|
Understanding how conflicts and disasters affect women and men, girls and boys is critical to the overall effectiveness of our humanitarian response. Women, men, girls and boys experience war, floods, earthquakes and displacement differently: they have different priorities, responsibilities and protection needs.
|
|
"Effective humanitarian response addresses the needs and concerns of all groups in an affected population. This means understanding how conflicts and disasters affect women, men, boys and girls differently and basing programming on their differential needs and capacities. This is what gender equality programming is all about. "
John Holmes
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
and Emergency Relief Coordinator
In a letter to Humanitarian Coordinators, April 2007
|
|
|
|
They can also play different, but important, roles in responding to conflict and making decisions to resolve conflict and build peace. While women and girls are disproportionately affected during crises, they are not just victims. Gender inequalities undermine the ability of women and girls to exercise their rights and to be active partners in emergency response, rehabilitation and development.
|