Hearing the Voice of Women in Commemorating International Humanitarian Day

In commemorating the International Humanitarian Day, The Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection is working together with UNFPA under the coordination of BAPPENAS (National Development Planning Agency) to hold a seminar and workshop themed, "Women Humanitarian Workers" on September 2 2019 in Jakarta. Our fellow, Suryani Amin, had the opportunity to attend this insightful event amongst other selected participants. Within the seminar and workshop, there are several research results delivered. First, there is rapid assessment on gender-based violence (GBV) during the emergency period in Palu, Sigi Donggala, Central Sulawesi (November 2018 - “ January 2019), and second is the gender review 6 months after the disaster in Central Sulawesi.

Regarding the GBV, the research found various types of GBV, such as rape/rape attempt, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, child marriage and forced marriage. The GBV challenges during emergency period is that it is seen as sensitive issue and considered as private, thus making it undocumented, unprocessed and left unfinished. The lack of awareness and understanding on GBV and women's rights making GBV in emergency period less prioritised. The handling mechanisms of GBV has not yet been optimal as well, thus the recommendations given to prevent GBV during the emergency period are amongst: policy recommendation, mental health services recommendation, and recommendation on data system improvements. Within each of the recommendations, there are steps on how to manage the humanitarian aid in transparency and accountability, integrating disaster mitigation, prevention and treatment of GBV during the emergency period, strengthening the capacity of several institutions providing multisectoral service, and improving documentation.

There are some aspects and gender study being studied on 6 months after disaster. First, the impact caused by the disaster on the difference of vulnerability and capacity between women and men. Second, the integration and gender mainstreaming in the response of disaster in central Sulawesi. Lastly, the capacity of The Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in implementing the effect of gender mainstreaming. Several findings include the rise of women's workload in some places and the changes of gender roles within the household, the quality and services that have not yet recovered back to normal, limited and not evenly distributed aid for women, the rise of violence towards women and children, gaps between the gender mainstreaming policy and its implementation, and uneven capacity in understanding gender and gender mainstreaming within The Agency of Women Empowerment and Child Protection as newly-established institution.

As recommendation to follow-up on the local government, the gender studies suggests to strengthen the sub-cluster on women's rights protection, the structure of gender mainstreaming, the capacity of The Agency of Women Empowerment and Child Protection on the province level and within four impacted areas, technical support for the regional organisations to conduct gender mainstreaming act, and lastly budget commitment for gender mainstreaming during the rehabilitation and reconstruction period. Meanwhile, other recommendations to follow-up on non-government institutions and UN agencies are to strengthen the gender exploratory on reducing disaster risks, supporting the creation of gender exploratory tools that could be integrated into the formal post-disaster exploratory<br/>tools, creating pool of gender and disaster risk reduction experts, supporting education and training on gender as well as embracing women to be the decision makers in disaster risk reduction resolutions.

Prepared by : Suryani Amin

Translated by : Sarah Adhitya