Table 1 Types of intervention for sexual violence and proposed underpinning mechanisms and outcomes

Individual

Survivor care responses

Medical, psycho-social care & advocacy for survivors

1

Prosecution enabled through survivor reports, deterring sexual violence

3

Harm from sexual violence is reduced

4

Women seek help

Livelihood strategies

Micro-finance and/or training to increase women’s independence pre/post sexual violence

5

Sexual exploitation and abuse is reduced

Harm from sexual violence is reduced

Community

Community mobilisation

Education of rights in regard to sexual coercion; increased opportunities for women to participate in political, economic and social activities

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Sexual violence is reduced

4, 5

Survivors get help and report

6

Community protects women & sanctions sexual violence

Societal

Personnel interventions

Protocols with military/peacekeepers/aid workers to reduce sexual exploitation and abuse; recruitment of female officers

1

Sexual violence reduced

3, 5

Survivors feel safe to report incidents

Systems and security interventions

Patrols or firewood/fuel distribution to reduce vulnerability to sexual violence

1

Sexual violence is reduced

Legal strategies

Specialist prosecution units/tribunals; customary justice systems; International Criminal Court indictments

1

Sexual violence is reduced as a result of deterrence through arrest/action/conviction

4, 5

Survivors feel safe to report incidents

Multiple component interventions

Integration of any two or more of the above strategies

As per individual strategies employed

As per individual strategies employed