Attachments
U.S. Leadership to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies
The Obama Administration has made the empowerment and protection of women and girls a central part of U.S. foreign policy and national security. The launch of the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, implementation of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally, each backed by an Executive Order, and release of the United States Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity are evidence of the Administration’s sustained commitment to these issues.
Throughout the world, we continue to see the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) increase when disasters or conflicts strike. The State Department and USAID have long recognized these threats, and support programming to protect and empower women and girls in humanitarian crises. Since 2000, the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has provided more than $86 million in targeted assistance to prevent and respond to GBV in humanitarian emergencies, and that figure continues to grow. PRM also supports women and families by prioritizing the provision of sexual and reproductive health services as part of our broader humanitarian response through supporting the work of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other key partners.
In FY 2013 alone, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), part of USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA), provided nearly $12 million in funding for GBV programs. These resources supported 25 programs designed to prevent and/or respond to GBV in nine countries affected by natural disasters or conflicts, as well as eight global programs to increase capacity for GBV prevention and response and advance program innovations and learning for addressing GBV in emergencies. OFDA also requires all of its programs to design and implement assistance activities in ways that reduce the risks and impact of exploitation and abuse, including GBV. This ensures that protection and gender mainstreaming are addressed in all sector interventions.