WUNRN
European Commission
SWD(2013) 290 Final
Gender in Humanitarian Aid: Different Needs, Adapted Assistance
Direct Link to Full 21-Page 2013
Document:
2.1. Why gender matters in humanitarian crises
Gender matters in humanitarian assistance because women, girls, boys and men are affected by crises in different ways. They have differentiated needs, suffer from different vulnerabilities, face particular risks, do not necessarily have access to the same resources and services, develop diverse coping or survival mechanisms and possess specific capacities to support their families and communities during and in the aftermath of disasters and conflict. For instance, distribution of non-food items should take into account the specific sanitary needs of women and girls. Also, older women and men may eat less after a disaster as part of their coping strategy. Crises also have a major impact on community and family structures, such as increasing numbers of single or child headed-households. For those in charge of caring for their families — frequently women — crises will often imply an additional burden. This is due to a number of factors such as men’s participation in the hostilities and an increased number of sick, injured and dependants to care for with fewer resources.
Moreover, in most countries around the world, gender inequalities repeatedly make women and girls more vulnerable and disadvantaged. However, women are not simply victims. They can also play an active and important role in contributing to peace and resilience. Likewise, men can be victims of violence or suffer from specific vulnerabilities or risks (e.g. recruitment of boys as child soldiers or sexual violence targeted at boys or men)..........
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