GENEVA, 19 June 2014 (ICMC) – Every year the UNHCR meets with NGO partners, such as ICMC, to share best practices, and discuss regional and global issues of mutual concern. This year – with more than 240 national and international NGOs - UNCHR selected the Refugee Women's Protection Corps programme (RWPC) to share its work enhancing women's leadership and participation within the Burmese refugee community in Malaysia.

The RWPC was formed by ICMC more than four years ago and has since served as the foundation of ICMC work and community-based approach to prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence (GBV) amongst Burmese Refugees in Malaysia. With generous financial support from the US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM), ICMC staff mentors, supervises and coordinates from the Burmese refugee community to better address harmful gender inequalities.

"Through our community based approach, ICMC has developed trust, confidence and knowledge with the Refugee Women's Protection Corps (RWPC)," stated Jackie Loo, National Programme Manager of ICMC Malaysia, "GBV is a sensitive topic and sharing information with RWPC members who have a similar cultural background and speak the same language gives the beneficiaries feelings of trust and attachment."

The volunteers – all from different ethnic communities within the Burmese refugee population – conduct outreach and GBV awareness raising sessions for adults in homes, religious institutions, an d refugee community centres. In addition, the RWPC volunteers operate a GBV hotline where they receive GBV disclosures; provide interpretation services to GBV survivors in hospitals and shelters; and conduct specialized GBV training for adolescents and school children.

This type of community based approach puts the capacity, rights and dignity of persons of concern at the centre of programming. It generates more effective and sustainable programmes by working with refugees to identify gaps in protection and thus strengthen local resources and infrastructure.

The process, however, is not a short term fix or Band-Aid solution. Rather, ICMC took the time to understand the community context, culture and challenges faced by Burmese refugees in Malaysia.

"When we started our project, we had 18 women refugee members who came from different Burmese ethnicities, each with their own culture and views on gender roles and many of them had minimal work experience," Ms. Loo continued during her speech.

Engaging and training RWPC members is a slow process requiring repeated and consistent effort. The first RWPC training session, for instance, lasts 12 hours and is then supplemented with additional courses and debriefing sessions. As many RWPC members are in the midst of the resettlement process, over 4 volunteers leave per year, and new ones must be trained.

Nevertheless, the effort is worth it. Staff's regular coaching and support enhances members' understanding, knowledge and confidence in taking on important responsibilities. "Being a RWPC member means that I must talk to a variety of different people…I feel more confident speaking with community leaders, "explains Sui Hlei Tha, a senior member of RWPC."

ICMC's community based protection enables both the RWPC volunteer and Burmese refugee community to speak out against GBV. As one RWPC member declared, "A lot of women suffer from GBV, but they don't know how to ask for help. People don't understand that survivors should be helped instead of blamed. We must change what we can now, only then will women gain equality and respect."

For more information please contact ICMC Communications Officer, Caitlin Hannahan, at hannahan@icmc.net​​

Photo Credit: RWPC volunteer conducts training session