While the risk of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has attracted global outrage, this is only one of many forms of violence women and girls are vulnerable to in humanitarian emergencies. Other forms of VAWG intensify during conflicts and emergencies, including trafficking, sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH), and child marriage. However, as in non-humanitarian settings, research shows that intimate partner violence (IPV) remains the most common form of abuse that women suffer, even during humanitarian emergencies.

Response to VAWG is increasingly integrated among relief efforts in humanitarian emergencies. Yet, prevention programming is often short-term, allocated limited funding, and does not address the root causes of VAWG. Prevention programming in humanitarian settings often faces unique challenges (i.e. population movements, high level of surveillance), yet is critical given the scale of violence in these settings. Comprehensive prevention programming in humanitarian settings can help ensure longer-term safety and empowerment of women and girls and leverage social upheaval that often unfolds in emergencies to achieve change.