Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term for any harmful act perpetrated against a person based on socially ascribed differences between males and females. It includes acts that inflict physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion, and other deprivations of liberty. These acts can occur in public or private spaces. Common forms of GBV include sexual violence (rape, attempted rape, unwanted touching, sexual exploitation, and sexual harassment), intimate partner violence (also called domestic violence, including physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse), forced and early marriage, and female genital mutilation. GBV is recognized as a widespread international public health and human rights issue.

GBV in all of its forms has tremendous physical, emotional, and social consequences for the person victimized by it, who is often referred to as a ‘survivor.’ Survivors of GBV have the right to receive quality, compassionate care and support that addresses the harmful consequences of violence in order to help them heal and recover. This resource entitled "Interagency gender-based violence case management guidelines" aims to set standards for quality, compassionate care for GBV survivors in humanitarian settings, with a particular focus on the provision of case management services.