GENDER EQUALITY UPDATE for the flood response

Although the legal frameworks of Nepal largely support gender equality and social inclusion, various social norms and discriminatory practices have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable and marginalized populations when disaster strikes.

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Integrating gender equality, social inclusion approach is critical for effectiveness and accountability to affected populations. Women and girls, and the most marginalised and vulnerable groups– single women, female headed households, persons living with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI), senior citizens, children, caste and ethnicity-based minorities – are particularly impacted and in need of targeted support to ensure equitable access to and benefit from relief, services and information. Notably, opportunities to transform gender relations through the leadership and empowerment of women in their role as decision makers and economic actors are often missed elements of humanitarian response, despite the fact it is key to the response’s effectiveness and for the longer-term resilience of communities.

According to analysis undertaken by UN Women based on the 2011 Population Census, out of the total estimated 1.07 million affected people in the ten most affected districts, 541,102 are women and girls (50.4%). An estimated 6,656 are women with disabilities out of a total 10,736 persons with disabilities.

Further, 18% of the affected households are female headed, i.e. approx. 34,509 households.
UNFPA further estimates that some 268,404 are women of reproductive age, of which around 21,000 are pregnant. The next three months will likely see around 6,700 pregnant women experience complications requiring emergency obstetric care.

Anecdotal reports from the flood affected districts reveal that women and girls, including the most marginalised and vulnerable groups are particularly impacted and in need of targeted support to ensure equitable access to and benefit from relief, services and information. The humanitarian flood response must ensure that the different situations, needs, risks, priorities and capacities of women, men, girls, boys and transgender populations across all diversities, and of those exposed to multiple vulnerabilities, are addressed when designing, planning, costing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating humanitarian response efforts.

Original source: United Nations.
Posted on 4 September 2017.