2023 Humanitarian Symposium Munich

The Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Symposium of 2023 took place on Saturday the 18th of February 2023, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Central European Time (CET).

The topic of the Humanitarian Symposium Munich (HSM) 2023 was "Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings". It took place in hybrid format, where in presence as well as online invited speakers presented their work and expertise on the topic throughout a full day program. The speakers were scholars as well as practitioners from the field of humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and global health. Participants were also able to join the symposium in presence as well as online.

Gender based violence, also defined as sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), is one of many critical poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes experienced by adolescents and women in humanitarian settings. In times of emergency, these groups encounter an increased vulnerability since they may lose their social networks’ support and be exposed to risky conditions and unsafe environments, such as human trafficking, insecure occupations, and abuse.

During the HSM 2023, the health impacts of gender-based violence against women and girls in addition to the different causes and aspects of this specific type of violence were presented and discussed. The various levels and nuances of health burdens as well as structural issues, systems, and gender norms involved in the generation of a closed circle of violence were explained. The sessions of the symposium brought a global perspective on the topic by having speakers with different focus areas.

The exhibition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) during the symposium’s breaks provided an opportunity of knowledge and experiences exchange as well as connection and communication with a great variety of institutions working in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid.

The HSM 2023 applied for CME credits by the Bavarian Medical Chamber. Medical doctors received 8 CME points for their participation in the symposium.

Please find more information in the HSM 2023 Flyer and HSM 2023 Program.