Assessment on the Provision of Quality Shelter Services for the Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Addis Ababa: The Case of Association for Women’s Sanctuary and Development and The Salesians of Don Bosco

Abstract

Quality shelters provision for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) victims can promote the range of protection from future abuse and can contribute to awareness-raising and social change as part of broader efforts to prevent violence against women and girls. This thesis explored the provision of quality shelter services in ‘Association for Women’s Sanctuary and Development’ (AWSAD) and ’ Salesians of Don Bosco’ (SDB) survivors' perception towards the medical, counseling, legal aid, childcare, food, accommodation, and reintegration services. In addition, the study explores the type of GBV and its consequences. To address the issues, primary data was collected via questioner from sixty shelters resident, a key informant from eleven shelters staff, two from government sectors, and one from health official. As well as, collect an In-depth interview from seven shelter residents, observation, and secondary documents. Descriptive and thematic methods were employed to analyze qualitative and quantitative data respectively. The results from the study illustrate most of the violence was committed by intimate partners. Frequent types of violence were physical injuries, child denial by the father, and rape. The majority of the victims didn’t report to the concerned institutions, which specifically work on GBV. Moreover, the violence led to physical injuries and adverse pregnancy. Regards on the services, both shelters have provided medical care, counseling therapy, various technical and soft skill trainings. These empower the survivors physically, psychologically, and economically. Besides, AWSAD has given legal aid and library service, which is not available in SDB. However, both shelters have insufficient shelter space and poor compliant response mechanisms that make it difficult for the survivors. The majority of the survivors have agreed on the overall quality of services given by the shelter providers. It is learned that shelter services are most crucial to minimize the consequences of GBV. From the result of this study, the researcher implicates that the shelter needs to work in collaboration with community-based organizations and government sectors. This helps to give awareness of the availability of shelter services so that GBV victims could not to be afraid to report the violence. Besides, designing the national minimum standard for the shelter providers will support to boost the quality services and make a uniform evaluation of the quality of shelters.