Women and War
Section covering the specific dangers and suffering
confronting women in wartime, whose plight could be improved if the rules of
humanitarian law were fully respected. Access to the ICRC study Women facing
war as well as related resource materials and links to other sites
concerning women.
© ICRC / U. Meissner / rw-d-00041-15
)
© ICRC / U. Meissner /
rw-d-00041-15
For the most part they are civilians caught in the crossfire, and show astonishing resourcefulness and resilience in coping with the disintegration of their families, the loss of their home and their belongings and the destruction of their lives.
Women can also be fighters, and as such as are due the same
respect as men if wounded or captured. They are also bound by the same rules
prohibiting illegal acts against other fighters or
civilians.
International humanitarian law, which grants general
protection to all war victims, regardless of gender, provides extensive specific
protection for women in war. If these rules were better observed, the suffering
faced by women in war would be greatly reduced.
See also on this site
Women
and international humanitarian law (includes ICRC official statements)
ICRC's commitments
to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Contact:
e-mail
| Kashmir:
healthcare for women and children Sarah Baumgartner, a Swiss nurse and an ICRC delegate, recently returned from a remote region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir where she spent six weeks working in a clinic specifically targeted at women and children. In this interview, she talks about her experiences there. (Focus\Women and war) |
6-3-2006 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Yemen:
helping female detainees and refugees The ICRC, in partnership with the Yemeni Red Crescent, is providing vocational training for female detainees giving them an opportunity to reintegrate into society after completion of their sentences. The organization also helps female refugees stay in touch with loved ones. (Focus\Women and war) |
6-3-2006 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Congo-Kinshasa:
the ICRC provides support for victims of sexual violence In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women and young girls regularly become victims of sexual violence inflicted by bearers of arms. Amalia Larralde, an ICRC nurse who is based in the country explains what the organization is doing in South Kivu to prevent such violence and to provide support for the victims. (Focus\Women and war) |
2-3-2006 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Addressing
the Needs of Women Affected by Armed Conflict: An ICRC Guidance
Document Building upon the ICRC study Women Facing War, this guidance document intends to translate the findings of the study into practical terms. Aimed at staff concerned with the planning and implementation of humanitarian programmes, this document is intended as a means of sharing ICRC's experience in this area with other organisations. It is an important tool which can be used to address women's needs on an operational level, illustrating best practices and lessons learned. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Protection) |
2-3-2004 ICRC Publication Includes PDF |
| Women
and war - special report The purpose of this report is to provide an update of the ICRC's actions since the publication of the Women facing War study and the subsequent commitment to the identification of and response to both the general and specific needs of women affected by conflict. (Focus\Women and war) |
5-3-2003 Includes PDF |
| Women
facing war This ICRC study is an extensive reference document on the impact of armed conflict on the lives of women. Taking as its premise the needs of women, e.g. physical safety, access to health care, food and shelter, in situations of armed conflict, the study explores the problems faced by women in wartime and the coping mechanisms they employ. A thorough analysis of international humanitarian law, and to a lesser extent human rights and refugee law, was carried out as a means to assess the protection afforded to women through these bodies of law. The study also includes a review of the ICRC's operational response to the needs of women as victims of armed conflict. Overview of contents and executive summary (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Protection) |
31-12-2001 ICRC publication Includes PDF |
| Women
and war: the ICRC's response (Focus\Women and war) |
7-3-2005 |
| Women
facing war Eleven women tell their own individual stories of how their lives have been affected by war. Coping with displacement, physical and sexual violence, missing relatives, widowhood, detention... challenges and difficulties that these and thousands of other women must face in their daily lives. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\Protection) |
31-12-2001 ICRC film Includes Video |
| Working
with women in war While the ICRC works to help all victims of conflict without distinction, its work around the world recognizes the specific needs of women facing war. This film explores how the ongoing work of the ICRC is beneficial to women affected by armed conflict shown here in the areas of emergency relief distribution, support for families with missing relatives, protection, health care and economic assistance. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\Protection) |
31-12-2001 ICRC film |
| Antenatal
guidelines for primary health care in crisis conditions Within the area of mother and childcare, antenatal care plays a key role in reducing death, disease and suffering among women, whose vulnerability is always exacerbated by armed conflict and poor security conditions. These Antenatal guidelines for primary health care in crisis conditions provide field staff with basic practical information they need to run an antenatal clinic in situations that may vary greatly from one country to another. The handbook deal only with first level of health care, that is to say the community health centre, and not with the second and third levels (reference and district hospitals) (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Assistance) |
31-5-2005 ICRC Publication Includes PDF |
| Women
and War fact sheets A promotional folder with eight fact sheets which can be ordered individually or as a set. These fact sheets cover various problems faced by women in wartime, including physical safety, sexual violence, detention, missing relatives and displacement. Each fact sheet describes a particular problem, highlights the protection afforded by international humanitarian law and how the ICRC responds. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Protection) |
31-12-2001 ICRC publication |
| Women
and War posters A complement to the Women and War fact sheets, this series of five posters graphically highlights some of the difficult situations faced by women in armed conflict. They aim to create greater awareness of some of the specific problems faced by women - Sexual Violence, Detention, Displacement, and Missing Relatives, as well as to demonstrate the resilience of women in wartime through the poster on Support & Dignity. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Protection) |
31-12-2001 ICRC publication |
| Women
facing War: ICRC study on women affected by armed conflict Speech pronouced for the introduction of the arabic version of the study in Lebanon. (Focus\Women and war) |
15-6-2003 Official Statement |
| Women:
taking control of their own destiny Contrary to certain preconceived ideas, women affected by conflicts are not passive victims. They put their energy and expertise into improving their day-to-day life and strengthening their community. (Info resources\Photos) |
4-3-2005 Photo Collection Includes Photo |
| Women
and War: "Points of View" To mark this year's International Women's Day, we invited ICRC staff in Geneva to reflect on an array of photographs highlighting the theme of Women and War. The photo collection "Points of View" presents a series of 19 pictures taken by a variety of photographers worldwide and accompanied by a selection of personal observations. (Info resources\Photos) |
7-3-2003 Photo Collection Includes Photo |
| Women
and war: photos These photographs depict women from around the world who have suffered as a result of armed conflict as well as women who are courageously coping with the impact of war on their lives. (Info resources\Photos) |
11-11-2002 Photo Collection Includes Photo |
| Violence
against girls in Africa during armed conflicts and crises Second International Policy Conference on the African Child: Violence Against Girls in Africa, Addis Ababa, 11-12 May 2006. Report by Florence Tercier Holst-Roness, Women and War Adviser for the ICRC. (Focus\Children in war) |
11-5-2006 Report |
| An
African woman's journey Between the horrors of the Rwandan genocide and starting a new life in Europe, Médiatrice Nsekalije has overcome many obstacles. Today she works at the headquarters of the ICRC in Geneva. Through thick and thin, this smiling and determined woman was driven by a single obsession: staying alive so as to be able to give her children the best. She agrees to tell us her story. (Focus\Women and war) |
28-10-2005 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Afghanistan:
women play a key role in improving lives Women are playing an important part in helping their fellow Afghans overcome decades of conflict, while trying to create new opportunities and improved services in the country. A series of portraits focuses on the women trying to put the country back on its feet. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) |
7-4-2005 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Willing
one’s way to autonomy Surviving the war in Liberia is one thing; being able to rebuild one’s life is another. Musu took up market gardening, with the help of the ICRC, and can now make plans for her and her family. Fabienne Garaud, ICRC employee in Monrovia, tells her story. (Focus\Women and war) |
4-3-2005 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| There is no
sea in Chechnya Luiza used to be a journalist in her native Chechnya but now visits mine-affected communities to raise awareness of the dangers of landmines and other unexploded ordnance. ICRC employee Anastassia Issiouk met her and shares her story. (Focus\Women and war) |
4-3-2005 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Promoting
healthier living among Afghanistan's urban poor The ICRC's 'Environmental Health and Sanitation' programme is helping improve the health of the urban poor in Afghanistan by raising awareness about hygiene. To date, around 14,000 households have been visited in Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif. Jessica Barry reports. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) |
29-4-2004 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Eritrea:
Displaced women trained to build energy-saving ovens Life is hard for the 1,350 women living in the camp for displaced people in Mai Wurray, some 80 kilometres south-east of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Eritrea) |
6-3-2003 Stories from the field Includes Photo |
| Burundi:
traditional midwives assist women victims of violence "It was the middle of the night and I was asleep. Suddenly, I heard a noise. Our houses don't have any doors, so I got up to investigate. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Burundi) |
6-3-2003 Stories from the field |
| Algeria:
Talk as therapy “Shut it. Your opinion doesn’t count. I’ll do whatever I want with you …” But Zahra talks, despite her brother’s threats. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Algeria) |
6-3-2003 Stories from the field |
| Women
and war In the framework of the ICRC's Women and War study, four women give first-hand accounts of how violence directly affected them in times of conflict. (Info resources\Video) |
14-6-2002 Video Collection Includes Video |
| New
Delhi: women and violence in the picture Art students in New Delhi were recently given the opportunity of producing work on the theme "Women, violence and international humanitarian law". Their offerings were displayed at an exhibition co-sponsored by the New Delhi College of Art, the Swiss government and the ICRC. The ICRC's Devendra Tak reports. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\India) |
8-5-2005 Includes Photo |
| “Human
Dignity and Humanitarian Space” Remarks by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, Launch of Women and War Exhibit, 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 4 December 2003 (Focus\RC Movement\International Conference\28th Conference) |
4-12-2003 |
| Women
with missing loved ones – Emotional distress and economic
hardship "I was left with nine children to raise. They have had to support themselves and each other to pay for their studies. Six of them are professionals and three are still studying. (Focus\Women and war) |
6-3-2003 |
| United Nations
Development Fund for Women (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) |
23-2-2005 Other site |
| United Nations
Division for the Advancement of Women (UNDAW) (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) |
23-2-2005 Other site |
| Women's Human rights (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) |
23-2-2005 Other site |
| UN
International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of
Women News. Research and training programmes. Library catalogue. Annotated list of Institute publication’s links. (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) |
23-2-2005 Other site |
| WomenWatch (UN
Internet Gateway on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women) Description of UN programmes for women. International instruments concerning women’s rights. Information on women and disarmament. Reports on UN conferences on women. News. Database of UN documents on women. List by country of organizations active in the domain. (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) |
23-2-2005 Other site |
| Femmes Africa
Solidarité Links to articles on African women. Description of organization activities. List of African and international NGOs working in behalf of women. Press releases. Conference calendar. List of organization publications. (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) |
23-2-2005 Other site |
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