Global study: Effective law and policy on gender equality and protection from sexual and gender-based violence in disasters

Client
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Duration
2017

Our project team
Mary Picard

Type of work
Legal and regulatory frameworks
Research and analysis
Reports and editing

Key themes
Disaster risk management (DRM)
Gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI)
International law and policy
Protection
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)

About this project

This report contributed to the implementation of two resolutions of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2015. It fills a knowledge gap on the effectiveness of national laws, policies and institutional frameworks in supporting gender equality in disaster risk management and preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence in disasters.

Based on global research and three country case studies in Ecuador, Nepal and Zimbabwe, the report considers national laws and the experiences of disaster-affected communities. In these countries there were no mechanisms for coordination between sexual and gender-based violence protection institutions and disaster risk management systems. Research was undertaken through key informant interviews and combines global research and pre-existing research by the IFRC. It provides recommendations to governments, IFRC and National Societies and humanitarian organisations to strengthen coordination.