title: Gender-based violence in conflict and displacement: qualitative findings from displaced women in Colombia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender-based violence (GBV) is prevalent among, though not specific to, conflict affected populations and related to multifarious levels of vulnerability of conflict and displacement. Colombia has been marked with decades of conflict, with an estimated 5.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and ongoing violence. We conducted qualitative research to understand the contexts of conflict, displacement and dynamics with GBV. This as part of a multi-phase, mixed method study, in collaboration with UNHCR, to develop a screening tool to confidentially identify cases of GBV for referral among IDP women who were survivors of GBV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative research was used to identify the range of GBV, perpetrators, contexts in conflict and displacement, barriers to reporting and service uptake, as well as to understand experiences of service providers. Thirty-five female IDPs, aged 18 years and older, who self-identified as survivors of GBV were enrolled for in-depth interviews in San Jose de Guaviare and Quibdo, Colombia in June 2012. Thirty-one service providers participated in six focus group discussions and four interviews across these sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survivors described a range of GBV across conflict and displacement settings. Armed actors in conflict settings perpetrated threats of violence and harm to family members, child recruitment, and, to a lesser degree, rape and forced abortion. Opportunistic violence, including abduction, rape, and few accounts of trafficking were more commonly reported to occur in the displacement setting, often perpetrated by unknown individuals. Intrafamilial violence, intimate partner violence, including physical and sexual violence and reproductive control were salient across settings and may be exacerbated by conflict and displacement. Barriers to reporting and services seeking were reported by survivors and providers alike.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings highlight the need for early identification of GBV cases, with emphasis on confidential approaches and active engagement of survivors in available, quality services. Such efforts may facilitate achievement of the goals of new Colombian laws, which seek to prevent and respond to GBV, including in conflict settings. Ongoing conflict and generalized GBV in displacement, as well as among the wider population, suggests a need to create sustainable solutions that are accessible to both IDPs and general populations.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, USA ; Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Wirtz
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, USA ; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Kiemanh
authors: K
authors: Pham
authors: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Glass
authors: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Bogota, Colombia.
authors: Saskia
authors: S
authors: Loochkartt
authors: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Bogota, Colombia.
authors: Teemar
authors: T
authors: Kidane
authors: Departamento de Antropología de la Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
authors: Decssy
authors: D
authors: Cuspoca
authors: Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Leonard S
authors: LS
authors: Rubenstein
authors: Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA ; Department of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Sonal
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, USA ; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Vu
keywords: Colombia; Conflict; Displacement; Gender-based violence; Humanitarian settings; Intimate partner violence