ObjectivesFund scope
Building on the successes of UN Action and Spotlight Initiative, the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Prevention Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CRSV-MPTF) works with stakeholders to improve accountability and targeted prevention/responses that lower rates of conflict-specific sexual violence around the world. By bringing attention to existing gaps and under-financed areas, this pooled fund consolidates efforts to address the causes of sexual violence in conflict settings and launch appropriate responses that lead to lasting outcomes. Although anyone can experience sexual violence, responses are centered on women and girls as they tend to be most affected. Fund efforts concentrate on the contextual causes and drivers of sexual violence in conflict, which include:
- Structural gender-based inequalities and harmful social norms that lead to an increase in sexual violence during conflict.
- Little or no access to public or legal services for survivors of sexual violence.
- Partisan justice institutions that undermine public confidence or perpetuate instability.
- Weak coordination between United Nations organizations when supporting prevention and protection practices in conflict and post-conflict countries.
Theory of change and strategic framework
Addressing the underlying factors that lead to, or perpetuate, conflict-related sexual violence, means CRSV-MPTF stakeholders can help reduce its prevalence. The overarching goal is to prevent sexual violence in conflict settings and meet the needs of survivors by increasing public, private, and government accountability in providing necessary services, frameworks, and paths for restitution. Supported initiatives are designed according to three specific outcomes:
- Cooperation and coordination: Strengthen international, regional and national cooperation and coordination to address conflict-related sexual violence.
- Leadership and advocacy: Improve strategic leadership and advocacy at the international, regional, and national levels to address causes and consequences of conflict-related sexual violence.
- Capacity building: Boost national and regional capacities and technical expertise to address judicial and institutional accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.
Three windows have been established under the fund and cover UN Action, the Team of Experts, and Office of the SRSG-SVC. Primary areas of focus are to convert cultures of impunity to cultures of deterrence, address structural gender-based inequality in times of war and peace, and foster national ownership and leadership for sustainable, survivor-centred responses that empower civil society organizations and women’s rights defenders. Each window has its own oversight and decision-making body.