Emergency response to Gender-based violence

DHAKA, Nov. 24 (NsNewsWire) — The Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ms Nasima Begum has formally launched the establishment of the Gender Based Violence Cluster, following the approval from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) of Bangladesh.

Guided by the principles for the global Cluster Approach it is led by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin, Representative UNFPA, during her address pointed out that for too long the specific vulnerabilities of girls and women during humanitarian crisis had been overlooked. “•When a disaster strikes, responders very obviously first think of providing shelter, food and water – this indeed saves many lives. However how this essential aid is provided needs to be considered very carefully to ensure that girls and women can access it safely, without being put at further risk.”

GBV is a life-threatening, global health and human rights issue that violates international human rights law and principles of gender equality. In emergencies, such as conflict or natural disasters, the risk of violence, exploitation and abuse is heightened, particularly for women and girls because of disrupted services and weakened protection. Bangladesh being the sixth most disaster prone country in the world can be an especially unsafe for girls and women during a humanitarian crisis.

Building on the government’s strategic priorities of women and girls in disaster preparedness and response, the Gender Based Violence Cluster will strengthen an inter-agency, multi-sectoral coordination mechanism to enable coordinated, accountable and effective response to GBV in emergencies. Working in partnership with national authorities and humanitarian actors, the cluster will work towards promoting a common understanding of GBV issues amongst humanitarian and development actors, upholding GBV minimum standards, monitoring adherence to GBV guiding principles, facilitating information sharing and best practice and promoting collective inter-agency actions to prevent and respond to GBV.

In 2016 UNFPA responded to natural disasters, including Cyclone Roanu, by providing girls and women with dignity kits in worst hit and hard to reach areas , which besides including essential sanitary and hygiene products also contained whistles and torches, helping to protect them from potential violence and abuse and uphold their dignity. UNFPA moreover worked with the local police stations to ensure communities and shelters received additional security and set up Women Friendly Spaces and Community Watch Groups (CWG).