A disclosure is when someone tells you, directly or indirectly, that they have experienced sexual violence, exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, forced marriage, domestic violence or another form of abuse. The first response can affect their safety, trust and willingness to seek help.
The first few minutes
Stay calm and present
Use simple language. Thank them for telling you. Avoid shock, anger, panic, disbelief or visible disgust.
Check immediate danger
Ask whether they feel safe right now. If there is immediate danger, follow the emergency security, medical or child protection protocol.
Listen without pressing
Do not ask for graphic details, exact timelines or proof. Do not ask “why” questions that may sound blaming.
Explain confidentiality
Say what you can keep private and what you may need to share with a safeguarding or protection person because of risk or duty of care.
Offer options
Where safe, explain available medical, psychosocial, protection, legal and reporting options. Do not force a decision.
Helpful things to say
- “I am sorry this happened.”
- “Thank you for telling me.”
- “You are not to blame.”
- “I will not ask you to tell me more than you want to.”
- “There are people whose job is to help with this. I can help connect you safely.”
- “I need to explain what I can keep confidential and when I may need to involve a safeguarding person.”
Follow the referral pathway
Use the pathway from your field briefing. This may include a GBV specialist, protection focal point, child protection focal point, safeguarding lead, medical focal point, trusted clinic, psychosocial support service, safe shelter, legal aid or security focal point.
If no specialist pathway is available, use the GBV Pocket Guide approach: provide basic support and information without doing further harm, prioritise safety and seek the safest available local advice.
If the disclosure involves a child
Do not promise secrecy. Do not interview the child. Do not contact the family unless the child protection protocol says it is safe. Use the child protection or safeguarding pathway immediately.
Children may disclose indirectly through behaviour, drawings, partial comments or fear of a person or location. Treat concerns seriously even when the child does not use adult language.
Recording and information sharing
- Record only what the protocol requires.
- Use the survivor’s words where necessary, without adding assumptions.
- Store information securely.
- Do not share details in WhatsApp groups, radio channels, casual conversations, shared vehicles or open offices.
- Do not translate or interpret sensitive details through unapproved people.
Source guidance and further reading
Use local referral pathways, mission briefings and trained protection, safeguarding, GBV, child protection, medical and security focal points before relying on any general online guidance. These external sources are included for context and should be adapted to the setting.
- GBV Pocket GuideBasic support and information to survivors without doing further harm.
- IFRC Reacting to SGBV DisclosuresPractical disclosure response guidance.
- IFRC Survivor-Centred ApproachSurvivor-centred response principles.
- WHO Clinical Management of Rape and IPV SurvivorsClinical care guidance for health-care providers in humanitarian settings.
Questions people often ask
What is the first thing to do after a disclosure?
Stay calm, check immediate safety, listen without pressing for details and use the local referral pathway.
Can I promise confidentiality?
Do not promise absolute confidentiality. Explain the limits clearly, especially where a child or immediate safety risk is involved.
Should I write everything down?
No. Record only what the protocol requires, store it securely and avoid speculation or unnecessary detail.