Gender and Diversity in Humanitarian

Responses

Christie J. Edwards, JD, LLM

Director, International Humanitarian Law

Refugees

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Women are the majority of the world’s refugees and

internally displaced populations

Reliance on local populations or assistance from NGOs

for survival

High risk of sexual violence and injuries from landmines

when searching for water, food, firewood, traditional

medicines

Overlooked by refugee camp authorities

Forced to trade sex for food, safety, shelter,

documentation, etc.

Lack of adequate access to medical care

Targeted Based on Gender

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Assumption of protection based on

gender

Traditional roles and responsibilities

Escalation of peacetime violence against

women

Targeted as part of “ethnic cleansing”

Targeted as a result of the political

activities of male relatives or associates

Economic Impact

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Access to supplies of food, water, medicine

Maintenance of property

Food provision for family

Forced support for military forces

Move from private to public sphere

Lack of documentation for property ownership

Forced evictions

Inflation

Sanctions

Seven Fundamental Principles

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Humanity

Impartiality

Neutrality

Independence

Voluntary Service

Unity

Universality

Introduction to DAPS

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Dignity

Access

Participation

Safety

Dignity

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Respect for the life and integrity of individuals

Must take measures to respect, safeguard and promote

the dignity of individuals in situations of extreme

vulnerability

Humanitarians should protect the psychosocial well-

being of the affected population and ensuring their

physical privacy and specific cultural needs are met

Access

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Access for all individuals and sub-groups within the

affected population: must be informed by a gender and

diversity analysis to ensure that the assistance and

protection reach the most vulnerable

Four dimensions of accessibility:

non-discrimination

physical accessibility

economic accessibility/affordability

information accessibility

Participation

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Full, equal and meaningful involvement of all members of the

community in decision-making processes and activities that

affect their lives

Instead of informing and deciding for people, humanitarians

listen to affected people so that they can identify their own

priorities and preferred outcomes

Essential for informed decision-making; promotes protection

and reduces feelings of powerlessness; enables

humanitarians to draw on the insights, knowledge,

capacities, skills and resources of affected people

Safety

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Females and males of all ages and backgrounds within affected

communities have different needs in relation to their physical safety

Gender-based violence: “any harmful act that is perpetrated against a

person’s will and that is based on socially ascribed (i.e. gender)

differences between males and females. It includes acts that inflict

physical, mental, or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts,

coercion and other deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or in

private life.”

Child protection: children, especially unaccompanied children, are

among the most vulnerable; they are among the weakest and most

dependent on others for support. Special care and consideration must be

given to ensure that humanitarian programs and operations do not cause

harm to children.

Questions?

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