Launch of GBV good practice note for the private sector
Private sector companies and investors are increasingly starting to recognise gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) as serious issues they need to address. Investors are becoming increasingly reluctant to fund projects where these types of risks have not been adequately assessed and mitigated. Companies are at risk of litigation, reputational damage and productivity impacts if incidents of GBVH occur within the workplace or within communities where an employee or contractor might be involved.
GBVH is widespread. It affects both men and women, but is most often perpetrated by men against women and girls, with more than one in three women having experienced some form of physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
The good practice note provides much-needed guidance for companies and investors on how to mitigate the adverse impacts of GBVH on survivors and on companies and investors. It is intended to help companies and investors to assess, prevent, respond to and monitor GBVH. Importantly, the good practice note will help readers to identify common safety risks and ethical pitfalls where specialist GBVH expertise may be required.
The note was jointly commissioned by CDC Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Factive’s Principal Consultant, Dean Laplonge, and our GBV Specialist, Laura Marchesini, were pleased to be able to contribute feedback and guidance during the development of this note. Factive has worked extensively with IFC and EBRD on the development of their GBVH risk assessment and mitigation strategies over recent years.
A copy of “Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment: Emerging Good Practice for the Private Sector” can be downloaded from any of the following pages: