A CALL TO ACTION: PREVENTING AND RESPONDINGTO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) IN DISASTERS

What is GBV ?

What are the types of GBV?

Why is it crucial to address gender in disasters?

Silence and lack of data does not mean GBV is not happening

Women and girls are not the only ones who are affected

Sexual, psychologicaland physical

exploitation and abuse

Women and children are 14 timesmore likely to die in disasters

Out of 4,841 respondents interviewed threemonths after Cyclone Nargis, 31.4% wereafraid they were going to be raped and20.4% were worried about increased

violence at home

Sexual violence against men and boyshas been reported in 25 conflict-affected

countries between 1998 and 2009

Over 1,700 transgender persons havebeen murdered in 63 countries in the

past decade.

For more information and to view references go to http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/principles-and-values/gender1/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence-gbv-in-disasters/

245 children wereintercepted from beingtrafficked after the 2015Nepal earthquake

Rape Forced traffickingand prostitution

Early marriage Denial of resources,opportunities or

services

Domestic violence

An umbrella term for any harmful act that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual orpsychological harm or suffering to a man, woman, girl or boy on the basis of their gender. Gender-basedviolence is a result of gender inequality and abuse of power. It usually increases during disasters andconflicts. The fact that disasters often occur in areas of conflict suggests that the intersections between

GBV, conflict and disasters requires more attention.

In the 2015 IFRC study on GBV prevention and response in disaster settings, respondents inBangladesh and Samoa mentioned relocation after displacement, inequitable relief

distribution and economic hardship after a disaster as triggers for GBV increasing. Safety forwomen and girls in evacuation centres and shelters is of primary concern.

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What the IFRC and National Societies in Asia Pacific are doingabout it:

What other actors can do about it:

The IFRC is implementing the Minimum Standard Commitmentsto gender and diversity in Emergency Programming in all

National Societies, offering training or use of these guidelinesthrough our gender and diversity.

Bangladesh Red CrescentSociety is integrating violenceprevention and response

activities within the Community-Based Health and First Aid

(eCBHFA) package.

The primary aim is to reduce the risk of physical, psychological, and sexual and gender-based violence against girls,boys, women and men.

Samoa Red Cross Societyis working together withthe National DisasterCouncil to identify

evacuation centres andshelters, safe for women

and girls.

Myanmar Red Cross Societyis planning for more gendersensitive relief distributionand safe shelter design.

Assume GBV istaking place, evenif no reliable data is

available

Apply theIASC and

IFRC guidelines inspecific

organisationalcontext

Establisheffective lawenforcementmechanisms

and procedures,includingrelevant

criminal laws

Develop andensure

implementationof internal codesof conduct onchild protectionand prevention of

sexualexploitation and

abuse.

In camp settings,establish

committee thatcan reportinformally on

GBV and providesupport

mechanisms

Improve reportingmechanism andsystems for datacollection inemergencies

HUMANITARIAN ACTORS, such as the Red Cross,NGOs, and other organizations who work onpreventing, preparing for, responding to and

recovering from disasters should

To view the full list, go to http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/principles-and-values/gender1/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence-gbv-in-disasters/

Pay attention toGBV risks indisaster

managementlaws, policies and

plans.

Implement, monitorand follow-up on

Resolution 3 on 'Sexualand gender-basedviolence: Joint actionon prevention and

response

Develop locally-appropriate

processes to ensurethat women,

children and mencan report GBV

confidentially and ina timely manner.

Increaseawareness withinorganisations andcommunities thatdisasters can

heighten the riskof GBV

Ensure that GBVand the safety ofwomen andchildren are

considered in alldisaster

preparedness andplanning.

ALL ACTORS GOVERNMENTS HUMANITARIAN ACTORS