
encryption of messages and/or information on
digital storage facility is encouraged.
Digital storage hardware such as flash drive,
CDs and computers should be well secured.
Computers should be pass-worded. The pass-
words should not be so general that everyone
will have access to it. Staff should be acquaint-
ed with passwords to only the information they
have right to access.
Advance digital security measures can be
taken with the use of fingerprint and biometric
access system.
Organisations can use identifiers to mask
personal identities.
Each organisation should develop their inter-
nal protocol on the duration to keep case files.
However, ten (10) years is suggested as the
appropriate time after which it should be
destroyed, and details be transferred and kept
in electronic copies.
13.4. Data Sharing Best Practices
with confidentiality. It is therefore important that
such data be secured using the best practice.
Data gathering can be done in two ways, paper,
or electronics methods. Below are the recom-
mended best practices:
Complete intake forms should not be shared or
transferred between agencies or organisa-
tions. This can only be done in very rare situa-
tion such as when an organisation undertak-
ing the case management is pulling out and
transferring total care and support to another
organisation; or when survivor is relocating to
a complete new location where another
organisation will provide care/support. This
should be done with the survivor’s consent.
Donors should not require that service provid-
ers to submit individual case files as part of
routine reporting
Care providers should not share or publicise
the number of cases they have attended to;
rather, GBV patterns, trends and risk can be
shared as this will help paint a fuller picture
especially when multiple sources are reviewed

65
and analysed together.
In sharing of information, all guiding principles
about safety, confidentially and security must
be observed.
Identifying information should not be included
in information to be shared.
.

APPENDIX
APPENDIX I - CONSENT FORM (SAMPLE)
CONFIDENTIAL Form: Consent for Release of Informa�on
This form should be read to the client or guardian in their first language. It should be clearly explained to the
client that they can choose any or none of the op�ons listed.
I, ________________________, give my permission for (Name of Organiza�on) to share informa�on about
the incident I have reported to them as explained below:
(1)
*I understand that in giving my authoriza�on below, I am giving (Name of Organiza�on) permission to share
the specific case informa�on from my incident report with the service provider(s) I have indicated, so that I
can receive help with safety, health, psychosocial, and/or legal needs.
*I understand that shared informa�on will be treated with confiden�ality and respect, and shared only as
needed to provide the assistance I request.
*I understand that releasing this informa�on means that a person from the agency or service �cked below
may come to talk to me. At any point, I have the right to change my mind about sharing informa�on with the
designated agency / focal point listed below.
*I would like informa�on released to the following:
(Tick all that apply, and specify name, facility and agency/organisa�on as applicable)
YES NO
Safe shelter/house (Specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
YES NO
Psychosocial Support Services (Specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
YES NO
Health/Medical Services (Specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
YES NO
Law Enforcement/Security Services (Specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
YES NO
Legal Assistance Services (Specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
YES NO
Livelihood Services (Specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
66

Authoriza�on to be marked by client (or parent/guardian if client is under 18):
YES NO
(2).
I have been informed and understand that some non-iden�fiable informa�on may also be shared for
repor�ng. Any informa�on shared will not be specific to me or the incident. There will be no way for someone
to iden�fy me based on the informa�on that is shared. I understand that shared informa�on will be treated
with confiden�ality and respect.
Authoriza�on to be marked by client (or parent/guardian if client is under 18):
YES NO
Signature/Thumbprint of client: __________________________________________
(or parent/guardian if client is under 18)
INFORMATION FOR CASE MANAGEMENT (OPTIONAL-DELETE IF NOT NECESSARY)
Client’s Name: ______________________________________________________________
Name of Caregiver (if client is a minor): ___________________________________________
Contact Number: _____________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
67

APPENDIX II - INTAKE AND REFERRAL FORM (SAMPLE)
COMPLAINT INTAKE AND REFERRAL FORM
Name of Complainant: Na�onality:
Address/Contact Details: Posi�on/Iden�ty Number:
Age: Sex:
How does complainant prefer to be contacted? (Give details)
Name of vic�m/survivor (if not the complainant): Na�onality:
Address/Contact Details: Iden�ty No.
Age: Sex:
Name (s) & address of parents/legal guardian, if under 18:
Has survivor given consent for comple�on of this form? YES: NO: I DON’T KNOW:
Is the vic�m/survivor receiving any type of humanitarian assistance? (Name the
organiza�on/agency providing assistance):
Date of incident(s): Time of incident(s): Loca�on of incident(s):
Brief descrip�on of incident(s) in the words of the survivor / complainant:
Briefly describe service (s) provided to survivor:
Is the perpetrator a con�nuing threat to the safety of the survivor, complainant, staff or any
beneficiary? Please explain any safety concerns:
Name of accused person(s): Posi�on / Job �tle of person(s):
Address or loca�on where accused person(s) works: Agency receiving complaint:
Name of person comple�ng form: Posi�on / Job �tle:
Signature: Date:
Referral to another Agency
Name of agency / name of person (PSEA Focal Point)
report forwarded to: Date of referral:
Name and posi�on of person report forwarded to:
Acknowledgment of receipt
68

APPENDIX III- Dignity Kit Checklist
Items listed here may be re-considered and further sugges�ons made that will fit into the needs
of the local community
S/N
1 Sanitary Pads
Op�on 1: Re-washable sanitary
pads
Op�on 2: Disposable pads
2 packs of 6Pcs
6 packs
Should have considera�ons for heavy
flow and normal flow
2 Underwear (pants at the
minimum)
5 pieces Range of sizes (Medium, Large & XL)
3 Soap 2 bars
4. Toothpaste and Toothbrush 1 each
5 Lo�on/Vaseline 500ml
6 Shaving S�ck 1 piece
7 Washing Powder 1 pack(1Kg)
8 Towel/Fleece Blanket 1 piece
9 Scarf /Hijab 1 piece
10 Wrapper 1 piece
11 Flashlight/Solar 1 piece
12 Whistle 1 piece
13 Carryon Bag/Case 1 piece
69

APPENDIX IV - INCIDENT REPORT FORM
General Informa�on
Case Number:
___/__/___/___
GBV/00/00/0000
State: ___________________
LGA/LCD_________________
Ward:________________________t
Date of Interview:
__________
Time:___________(24hr)
Previous Incident Numbers for this Client (if any):
______/_____/______ ; ______/_____/______ ; ______/_____/______ ; ______/_____/______
Was this client referred to you from somewhere or by someone else? Yes No
Survivor Informa�on
Survivor code. Age: Date of Birth Sex
Male Female
Loca�on Na�onality Occupa�on
No. of Children: Ages: Head of family (self Or name,
rela�onship to survivor):
Religion : Educa�on:
Status (na�onal resident, non-na�onal resident, refugee, IDP, repatriate, other-specify):
The Incident
Loca�on: Date: Time of the Day:
Descrip�on of the incident (summarize circumstances, what exactly occurred)
71

Type of the Incident:
Rape (includes gang rape, marital rape)
Deﬁlement
Physical Assault
Forced Marriage
Denial of Resources, opportuni�es & services
Psychological Abuse
Child marriage
Female Genital Cu�ng / Mu�la�on
Other GBV (specify)
Incident reported by: Survivor
Other (specify):
Was the client referred to the recipient?
No
Yes
If Yes, by who?
Perpetrator
code:
Nos. of
Perpetrators
Age (Es�mate) Year of Birth: Sex
Male:
Female:
Loca�on: Status (na�onal
resident, non-
na�onal resident,
refugee, IDP,
repatriate, other-
specify)
Na�onality: Educa�on: Occupa�on:
Rela�onship to Vic�m Marital Status Religion
72

If perpetrator unknown, describe him/her (height, age, complexion etc.):
Current loca�on of perpetrator, if known:______________________________
Is perpetrator a con�nuing threat: Yes No
Witness if any:
Describe presence of any witness (including children):
Name and Addresses:
Ac�on Taken – any ac�on already taken as of the date this form is completed
Reported to: Date Reported: Ac�on Taken/Not taken (why)*:
Police:
Legal service centre
Referred to*: Date referred*: Not referred (why)*:
Police
Safe shelter
Health Centre
Other care (Specify)
More Ac�on Taken and Planned Ac�on (as at date this form is completed)
Physical security needs assessment and immediate safety plan:
Has the vic�m/survivor received any kind of counseling-if yes, by who?
No
Yes, by ____________________________________________________________________
Is vic�m/survivor going to report the incident to police? Yes No
Is she/he seeking ac�on by elders/Family/Community Yes No
What follow-up will be done by the GBV service provider/social worker?
Form completed by (names): Designa�on Signature (and Stamp), Place name
72

APPENDIX V - REFERRAL FORM
Priority: Referred via: Referral Date:
High (Follow up requested within 24
hours)
Medium (Follow up within 3 days)
Low (Follow up within weeks)
Phone:
Email:
In Person:
Referred To: Referred By:
Agency/Clinic:
Name of the staﬀ:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Contact:
Agency:
Name of the staﬀ:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Contact:
Survivor Informa�on: (All personal informa�on is OPTIONAL depending on level of detail the client
consents to disclose) Note: For all external referrals, the use of survivor codes instead of names
should be discussed and agreed by all actors.
Name/Survivor Code:
Sex:
DOB:
Language:
Address:
Phone:
Background Informa�on/Reason for the Referral:
(problem descrip�on, dura�on, frequency, etc. only relevant for the referral)
73

Background Informa�on/Reason for the Referral:
(problem descrip�on, dura�on, frequency, etc. only relevant for the referral)
Name of primary caregiver:
Rela�onship to child:
Contact informa�on for caregiver:_______/_____________
Caregiver is informed of referral? Yes No
(If no, explain)_______/__________________________________
Services already provided: (include any other referrals made – limited to informa�on only relevant for
the referral)
Agency Support Date (incl. ongoing)
Services Requested:
HEALTH: Clinical Management of Rape (CMR)
Specialized psycho-social support
HEALTH: Treatment of injuries
Case Management
HEALTH: other medical care
Livelihood/Educa�on
Legal Counselling /assistance
Material assistance
Protection interview/services
Safe Shelter
Care arrangements
Civic documenta�on
Provide addi�onal explana�on here:
74

ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE SURVIVOR
Child
Child not a�ending school
Teenage Pregnancy
Child spouse
Child mother
Child engaged in worst form of child labour
Child formerly associated with armed
forces/armed groups
Unaccompanied/separated child
Child living with disability
Woman
Pregnant
Woman head of household
Woman living with disability
Provide addi�onal explana�on here:
IMPORTANT
Also refer the case to the lead GBV Case Management agency in the loca�on if
- You are unsure how to support a par�cular person,
- Immediate physical security op�ons (including reloca�on) are required,
- Best Interest Assessment (BIA/BID) for a child is necessary
- Police/Legal Ac�on is required
- Emergency protec�on cash assistance for transport is necessary
75

Consent to Release Informa�on (Read with survivor and answer any ques�ons before s/he signs
below)
I, ___________________________________________, understand that the purpose of the referral and
of disclosing this informa�on to ____________________________ is to ensure the safety and con�nuity
of care among service providers seeking to serve this family/person. The service provider,
________________________________________, has clearly explained the procedure of the referral to
me and has listed the exact informa�on that is to be disclosed. By signing this form, I authorize this
exchange of informa�on.
Signature of Responsible Party:
Date:
Details of Referral :
Survivor has been informed of referral? Yes No (If no, explain)
___________________________
If consent has not been signed (especially if referral from hotline), survivor has been explained the
process and has verbally consented to release informa�on? Yes No
Any contact or other restric�ons? Yes No (If yes, explain)
_______________
For Sexual Exploita�on and Abuse, complete the Inter Agency SEA Intake and Referral Form and send to
the following conﬁden�al email address: nga.psea@humanitarianresponse.info
Receiving Organisa�on:
Referral received by:
Date: Time:
Response provided to referring agency by:
Date:
76

APPENDIX VI CASE PLANNING FORM
Survivor Code: Caseworker Code: Date:
ACTION POINTS/GOALS WHO BY WHEN
Follow up mee�ng is scheduled for:
Date
Time
Loca�on
Caseworker signature and date: Client/Guardian signature and date
_________________________________ ______________________________________
77

APPENDIX VII CASE FOLLOW UP FORM
Survivor Code: Caseworker Code: Date:
Progress Towards Goals
Evaluate progress made towards ac�on/goals
agreed on in the Case Ac�on Plan Form
Not Met Met Explain
Safety
Health Care
Psychosocial Support
Access to Jus�ce
Other (list other goals made here)
Other Observa�ons/Caseworker notes
RE-ASSESSING SAFETY
Yes No Explain Addi�onal Interven�on
Planned
Are there new or con�nued risks
of
danger at home?
78

Are there any new or ongoing
safety issues the survivor is
facing in the community?
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Yes No Explain Addi�onal Interven�ons
Planned
A. Safety situa�on is stable
Survivor is physically safe, and/or has a
plan to keep physically safe
B. Health situa�on is stable
Survivor has no medical problems that
require treatment
C. Psychosocial wellbeing has
improved
Survivor is engaging in regular
behavior; has a safe person to talk to
D. Access to Jus�ce secured (if
applicable)
E. Other Interven�on needed
Follow up mee�ng is scheduled for (date/�me/loca�on): ___________________________________
79

APPENDIX VIII CASE CLOSURE FORM
Survivor Code: Caseworker Code:
Case Opening Date: Case Closure Date:
CASE CLOSURE:
Summarize the reasons why the case is being closed. Comment on the progress made toward goals in the
ac�on plan. Where necessary, include provisions for con�nued services, lis�ng agencies and contact
persons.
Case closure Checklist:
(1) Safety plan has been reviewed and is in place. YES______ NO ________
Explain :______
(2) Person has been informed she or he can resume services at any�me. YES_____NO____
Explain: ______
(3) Case supervisor has reviewed case closure/exit plan. YES______ NO
Explain: ______
Explanation notes here:
Caseworker Signature/Date: _____________________________________________________
Supervisor Signature/Date: _______________________________________________________
80

APPENDIX IX CRITERIA: MINIMUM REQUIREMENT TO BE PART OF THE GBV PATHWAY
S/N CRITERIA MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
1 PRESENCE To be part of the referral pathway, organiza�ons are
required to have opera�onal presence in Lagos State as well
as access to affected popula�on either directly or through
implemen�ng partners.
Par�cipate in local/loca�on specific GBV coordina�on
mechanisms and report on their ac�vi�es
2 LEGAL STATUS Referral pathways only comprise those organiza�ons that for
legal status are defined as a government ins�tu�on, NGO or
a humanitarian organiza�on/service provider and those that,
for mandate, have as first responsibility to respond to needs
of the affected popula�on.
3 ADHERANCE TO HUMANITARIAN
PRINCIPLES
To be part of the referral pathway, an organiza�on (and its
implemen�ng partners) must have a Code of Conduct and
PSEA policy in place.
4 COMMITMENT Management of an organiza�on must:
� Endorse the SOPs;
� Ensure adherence to the minimum standards in GBV
preven�on and response;
� Guarantee that GBV guiding principles, minimum criteria
and informa�on sharing protocol are well understood and
respected among staff; and,
� Ensure relevant personnel inside the organiza�on are kept
aware of and comply with the SOPs and referral pathways.
5 MEMBERSHIP Organiza�ons (and their implemen�ng partners) that:
� Are part of the GBV SS and that deliver GBV response
services; and/or,
� Are part of Health Sector and that deliver CMR or more
general clinical care for GBV survivors
� Are a key protec�on agency that cooperates with the GBV
SS in responding to the needs of survivors
6 Services included in the referral pathway are:
� Case management for GBV survivors
� CMR for GBV survivors
� Mental health for GBV survivors
� Focused PSS for GBV survivors
� Safe shelters for GBV survivors
81

6 Services included in the referral pathway are:
� Case management for GBV survivors
� CMR for GBV survivors
� Mental health for GBV survivors
� Focused PSS for GBV survivors
� Safe shelters for GBV survivors
� Psychosocial support and recrea�onal ac�vi�es
� Voca�onal training, livelihood and economic empowering
programmes for GBV survivors or women at risk
� Material assistance for GBV survivors (e.g., cash, shelter,
NFI, dignity kits, hygiene kits
� Law enforcement services
� Legal and judicial services
7 CAPACITY To make and receive the referral of GBV survivors,
organiza�ons need to have following capaci�es:
� Structure (i.e., dedicated personnel, tools, internet or
phone connec�on)
� Infrastructure (i.e., specialized centres, confiden�al space)
� Technical exper�se (i.e., trained and experienced
management, trained services providers, access to training)
If for a specific and temporary situa�on those capaci�es are
not available, organiza�ons need to aim at ensuring
adherence to the SOPs as much as possible When GBV
guiding principles cannot be guaranteed due to the lack of
capaci�es, organiza�ons should not deliver GBV response
services
8 HUMAN RESOURCES To ensure good quality of services, organiza�ons should
have trained and dedicated staff for GBV response services.
To be part of the referral pathway, organiza�ons must
provide at least two Managerial Focal Points and two Service
Focal Point through the service-mapping tool
9 MINIMUM STANDARDS The referral of GBV survivors and the delivery of services are
based on the minimum standards described in these SOPs.
To be part of the referral pathways, organiza�ons must
agree with and endorse the content of the SOPs
10 KNOWLEDGE GBV services providers should have been trained in their
areas of exper�se and be professionally prepared to deal
with GBV survivors.
82

· Na onal Standard Opera ng Procedures for Preven on and Response to Sexual Gender-Based Violence in Liberia
(2009) available at h ps://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Liberia_MOGD_Na onal-SOPs-
for-Preven on-Respnse-to-SGBV_2009.pdf
· STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs) FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) PREVENTION AND RESPONSE:
NIGERIA (2019), developed by the GBV Sub Sector in Collabora on with United Na ons Popula on Fund
(UNFPA), Interna onal Medical Corps (IMC) and Plan Interna onal: Validated & Endorsed by the GBV SS partners
on 10th October 2019 available at
h ps://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/nigeria._s
ops_gbv_preven on_response_2019.pdf
· STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) FOR THE NATIONAL GENDER BASED VIOLENCE DATABASE (NGBVD)
available at
h p://ngbvd.mglsd.go.ug/docs/3801STANDARD%20OPERATING%20PROCEDURES%20FOR%20THE%20NATIONAL
%20GENDER%20BASED%20VIOLENCE%20DATABASE.pdf
· STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOPS) for Law Enforcement in Handling Human Trafficking Cases in Zambia -
in accordance with the Zambia An -Human Trafficking Act No. 11 of 2008
· STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOPS) to Combat Human Trafficking Cases in Ghana (2017) available at
h ps://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/sop_ghana_1.pdf
· UNHCR Standard Opera ng Procedures for Preven on of and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Kurdistan
Region of Iraq, GBV Sub-Cluster available at h ps://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/gbv_sop_-
_kri.pdf
· UNHCR Na onal Guidelines for Standard Opera ng Procedures ((SOPs) for Preven on of and Response to
Gender-Based Violence In Humanitarian Se ngs (Country: Pakistan)
· WHO Ethical and Safety Recommenda ons for Researching, Documen ng and Monitoring Sexual Violence in
Emergencies (WHO, 2007) available at
· THE MANAGING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMMES IN EMERGENCIES E-LEARNING AND COMPANION
GUIDE available at h ps://extranet.unfpa.org/Apps/GBVinEmergencies/index.html
· THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA- MINISTRY OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Gender Based Violence
Incident Report Form available at h p://gbvguidelines.org
· Interagency Standing Commi ee (IASC). Guidelines for Integra ng Gender-based Violence Interven on in
Humanitarian Ac on. Geneva, IASC (2015) available at h p://gbvguidelines.org

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