Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls

A woman writes on a notebook, while a woman and a man appear to be talking.
An OCHA team from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund interview Hawa Osman Ibrahim (centre ) the camp leader of Biliil settlement for displaced people in Baidoa, Somalia. Hawa is involved in the entire decision-making process related to projects made possible by the fund. OCHA/Yao Chen

Promoting gender equality is central to the humanitarian community’s commitment to protect and provide assistance to people affected by emergencies. Humanitarian planning and assistance must contribute to gender equality by effectively identifying and responding to the distinct and differential needs, capabilities and priorities of women, girls, boys and men in all their diversity. 
 

Humanitarian crises are not gender neutral

Conflicts, disasters and humanitarian emergencies impact women, girls, boys and men differently. Gender, age, and socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds are some factors that affect how people are affected by a crisis. Women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, persons with diverse gender identity and sexual orientation, older persons and adolescent girls often have additional and intersecting vulnerabilities.

In times of crisis, pre-existing gender inequality can be exacerbated, which leads to discrimination and exploitation. It also impacts an individual’s access to humanitarian, recovery and development assistance, and to human rights. Historically, women and girls have been disproportionately affected by crises in comparison to their male counterparts.

 

Facts and figures

About one in three women worldwide has experienced at least one form of gender-based violence (GBV), with higher rates in conflict- or crisis-affected countries.

 

Adolescent girls in conflict areas are 90 per cent more likely to be out of school compared to girls in conflict-free regions.

 

Sixty per cent of preventable maternal mortality deaths take place in conflict, displacement and disaster settings. Every day, at least 500 women and adolescent girls die from pregnancy and childbirth complications in emergencies.

 

Women and girls account for more than half of the world’s internally displaced people, and in many cases at much higher rates than men. For example, in 2022, 82 per cent of the internally displaced people in Somalia were women and children.

OCHA’s role in gender equality

As the coordinator of global emergency assistance, OCHA plays a unique role in ensuring that coherent responses to emergencies are pivoted on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Throughout each response, we integrate gender into all areas of our core mandate, guided by our key gender priorities. 

The Gender Unit represents OCHA and engages in different gender equality forums and processes:

 

OCHA gender policy

OCHA’s gender policy focuses on three priorities: 

  1. Drive robust gender analysis: 
    Gender analysis helps us to understand the implications of any planned action for women, girls, men and boys of different ages and backgrounds. Facilitated by the collection and use of sex- and age-disaggregated data, such analysis not only provides a more complete picture of people’s vulnerabilities, needs and capabilities, but also an understanding of gender roles and power dynamics within communities. This in turn helps to ensure more targeted humanitarian planning and response, and that humanitarian interventions do not perpetuate existing inequalities. 
     
  2. Enhance women’s meaningful participation in humanitarian decision-making: 
    To address the lack of women’s voices, perspectives and representation, the meaningful participation and leadership of women, including women-led organizations, is promoted at all levels of humanitarian action.
     
  3. Prioritize prevention and mitigation of and response to GBV: 
    OCHA aims to tackle the root causes of GBV by addressing the power structures that perpetuate violence; ensuring adequate responses; promoting funding to women-led organizations; and providing protection and services for survivors as a life-saving priority.

Gender-based violence is any harmful act perpetrated against a person’s will based on socially ascribed gender differences. It includes acts that inflict or threaten physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering, coercion and other deprivations of liberty, in public or private. Gender-based violence can happen to anyone, but it predominantly impacts women and girls.

OCHA ensures synergies between our protection and participation priorities that aim to address power and inequalities. Our gender equality efforts complement ongoing efforts to achieve gender parity among staff, and our commitments on protection against sexual exploitation and abuseaccountability to affected people, diversity and inclusion.