Www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Pacific Regional Office – Suva Gender Pacific Regional Office, Suva – Gender 2012 Gender in the IFRC Pacific

www.ifrc.orgSaving lives, changing minds.

Pacific Regional Office – Suva

Gender

Pacific Regional Office, Suva – Gender 2012

Gender in the IFRC

Pacific Regional Office, Suva

March 2012



GenderGender in the IFRC

An important issue for IFRC whose humanitarian mandate is to prevent and alleviate human suffering without discrimination and to protect human dignity

1999 - IFRC adopted an equity based Gender policy



GenderReview of IFRC gender policy 2008

No internal mechanisms for policy implementation. Highlighted that most National Society emergency

and development programmes and training tools continued to be developed and carried out without a gender perspective or gender analysis.

National Societies vary considerably in their understanding and application of the policy, reflecting their social and political context.



GenderRecommendations from the review

Move away from an equity approach towards an equality approach and to address underlying root causes that perpetuate discrimination.

Develop a Gender Strategy. Create a senior gender position at the Secretariat

in Geneva and establish a gender network. Use IASC Guidance on Gender. Participate in IASC sub working group on gender.



GenderGender Strategy – in development

Purpose: define the approach to addressing gender issues with in the IFRC.

Provides a common framework to institutionalize gender in planning and implementation of emergency and longer term development programmes.

Addresses gaps highlighted in 2008 review of the then Gender policy and emphasizes the importance of promoting gender equality and addressing gender-based violence.



GenderGender strategy – in development

Based on the Fundamental Principles of the RCRC Movement, in particular the principles of impartiality and humanity.

The strategy covers women, girls, men, boys, those who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered and as such are likely to face significant harm because of their gender.



GenderIFRC Gender Strategy - goals

1. Gender assessment and analysis systematically incorporated into all programmes, systems and tools.

2. Gender-based discrimination and violence are systematically addressed in all systems and programmes.



GenderIFRC Gender Strategy - goals

3. Gender parity and equality are ensured at all levels of the IFRC (governance, management, staff and volunteering).

4. Promote humanitarian values and interpersonal skills that foster respect for diversity, nonviolence and inclusion in order to reduce gender-based discrimination and violence, as an integral part of applying the Fundamental Principles.



GenderAbuse of power

IFRC “recognizes the particular trust and power that lies in the hands of those assisting the most vulnerable and that we have a special responsibility, as embodied in the Fundamental Principles, to create and maintain safe environments in our workplaces and for all those that we seek to assist.”



GenderIFRC Pledges to:

support NS to adopt and implement a zero tolerance approach towards sexual exploitation and abuse;

assist NS in promoting safe environments for all vulnerable populations within their own institutions and throughout their operations and programs;

promote awareness on the abuse of power and support capacity building efforts in preventative approaches;

collaborate with others in reviewing the implementation and impact of collective efforts to eliminate the abuse of power.



GenderNext steps – Finalising the strategy

Adoption of the IFRC Gender Strategy by the Governing Board (2012).

Appointing Gender focal points from Zones and technical departments.

Developing the Gender and Violence Prevention training pack based on existing National Societies and Secretariat training modules and materials.



GenderExample of good practice

To ensure women beneficiaries are reached, the Bangladesh and Iranian RC Societies have stepped up the recruitment of female volunteers to respond to disasters.

Nepal RC - economic empowerment of women living below the poverty line in conflict-affected areas.

DR Congo RC - Community-based programme to fight sexual abuse.

Canadian RC - Prevention of violence: child maltreatment, relationship violence, bullying and harassment and safe environments in institutions.



GenderExample of good practice

Fiji RC - National Society has developed a set of preliminary emergency needs assessments forms – separates data on disaster affected population by sex and age.

Australian RC - Guidance notes on gender practice in DM, water and sanitation and HIV.

IFRC - A practical guide to gender sensitive approaches for Disaster Management (2010).

ICRC - Addressing the particular needs of women affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence.



GenderGender in Pacific National Societies

Early days for Pacific National Societies Many still developing core organisational capacities

– legal base, developing a plan, financial and HR systems

Challenge of introducing gender when basic systems are not in place.



GenderGender in Pacific National Societies

Positive signs in some National Societies: female representation in leadership across Pacific NS disaggregated sex data collected during assessments

(Fiji) Vanuatu RC and Samoa RC willingness to participated

in post operation gender review - with Linda from OCHA (2011)

gender training in PNG (2011) ARC strong on gender and therefore as a major

partner positively influences programming of smaller Pacific NS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENDER IN THE PACIFIC

PLEASE CONTACT:

IFRC Pacific regional delegation

AURELIA BALPE, HEAD OF DELEGATION

TEL. : +6793311855

EMAIL: [email protected]

THIS PRESENTATION IS PUBLISHED BY

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF

RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES

P.O. BOX 372

CH-1211 GENEVA 19

SWITZERLAND

TEL.: +41 22 730 42 22

FAX.: +41 22 733 03 95

Documents

Www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Pacific Regional Office – Suva Gender Pacific Regional Office, Suva – Gender 2012 Gender in the IFRC Pacific