Gbv Pocket Guide: How To Support Survivors Of Gender-Based Violence When A Gbv Actor Is Not Available

This step-by-step pocket guide equips humanitarian practitioners with practical guidance for responding to disclosures of gender-based violence in contexts where no specialist GBV actor, referral pathway, or focal point is available. Grounded in a survivor-centred approach and a Psychological First Aid (PFA) framework, it is designed for use by any frontline humanitarian worker regardless of their prior training. The guide is structured around four phases — Prepare, Look, Listen, and Link — and includes a decision tree, fillable service mapping sheet, do's and don'ts with sample scripts, and dedicated guidance for supporting children and adolescents under 18. Core principles throughout include respect for survivor autonomy and confidentiality, non-discrimination, and an awareness of the limits of one's role. The guide also addresses PSEA considerations, secondary trauma and self-care for practitioners, and specific adaptations for working with people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and children at different developmental stages.