1. Addressing gender issues in humanitarian practice Madhavi M Ariyabandu ALNAP 17 th Biannual meeting 9 th June 2005

2. Mostly reflected on women – due to pre- existing socio-structural biases Mostly reflected on women – due to pre- existing socio-structural biases Implications on men – also reflect the gender based social norms and expectations Implications on men – also reflect the gender based social norms and expectations

3. Changing lifestyle- situation arising from displacement Main issues concerning women and girls Meeting women's specific needs Meeting women's specific needs Lack of privacy Lack of privacy Security and safety Security and safety Access to relief, information Access to relief, information

4. Women's specific needs while displaced Childbirth and pregnancy-related health considerations: Neglected or not adequately attended in camp situations Neglected or not adequately attended in camp situations Limited space and privacy in the tents, no rest area/space to lie down for the pregnant, and for breast feeding Limited space and privacy in the tents, no rest area/space to lie down for the pregnant, and for breast feeding

5. Basic needs – biological Sanitary wear in the relief needs Sanitary wear in the relief needs Accessing appropriate sanitary wear, possibilities of washing Accessing appropriate sanitary wear, possibilities of washing Almost all camps have men as managers- issue of awareness and sensitivity Almost all camps have men as managers- issue of awareness and sensitivity Humiliating practises of distribution of female underwear and sanitary napkins Humiliating practises of distribution of female underwear and sanitary napkins

6. Reproductive health Difficult access to family planning methods and advice in camps Difficult access to family planning methods and advice in camps Poor attention to specific needs in the camps which might lead to unwanted pregnancies, with a consequent increased risk of HIV and STD s Poor attention to specific needs in the camps which might lead to unwanted pregnancies, with a consequent increased risk of HIV and STD s

7. Protection and Privacy Greater risk and incidents of domestic and sexual violence Greater risk and incidents of domestic and sexual violence Incidence of rape, molestation of children -not many cases get reported. Incidence of rape, molestation of children -not many cases get reported. Concerns about their own safety and that of children, both within and outside the camps Concerns about their own safety and that of children, both within and outside the camps

8. Access to relief Severe gaps in women having direct access to relief Severe gaps in women having direct access to relief Head of the Household basis relief and other support distribution Head of the Household basis relief and other support distribution Women's less knowledge / capacity in how to access emergency assistance –also due to confinement to the camps Women's less knowledge / capacity in how to access emergency assistance –also due to confinement to the camps Gaps in legal literacy- issues of land/house ownership Gaps in legal literacy- issues of land/house ownership

9. Intensified multiple roles Responsibility of dependents Responsibility of dependents Women and girls taking care of the families, children and the elderly in camps Women and girls taking care of the families, children and the elderly in camps Secure firewood, ensure meals for the family- nutrition aspects Secure firewood, ensure meals for the family- nutrition aspects Ensure safety of children Ensure safety of children

10. Recovery planning Data and information for planning general failure to recognize the diverse groups composed of different sub-groups general failure to recognize the diverse groups composed of different sub-groups no gender-disaggregated data no gender-disaggregated data none of the post tsunami national and sector based assessments contain gender analysis ( except phase II) none of the post tsunami national and sector based assessments contain gender analysis ( except phase II)

11. Participation Lack of avenues for women to express their concerns Lack of avenues for women to express their concerns Discussions by officials and other visitors held mainly with men Discussions by officials and other visitors held mainly with men Low representation of women in emergency management and disaster mitigation efforts Low representation of women in emergency management and disaster mitigation efforts Women are not consulted in camp management, relocation, in the design of houses Women are not consulted in camp management, relocation, in the design of houses

12. Impact of men Large numbers of widowers Large numbers of widowers Difficulties in raising young families – gendered roles and social norms Difficulties in raising young families – gendered roles and social norms Emotional trauma of men in coping with the loss Emotional trauma of men in coping with the loss

13. Issues Some Experiences, lessons and best practices are globally available (conceptual frame works, course material, best practices etc.), but poor application Substantial gaps in terms specificities related to of socio- cultural aspects, and disaster scenarios Need for consolidation and building a broader base of knowledge and practical approaches relevant and appropriate for different situations.

14. The level of awareness, capability, and capacity vary widely by the agency, and interventions are extremely ad hoc. The level of awareness, capability, and capacity vary widely by the agency, and interventions are extremely ad hoc. Need to develop practical and operational guides for humanitarian agencies on internalising gender considerations. Need to develop practical and operational guides for humanitarian agencies on internalising gender considerations. Supported with concerted efforts on awareness raising and capacity building of humanitarian agencies in order to institutionalize gender aspects. Supported with concerted efforts on awareness raising and capacity building of humanitarian agencies in order to institutionalize gender aspects.

15. Suggestions for ALNAP membership to consider Bring institutionalising gender concerns in the humanitarian practice to the ALNAP agenda Bring institutionalising gender concerns in the humanitarian practice to the ALNAP agenda Ways of building the capacities of humanitarian planners and workers on gender sensitive practice Ways of building the capacities of humanitarian planners and workers on gender sensitive practice Research/study gender concerns in varying cultural and social scenarios Research/study gender concerns in varying cultural and social scenarios Develop indicators to monitor and evaluate gender sensitivity of humanitarian programmes Develop indicators to monitor and evaluate gender sensitivity of humanitarian programmes Conduct gender audit of relief operations Conduct gender audit of relief operations

16. THANK YOU Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu ITDG South Asia mmariyabandu@yahoo.com madhavia@itdg.slt.lk