Inter-Agency Standing Committee: Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action
Item ID
{27D5C97E-D31B-4989-9F4B-14DC0C150B63}
UNAgency ID
{2BB9179A-1516-4078-ABF4-E86F3441C113}
Policy Framework
The IASC was established in response to United Nations General Assembly resolution 46/182 on the strengthening of humanitarian assistance. General Assembly resolution 48/57 affirmed its role as the primary mechanism for inter-agency coordination of humanitarian assistance.
Background
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is a unique inter-agency forum for coordination, policy development and decision-making involving the key United Nations and non-United Nations humanitarian partners. Together with the Executive Committee for Humanitarian Affairs, the IASC forms the key strategic coordination mechanism among major humanitarian actors.
According to General Assembly resolution 46/182, the IASC is intended to be composed of all operational organizations and with a standing invitation to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Organization for Migration. Relevant non-governmental organizations can be invited to participate on an ad hoc basis.
In December 2006, the IASC Principals converted the IASC Gender Task Force into a Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action and agreed to support the strategy for integration of gender as a crosscutting issue into the Cluster Approach and into other elements of the humanitarian reform. The IASC Sub-Working Group addresses gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and in humanitarian settings. It is co-chaired by OCHA and WHO. The members of the Task Force are: CARE, FAO, INEE, ICRC, IFRC, IMC, IOM, IRC, NRC, OCHA, OHCHR, Office RSG/IDPs, OSAGI, OXFAM, UNDAW, UNDESA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNMAS, WFP, WHO, and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. Attempts will be made to broaden partnerships and expand membership.
According to General Assembly resolution 46/182, the IASC is intended to be composed of all operational organizations and with a standing invitation to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Organization for Migration. Relevant non-governmental organizations can be invited to participate on an ad hoc basis.
In December 2006, the IASC Principals converted the IASC Gender Task Force into a Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action and agreed to support the strategy for integration of gender as a crosscutting issue into the Cluster Approach and into other elements of the humanitarian reform. The IASC Sub-Working Group addresses gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and in humanitarian settings. It is co-chaired by OCHA and WHO. The members of the Task Force are: CARE, FAO, INEE, ICRC, IFRC, IMC, IOM, IRC, NRC, OCHA, OHCHR, Office RSG/IDPs, OSAGI, OXFAM, UNDAW, UNDESA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNMAS, WFP, WHO, and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. Attempts will be made to broaden partnerships and expand membership.
Resources
Women, Girls, Boys and Men - Different Needs, Equal Opportunities: Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action. 2006
Broken bodies, broken dreams: Violence against women exposed (Book of photography on violence against women)
IASC Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Emergencies: Focusing on Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence. 2005
Broken bodies, broken dreams: Violence against women exposed (Book of photography on violence against women)
IASC Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Emergencies: Focusing on Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence. 2005
Mail Address
8-14, avenue de la Paix. 1211 Geneva 10. Switzerland
Areas of Work
The work of the IASC Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Assistance focuses on the implementation of a 5 point strategy which is reviewed yearly and revised as needed.
The 5 key objectives for 2008 were to:
*Implement gender and gender-based violence (GBV) standards contained in guidance documents produced by the SWG.
*Build capacity of humanitarian actors on gender issues including gender-based violence (GBV) and deploy experts on gender and GBV in emergencies.
*Get the right data by encouraging the collection and use of sex and age disaggregated data for decision-making.
*Build partnerships with NGOs for increased and more consistent gender equality programming in crises.
*Strengthen accountability systems on gender and GBV in humanitarian action.
The following key objectives were identified for the work of the IASC SWG in 2009:
*Continuation of roll out of key Sub-Working Group Documents, including the “Women, Girls, Boys and Men, Different Needs – Equal Opportunities” Handbook and Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings in a coordinated manner and in several languages.
*Build capacity of humanitarian actors on gender issues, including gender-based violence.
*Support collection and use of sex and age disaggregated data (SADD) for decision-making.
*Build partnerships with non-governmental organizations for increased and more consistent gender equality programming in crises.
*Strengthen accountability systems on gender and gender-based violence in humanitarian action.
*Strengthen mechanisms for integrating gender and gender-based violence into the work of relevant clusters and other coordination mechanisms including at the regional level.
The 5 key objectives for 2008 were to:
*Implement gender and gender-based violence (GBV) standards contained in guidance documents produced by the SWG.
*Build capacity of humanitarian actors on gender issues including gender-based violence (GBV) and deploy experts on gender and GBV in emergencies.
*Get the right data by encouraging the collection and use of sex and age disaggregated data for decision-making.
*Build partnerships with NGOs for increased and more consistent gender equality programming in crises.
*Strengthen accountability systems on gender and GBV in humanitarian action.
The following key objectives were identified for the work of the IASC SWG in 2009:
*Continuation of roll out of key Sub-Working Group Documents, including the “Women, Girls, Boys and Men, Different Needs – Equal Opportunities” Handbook and Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings in a coordinated manner and in several languages.
*Build capacity of humanitarian actors on gender issues, including gender-based violence.
*Support collection and use of sex and age disaggregated data (SADD) for decision-making.
*Build partnerships with non-governmental organizations for increased and more consistent gender equality programming in crises.
*Strengthen accountability systems on gender and gender-based violence in humanitarian action.
*Strengthen mechanisms for integrating gender and gender-based violence into the work of relevant clusters and other coordination mechanisms including at the regional level.
Agency Type
Title
Inter-Agency Standing Committee: Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action