TY - JOUR T1 - Mitigating gender-based violence risk in the context of COVID-19: lessons from humanitarian crises JF - BMJ Global Health JO - BMJ Global Health DO - 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005448 VL - 6 IS - 3 SP - e005448 AU - Vandana Sharma AU - Emily Ausubel AU - Christine Heckman AU - Erin Patrick AU - Dimple Save AU - Jocelyn T D Kelly Y1 - 2021/03/01 UR - http://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e005448.abstract N2 - Summary boxPublic health measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 have contributed to increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV) globally.The third pillar of action for addressing GBV, GBV risk mitigation, is crucial alongside GBV response and prevention efforts to effectively address GBV in the context of COVID-19.GBV risk mitigation interventions aim to reduce exposure to GBV and ensure that humanitarian response actions and services themselves do not cause harm or increase risk of violence.Good practices, lessons and evidence on GBV risk mitigation in humanitarian contexts have been generated over the last three decades, and there is clear and practical guidance available including guidance tailored for COVID-19.It is critical that local and national governments and other responders in COVID-19 affected countries incorporate GBV risk mitigation approaches into their public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to ensure these efforts do not continue to increase risk of GBV.The COVID-19 pandemic is directing much-needed attention to gender-based violence (GBV) worldwide and is particularly shining a light on the hidden epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV). In recent months, there has been a plethora of high-profile statements calling for measures to address the GBV ‘shadow pandemic’.1 For example, a joint statement by 146 UN member states and observers declared support for the UN Secretary General’s appeal to prioritise prevention and redress of violence against women in national COVID-19 response plans.2 3 This is an important opportunity to translate attention to action.Much of the advocacy on GBV in … ER -