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New report shows that gender-based violence increases after disasters
Kuala Lumpur, July 24, 2018 – More needs to be done to protect women, men and children from sexual and gender-based violence after disasters, say authors of a new report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
The report entitled The Responsibility to Prevent and Respond to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Disasters and Crises show increased risk of harassment, child marriage, sexual abuse, domestic violence and trafficking in Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines.
Xavier Castellanos, IFRC Asia-Pacific Regional Director, said, "Research in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and sexual and gender-based violence is increasing after disasters, but there is little 39, studies focused on low-income countries
"This report begins to fill this gap. To our knowledge, it is also the first time that anyone studies the risks of sexual and gender-based violence for men, boys, sexual minority groups such as gay men and boys, lesbians and transgender people.
This report is based on household surveys and focus groups involving 1,800 people affected by disasters in Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines.
In all countries, community members were upset by domestic violence and child marriage. One-third of respondents in the Philippines said women and girls felt shocked by the rise in child marriage after a disaster. People were also concerned about trafficking, overcrowding and lack of support for lesbians, gays, transsexuals, intersex and homosexuals after disasters.
In Indonesia, only 3% of problems such as domestic violence, sexual harassment in temporary housing and lack of inclusion for people with disabilities. In Laos, 43% of those surveyed heard of a person in need of medical care for trauma related to domestic violence after a disaster. Twenty-seven percent were aware of someone who had been raped as a result of a disaster.
The IFRC's Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Advisor and lead author of the report, Ms. Priyanka Bhalla, said, "Unfortunately, all communities face an increase in sexual and gender-based violence after disasters. The girls most at risk were teenagers, followed by adolescent boys and older women. The effects often threatened the lives of the survivors and affected the daily lives, dignity, rights, livelihoods and health of the survivors.
Although one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during her life, the risk increases. The report calls on governments, aid agencies and communities to protect the population by ensuring that evacuation centers have separate spaces for women and men, separate toilets and toilets. lockable. and adequate lighting. Disaster responders should improve coordination and collaboration. They should collaborate with local agencies specializing in the treatment and support of victims of sexual violence. In the longer term, all stakeholders need to address the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence, which are gender inequality and abuse of power.
Responsibility to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence during disasters and crises as a result of collaboration between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Working Group on Prevention and Mitigation of the Disaster Management Committee (ACDM) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It contains convincing recommendations for change, which the IFRC has already started to implement
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Note: Globally, one in three women experiences physical and / or sexual violence during their lifetime (WHO , 2013). The majority of this violence is between partners. Nearly 750 million women and girls living today were married before the age of 18 (UNICEF, 2017). Sexual violence against men and boys has been reported in 25 conflict-affected countries over the past decade (ODI, 2014), and sexual minority groups are also at risk because of high levels of sexual violence. discrimination they face.
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