No one should have to live in fear of violence. At humedica e.V., we are deeply committed to preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and ensuring that survivors—particularly women and girls in vulnerable settings—receive the care, protection, and justice they deserve. In Ethiopia, where conflict, displacement, and social stigma often increase the risk of GBV, we work to break the silence, restore dignity, and build safer, more resilient communities.
Key Initiatives:
Survivor Support
Through our Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams (MHNTs), humedica provides essential medical care, psychosocial support, and emergency contraception for GBV survivors in hard-to-reach areas. Services are designed to be confidential, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed—ensuring compassionate care that prioritizes safety, dignity, and healing.
Case Management & Referral Services
We help survivors navigate their recovery journey by offering:
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits to prevent HIV transmission.
- One-on-one counseling and mental health support.
- Referrals to legal and social services, ensuring survivors can access justice, protection, and reintegration support.
These services are provided in coordination with government actors, health facilities, and local NGOs.
Training & Capacity Building
To strengthen frontline responses, humedica conducts Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for health workers, social workers, and community volunteers. Topics include:
- GBV case management
- Psychosocial first aid (PFA)
- Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
By building local capacity, we empower communities to respond effectively and sensitively to GBV cases.
Community Awareness & Prevention Campaigns
Challenging harmful norms and raising awareness is key to prevention. We organize community outreach events, dialogues, and educational campaigns to:
- Strengthen referral pathways
- Coordinate service delivery
- Advocate for survivor-centered policies and funding
These partnerships are especially critical in remote and conflict-affected regions.
Where We Work
humedica’s GBV prevention and response programs are active in Northern Ethiopia, with a focus on regions heavily affected by displacement and crisis, including:
- Tigray
- Amhara
- Afar
Activities are concentrated around IDP sites, host communities, and areas with limited access to protection services.
Challenges
- Stigma & Disclosure Barriers:
Cultural taboos and fear of retaliation often prevent survivors from seeking help. Breaking the silence around GBV remains one of the biggest challenges. - Limited Access to Services:
In many rural or conflict-affected areas, there is a shortage of trained staff, safe spaces, and survivor-centered services, leaving survivors unsupported. - Coordination Gaps:
Effective GBV response requires a coordinated approach across sectors—health, protection, legal, and psychosocial—but fragmented systems make collaboration difficult. - Resource Constraints:
Local actors and health facilities often operate underfunded and overburdened, making it hard to scale up life-saving interventions or reach remote communities.
Our Vision for the Future
Through our work, humedica strives to build a future where all individuals—especially women and girls—can live free from violence, fear, and discrimination. By combining survivor-centered support, community education, and institutional capacity building, we are not only responding to GBV but also addressing its root causes.
Together with our partners and communities, we are creating safe spaces, amplifying survivor voices, and driving long-term change—because ending GBV is not only possible, it is essential.
