Gender-based violence (GBV) encompasses a wide range of human rights violations ranging from rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women, girls and boys and harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation/cutting, early marriage, bride inheritance and others. The violations can be directed to men, women and children. In an emergency setup such as Somalia, human rights violations may be extreme due to the increased insecurity, weak rule of law, lack of humanitarian access, and frequent natural hazards. The protracted conflict has increased the risks of sexual violence among the vulnerable communities in Somalia such as the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the minorities and the host population.
    
Established in 2007, the GBV Working Group in Somalia serves as the primary body for coordination, policy development, technical advice and oversight of prevention and response to GBV in Somalia. Chaired by UNFPA at the national level, the Working Group includes UN agencies, INGOs, LNGOs, government authorities and other stakeholders implementing GBV activities in Somalia. The working group maintains has regional and field level working groups and reports to the Protection Cluster.