Key facts and figures, initiatives, progress, challenges, needs and opportunities related to gender equality and women’s empowerment in the context of the Nepal earthquake emergency response.
Ensuring a gender-responsive humanitarian effort involves acknowledging the different needs of women, men, girls and boys and promoting their equal opportunities. However, pre-existing gender inequality, as evidenced through discrimination, violence and exclusion, means that during times of disasters and conflict, women and girls bear the brunt of the crisis. Displacement, over-crowded centresfor the internally displaced, lack of privacy, lack of lighting, limited and unsegregated wash facilities, hegemonic masculinity crises and other factors can often contribute to an increase in incidences of sexual violence against women and girls. Higher levels of violence against women and girlsin turn greatly increase the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and complications for reproductive health. Many women, especially the disabled, elderly and female heads of households, are at risk of being overlooked when it comes to accessing relief and recovery assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake. This is the result of several obstacles such as lack of access to information, having to walk for long periods to receive aid, and having to continue to perform household chores. Notably, the high demand of women’s time, due to existing gender norms, is intensified in times of emergencies and negatively impacts on their opportunities to seek livelihoods opportunities and equally contribute to the response. An issue of particular concern relates to the lack or loss of documentation (incl. citizenship papers) which, in the absence of a male relative, renders many women unable to access humanitarian assistance and support. Female-headed households may be at a further disadvantage in terms of clearing rubble, salvaging materials and repairing their homes. At the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held on May 13, the member states emphasised the importance of integrating a gender perspective in the Nepal earthquake response, as well as ensuring women take an active and equal role in all relevant aspects related to disaster management and rehabilitation.
According to the 2011 census figures, the 14 districts most affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on 25 April (Bhaktapur, Dhading, Dolakha, Gorkha, Kavrepalanchwok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur,
Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchwok, Makawanpur, Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga) include approximately:
2,710,239 women (50.5% of total population)
326,943 female-headed households (26.5% of all households)
39,987 women with disabilities
163,043 women aged 65 and over (6% of total female population)
764,226 girls aged 14 or under (28% of total female population)
794,529 illiterate women (29% of total female population).
In the Gorkha district, the epicentre of the earthquake, the ratio of households that are headed by women is as high as one-third.
Approx. 55% of casualties identified as female - 8,604 people (4,726 female, 3,834 male, 44 bodied unidentified).
According to UN estimates outlined in the Flash Appeal approximately:
3.2 million women are among the population affected by protection concerns.
525,000 are women of reproductive age
126,000 pregnant women
21,000 of whom will need obstetric care in the coming three months.
40,000 women are at immediate risk of gender-based violence.
Sex-disaggregated district-level data received so far shows that women are among the majority of the earthquake affected populations:
Kavre: 46 boys, 58 girls, 86 men and 123 women have died.
Sindhupalchok: 92 boys, 84 girls, 384 men and 592 women have died.
Rasuwa: 251 cases revealed that 62% of deaths and 59% of injured were women.