Key facts and figures, initiatives, progress, challenges, needs and opportunities related to gender equality and women’s empowerment in the context of the Nepal earthquake emergency response.
Ensuring a gender-responsive humanitarian effort involves acknowledging the different needs of women, men, girls and boys and promoting their equal opportunities. However, pre-existing gender inequality, as evidenced through discrimination, violence and exclusion, means that during times of disasters and conflict, women and girls bear the brunt of the crisis. Displacement, over-crowded centresfor the internally displaced, lack of privacy, lack of lighting, limited and unsegregated wash facilities, hegemonic masculinity crises and other factors can often contribute to an increase in incidences of sexual violence against women and girls. Higher levels of violence against women and girlsin turn greatly increase the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and complications for reproductive health. Many women, especially the disabled, elderly and female heads of households, are at risk of being overlooked when it comes to accessing relief and recovery assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake. This is the result of several obstacles such as lack of access to information, having to walk for long periods to receive aid, and having to continue to perform household chores. Notably, the high demand of women’s time, due to existing gender norms, is intensified in times of emergencies and negatively impacts on their opportunities to seek livelihoods opportunities and equally contribute to the response. An issue of particular concern relates to the lack or loss of documentation (incl. citizenship papers) which, in the absence of a male relative, renders many women unable to access humanitarian assistance and support. Female-headed households may be at a further disadvantage in terms of clearing rubble, salvaging materials and repairing their homes. At the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held on May 13, the member states emphasised the importance of integrating a gender perspective in the Nepal earthquake response, as well as ensuring women take an active and equal role in all relevant aspects related to disaster management and rehabilitation.
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Publisher:
UNFPA, UN Women, Protection Cluster
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(2015
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Type / Script:
Bulletin or Poster
in English
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Keywords:
NATURAL DISASTERS, EARTHQUAKES, DISASTER-PRONE AREAS, DISASTER RELIEF, DISASTER VICTIMS, NATURAL PHENOMENA, SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, SEISMIC ACTIVITY, EARTHQUAKE ZONES, NATURAL PHENOMENA, GEOLOGICAL FAULTS, LANDFORMS, PLATE TECTONICS, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, INTERNATIONAL RELIEF, GENDER EQUALITY, WOMEN RIGHTS
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Thematic Group:
UNWOMEN
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Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
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Thesaurus:
13.02.00
- Disaster Prevention, Preparedness And Relief
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Reference Link:
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