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It is important to understand what types of One Stop Centre approaches work best in different contexts and why. Thus, One Stop Centres should establish effective monitoring, learning and evaluation processes, which will help them to adapt their approaches to better serve survivors, learn lessons and produce evidence of impact. Seeking feedback from survivors who use the services, as well as those who accompany and support survivors is a key element of this.

Service providers working with survivors of VAWG are likely to be exposed repeatedly to distressing situations which can cause vicarious trauma. In order for staff to be able to provide high quality care to survivors, without experiencing burnout, they must have access to a supportive environment and care themselves. When working to develop a culture of self- and collective care, consider the following:

Work with staff to identify self-care suggestions. For example: being intentional about the media and information sources we engage with; prioritising time to engage in activities that bring…

The ability of a One Stop Centre to meet the needs of survivors of VAWG is highly dependent on factors including government support, funding available, availability of trained staff, and the existence of complementary Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces. The GBVAoR Helpdesk produced an overview of the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each model, which is summarised below. However, it is important to note that with the right funding, commitment and resources, each model has the potential to provide contextually-specific services for survivors.

Model
Potential benefits
Potential…

Survivors of VAWG may require multiple services to support their recovery and access to justice. Services they are likely to need access to include but are not limited to: 

Medical care: Survivors of VAWG may need urgent medical treatment, mental health services, and sexual and reproductive health services. This could be to treat injuries, test and treat sexually transmitted infections and HIV, and to provide prenatal care or contraceptive provision, among other activities. Read more on providing health services.
Psychosocial support: This support focuses on addressing the psychological…

Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces are environments established to ensure women and girls feel emotionally and physically safe. These spaces are designed to ensure VAWG survivors have a place to go where they are able to socialise, build support networks, access response services and access information on women’s rights, health and services, without fear of judgement or harm. Read more about how to establish a Women and Girls’ Safe Space. 

Survivors of VAWG are at risk of re-traumatisation and other mental health challenges which can be triggered by insensitive service delivery. One Stop Centre staff need to be trained in how to provide survivor-centred care that does no harm. This entails putting the safety and comfort of survivors at the forefront of service delivery, avoiding intrusive questioning, ensuring survivors have access to support at all stages, and ensuring that they are able to navigate the One Stop Centre services at their own pace. Survivors also need to be fully engaged in all decision-making processes that…

When offering referrals for VAWG survivors, it is important to seek consent from survivors to share their information and connect them with relevant support services. The process of seeking consent ensures that survivors are actively involved in the decision-making process and have control over the support they receive. Moreover, by ensuring survivors are well-informed about their options and available resources, you enable them to make choices that align with their unique needs and circumstances. This approach contributes to a survivor-centred and trauma-informed response.

All information exchanged should be kept between the service provider and the survivor, unless the survivor voluntarily chooses to disclose information to another individual or if their life is in immediate danger. In cases where an interpreter or cultural mediator is needed, that individual should be equally knowledgeable of how to maintain confidentiality and be accountable to any codes of conduct or protocols that exist for service providers. 

Keeping information confidential begins with ensuring the technologies (e.g. mobile phones, landlines, websites, apps, etc.) used to communicate…

In alignment with the do no harm principle, it is important for institutions to establish safe referral protocols and agreements with relevant social, health and justice services, including defining clear responsibilities of each service. Procedures between services for information sharing and referral should be consistent, known by agency staff, and communicated clearly to survivors. Not only do these practices support a coordinated response, but they also ensure the needs and wellbeing of the survivor are prioritised, for instance by minimising the number of times that the survivor is asked…

Connecting survivors to effective responses involves mapping what services are available, including initial support, appropriate medical treatment and care, and referral(s) to additional support. Even without specific GBV referral pathways available in an area, other services might meet needs. A comprehensive service directory which maps health, psychosocial, protection, legal, shelter/safe accommodation, livelihoods and other services is therefore vital for providing effective GBV support. All personnel who engage with affected populations should be provided with written information about…