Although it is increasingly recognized that gender-based violence (GBV) is a major feature of many conflicts, its occurrence during disasters is not as well understood. This study, commissioned by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is designed to foster that discussion within both the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and the larger humanitarian community.

The research addresses three questions:

What characterizes GBV in disasters?
In what ways should legal and policy frameworks, including disaster risk management, be adapted to address GBV in disasters?
How should National Societies and other local actors address GBV in disasters, and what support do they need to fulfil their roles?

A new report, Humanitarian Protection During Disasters: The Responsibility to Prevent and Respond to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, found that sexual and gender-based violence increased after disasters in three South-East Asian countries. It details how different agencies – including local and international humanitarian organizations, governments and communities – can better prevent and respond to this. The report is based on the views of more than 1,700 disaster-affected women, adolescent girls, men and adolescent boys in Indonesia, Lao PDR and the Philippines.

The report is the result of a collaboration between IFRC, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee for Disaster Management, the Indonesian, Laos and Philippine Red Cross, with funding from the Australian, British, Canadian and Finnish Red Cross, and the governments of Australia and Canada.

Global Study

Based on qualitative information collected from primary and secondary sources, this case study looks at gender equality in laws and policies and the issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the context of disasters in Ecuador. It focuses on the earthquake of April 16, 2016, that profoundly affected the coastal provinces of Manabí and Esmeraldas. The report examines the scope and effectiveness of laws and policies related to the prevention, response and sanctioning of SGBV, both in normal times and during disasters, as well as the gender-sensitivity of national policies for disaster risk management.

This report is an analysis of Nepal’s existing laws and policies related to gender equality and SGBV protection during normal times and during disasters. This brief study did not seek to address all forms of social inclusion in the disaster risk management (DRM) system, a particularly complex issue in Nepal. It focuses on women and girls, as the majority of those affected by both SGBV and gender discrimination, while recognizing that men and boys are also affected by SGBV and some forms of gender discrimination. In this regard, it examines current laws on SGBV protection, such as laws against domestic violence, human trafficking, rape, marital rape, sexual harassment, witchcraft allegations, dowry, child marriage, and polygamy. The report then looks at gender equality, inclusion of women, and mechanisms for SGBV
protection in the laws and policies governing the DRM system.

This report outlines the results of a country case study undertaken during December 2016 in Zimbabwe. It is part of a global IFRC initiative on ‘Effective law and policy for addressing gender in disaster risk management and sexual and gender-based violence in disasters’. The country case study was conducted in order to contribute to:
• Implementing Resolution 3 of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent on ‘Sexual and gender-based violence: Joint
action on prevention and response’ (32IC/15/3); and
• Filling a knowledge gap on gender equality in disaster risk management laws, polices and their implementation, that was identified in the IFRC
and UNDP 2014 study, Effective Law and Regulation to Support Disaster Risk Reduction: A Multi-Country Report.

This curriculum guide presents the information needed to run an introductory course on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) issues and programmatic interventions in
humanitarian emergency response.

It contains the sample agenda, training modules and tools to provide a two and a halfday course (which can be amended to a longer course or a training of trainer module
if needed). The target audience is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Society programme managers (health, disaster
management, community services, etc.) and gender and diversity focal persons. It will help the target audience to integrate SGBV interventions into all areas of work with an
emphasis on emergencies. The course has been developed as one of the actions set out in the Resolution on Sexual and Gender-based Violence passed by the 32nd International
Conference in 2015.

If you intend to run this training, you will need to access the powerpoint slides and additional materials - to access these, please contact [email protected]

Protection in humanitarian action in the Movement has both internal and external aspects.

Internally, it refers to ensuring that the actions of the Movement respect, and do not endanger the dignity, safety and rights of persons. Externally, it refers to action intended to ensure that authorities and other actors respect their obligations and the rights of individuals.

This Framework sets out the common agreements about how protection in defined and implemented in the Movement .