Examining the Linkage Between Social Support and Gender-Based Violence Among Women and Girls in Humanitarian Settings: a Systematic Review of the Evidence

Purpose of the review Humanitarian crises inherently exacerbate strains on social support and risks of gender-based violence (GBV), especially for women and girls. However, little is known in regard to the linkage between social support and GBV in humanitarian settings. This systematic review sheds light on this scientific gap by synthesizing evidence examining the role, measurement, and impact of social support and GBV among women and girls in humanitarian settings. Recent findings Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a total of 21 articles were included from 1247 reviewed abstracts. Despite varied measurement and study designs, findings indicated an emerging literature base demonstrating that social support, in the right form and under the right conditions, can enable positive outcomes in terms of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of GBV. In particular, our findings highlight the value of informal social support at the neighborhood and community level, as well as within targeted groups such as peer networks of GBV survivors. Summary We conclude that research, programming, and policies should carefully consider how GBV and social support are experienced within and across humanitarian settings in order to support women and girls, who are most vulnerable to the compounding strains of humanitarian conditions.