Five months into the earthquake, gender issues continue to impact safe and equal access to resources. Single women, widows, unmarried women, young girls and boys, elderly and women with disabilities have been disproportionately impacted by the disaster. Acess to services, programmes and information has varied between different population groups including along lines of gender, ethnicity, physical ability, age and sexual orientation – women, for example, have been starkly challenged due to non-availability of documentation to access relief, less access to or benefits from livelihood interventions, risks of sexual exploitation, increased work hours, less time to rest as well higher levels of domestic violence Increased use of drugs, alcohol, self- harm and separation of families are some of the negative coping mechanisms adopted by men and families. At the same time, the disaster has also challenged traditional gender roles with women needing to take decisions and negotiate in the public space, opening up opportunities to addressing long standing discrimination and power structures.
With September 30, 2015 marking the closure of the Flash Appeal, it is important that these issues, concerns and opportunities are not overlooked in the transition process and reconstruction planning. The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) guidance committed to by the Government of Nepal offers the framework for such an inclusive approach.
The following are key considerations to ensure gender equality and women empowerment principles inform the transition process. This guidance is informed by IASC commitments to mainstream gender in humanitarian action, Government of Nepal relevant policy and guidelines such as GESI and the National Disaster Response Framework, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (United Nations); as well builds on recommendations on gender equality and social inclusion made in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (2015).