This comprehensive approach outlines steps to address the long-term needs of women and girls in crisis, whether they are survivors of earthquakes, tsunamis, or militias that use rape and brutality as a tactic of war.
“Neglecting women and girls in crises makes no sense from a development perspective,” said Kathleen Cravero speaking from London.
“Not only do we fail to address the needs of half the population, we also fail to gain from their insights and resourcefulness during the critical stages of the recovery process.” she added. Indeed, few recognize how disproportionately women suffer during crisis – whether it is the result of violence or natural disaster. After the waters of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami receded, for example, many regions found that the death toll among women was three to four times greater than among men. In some villages, only a handful of women survived. And those who survived were often excluded from any decision-making process in the recovery effort.
In times of crisis women have shown extraordinary resolve and strength, whether forming networks to provide vital services that were destroyed during the conflict, or joining together to promote peace and reconciliation.
“One of the most common and disturbing images of war is of women uprooted from their homes and communities, reeling from the effects of sexual violence and struggling to provide for their children in the harshest of environments,” said Cravero.
“But if we continue to see women only as victims – and not as problem solvers and decision-makers – we do so at their peril, and at the peril of peace. We need to seize opportunities to “build back better” during the recovery period. Realizing the Eight Point Agenda will help achieve this goal,” she added.
In brief, the eight points of the agenda are: protecting women from violence in crisis; ensuring women have access to justice; strengthening women’s voices and representation; building peace with and for women; promoting gender equality; putting women’s needs first in the recovery effort; urging governments to work for women; and strengthening women’s networks in crisis.
Source: UNDP
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