Violence In Disasters English 1up

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TABLE OF CONTENTSPREFACE .........................................................................4

OVERVIEW .......................................................................6

A PREDICTABLE PROBLEM .............................................8

WHY VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN DISASTERS .................10

PROFILE: HONDURAS ...................................................12

PROFILE: HAITI ..............................................................16

THE CONSEQUENCES OF COMPLACENCY ...................19

BARRIERS TO TAKING ACTION ......................................19USING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH ...........................20

PROFILE: CANADA.........................................................22

BEST PRACTICES FOR ACTION ......................................24

PROFILE: INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION,AMERICAS ZONE ...........................................................28

CONCLUSION ................................................................32

RESOURCES ..................................................................33

HECTOR EMANUEL, AMERICAN RED CROSS

PREDICTABLE, PREVENTABLE



PREFACEIn our world, disasters continue to disrupt and damage landscapes and human lives.Often in the aftermath, people unite spontaneously with compassion and generosity.Despite personal trials, people of all ages volunteer to help those who are ailing, com-

munities come together and countless acts of remarkable humanity take place. Yet, assurvivors regain their footing, seek shelter and livelihoods, and try to rebuild, they facemany hurdles. Among these, but often unspoken and secret, is the devastation causedby the violence that can follow disasters. People’s safety and security become under-mined not only by the disaster but also by violence in the forms of abuse, exploitation,harassment, discrimination and rejection from other survivors and those who are sup-posed to help.Violence exists in each corner of the world — in low,medium and high income countries, in urban slums,school classrooms, behind the locked doors of homesand institutions and through technology — and it can

boil to a peak in disasters. Again and again in disastersthe risk of violence — people hurting other people,or people hurting themselves — intensifies as fragileprotective systems become strained or even collapse,stress levels soar, and people engage in harmful orexploitive behaviour. Populations that already face thehighest risks, such as children and women, becomeeven more threatened. A woman is attacked at dusk asshe seeks shelter in a crowded camp. A girl is forcedto trade her body to feed her family. A boy is beaten,as others watch in silence, and then abandoned in afrightening and lonely environment. A gang steals fromand threatens people in a shelter. A father loses hislivelihood and unleashes his sense of shame and angeron his family. An elderly man’s despair leads him to takehis own life. Stories like these are common in disasters;this is not acceptable.

Yet, for all the challenges, the International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) isnot without solutions. Violence, while complex and

frustrating, is not inevitable. In fact, like the risk of othepublic health crises such as cholera, respiratory ill-nesses, measles, malaria and lack of nourishment thatcan escalate in disasters, violence can be contained,

curbed and ultimately prevented. The ability of violenceto thrive on ignorance, secrecy, denial and the chaos ofdisasters can be thwarted.

This report provides best practices to address violenceduring and after disasters and challenges us, as disas-ter responders, to respond to this problem in all of ourwork through early and proactive action, using a publichealth approach.

The International Federation has an essential role andmany assets to tip the scales in favour of safety: ourFundamental Principles, dedicated local volunteers,networks of diverse partnerships including auxiliariesto government, a recognized role as leading disasterresponders, and a history of facing down troublesomeplagues to humanity. Now we must acknowledge thepredictable and preventable problem of violence indisasters, accelerate our action, and influence others toalso respond. Now is the time to translate this commit-ment from an aspiration into a reality.

Conrad SauvéSecretary GeneralCanadian Red CrossSociety

Bekele GeletaSecretary GeneralInternational Federationof Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies

PREDICTABLE, PREVENTABLE4



CHRISTOPHER BLACK, IFRC




OVERVIEWThis advocacy report encourages making the prevention of interpersonal and self-directedviolence a priority within the International Federation’s response to disasters. The aim isnot to eradicate all endemic social problems during a disaster response, but to contain

and reduce the risk of violence so it does not escalate and to create an environment whereprevention is eventually possible. Whether through food distribution, building shelter,providing clean water, generating livelihoods, giving medical treatment or mobilizing communities on health or psychosocial issues, violence prevention needs to be a cross-cuttingissue that is part of the responsibility, vision and action of all disaster responders.This report highlights why and howinterpersonal and self-directedviolence during and after disas-ters is a predictable and prevent-able problem and the actionsthe International Federation and

its partner agencies should taketo have a more engaged role inaddressing the problem:

The risk of violence in disastersincreases due to a combination ofshocks.Shocks including the collapse ofprotective systems, increasedindividual and community stress,individuals relying on harmful copingmechanisms such as alcohol anddrugs, and crowded and insecureenvironments present opportunitiesfor people to misuse their power.

Vulnerable groups face multiplethreats.Although it is often hidden and keptsecret, people with pre-existingvulnerabilities to violence, such aschildren, women and others whoare marginalized, have a com-pounded risk: first suffering thedisaster and its consequences,then the risk of violence and, finally,a lack of care and protection whenthey try to get help.

The risk of violence needs tobe addressed through a publichealth approach and must bemade a priority.In disasters, the risk of violenceneeds to be monitored and

responded to with the sameurgency, attention and resourcesas other preventable public healthemergencies such as diarrhealdisease, respiratory illnesses,malaria, measles and malnutrition.All sectors and actors in a disasterresponse have a role to play inaddressing the problem; theresponse is strengthened if theyall use a public health approach.

Best practices to address violencecan be implemented across thedisaster management cycle.Disaster preparedness: Violenceprevention needs to be integratedinto the internal systems — includ-ing response tools and education— of disaster response organiza-tions. Community organizations andlocal partners involved in disasterresponses should be identified andsupported in building their violence

prevention capacity.

Disaster response and recovery: Violence prevention must be pri-oritized, responded to rapidly andincluded in surveillance and mon-itoring. Awareness of the risks ofviolence should be made widely

available, in combination withhumanitarian diplomacy, to high-level authorities. Existing communitstrengths to prevent violence shouldbe recognized and supported.

Long-term recovery and develop-ment: Programs to prevent violenceshould be implemented usingpragmatic, evidence-based, com-munity-owned and comprehensiveapproaches.

Cross-cutting issues: For violenceprevention to be effectively inte-grated it needs to include beneficiaryaccountability, leadership, genderperspectives, involvement of chil-dren and youth, and integration intoexisting systems and tools, and itshould build in monitoring, evalua-tion and secure budgets.




The best practices in this reportreinforce the InternationalFederation’s Strategy 2020 — inparticular strategic aims one andthree, which focus on saving lives,protecting livelihoods, strengtheningrecovery from disasters andcrises and promoting culturesof non-violence and peace thatcontribute to lowering levels ofviolence. This report also providespractical options for applying theInternational Federation’s Strategy

on Violence Prevention, Mitigation

and Response , specificallystrategic direction one: Issues ofviolence prevention, mitigationand response are integratedinto the assessments, planning,development, implementation,monitoring and evaluation stages ofappropriate initiatives for disasterand crises preparedness, responseand recovery programming .

The report provides an overview ofthe problem of violence in disasters,the risk factors that cause increasesin violence following disasters, andthe humanitarian consequencesthat result. The report also high-lights concrete actions that canbe taken to address violence, andprofiles examples of challenges,innovations and successes in linkingviolence prevention, as a cross-cutting issue, across disaster pro-gramming from Red Cross National

Societies in the Americas.

AMERICAS

DISASTERPREPAREDNESS

DISASTER RECOVERYAND DEVELOPMENT

DISASTERRESPONSE

VIOLENCEPREVENTION




A PREDICTABLE PROBLEMInterpersonal violence occurs when one person uses his or her power, in any setting,to cause harm physically, sexually or psychologically to another person or group of people.Interpersonal violence encompasses child abuse, family violence, gender-based violence,

bullying and harassment, elder abuse, and community violence such as gang violence.For each act of interpersonal violence there is a person inflicting violence, a target orvictim/survivor of the violence, and often bystanders who watch, hear or know of the violenSelf-directed violence occurs when someone causes harm to oneself, and includes suicide.Each day, 4,200 people die from vio-lence (1.6 million per year); of theseapproximately 2,300 die from suicide,1,500 from interpersonal violenceand 400 from collective violence(such as war).i Each year, 16 millioncases of injury due to violence are

severe enough to receive medicalattention in hospitals. ii For everyyoung person killed by violence, anestimated 20–40 receive injuriesthat require hospital treatment. iii The number of people who experi-ence interpersonal and self-directedviolence in their lifetimes is in thehundreds of millions.iv

Violence, in its various forms, isamong the most prominent causesof mortality in the world — higherthan tuberculosis, road accidentsor malaria.v However, violence

prevention has not yet received thesame urgency in attention, resourcesand support as other public healthpriorities. This is especially true indisaster situations where people whosurvive the initial trauma are oftenrevictimized through violence.

In measuring the magnitude ofviolence, mortality rates show animportant, but incomplete, picture ofthe problem. The impact of violenceis not just defined by loss of humanlife. It is also manifested in the last-ing harm that comes from injury, dis-ability, trauma, illness, as well as lessvisible impacts such as loss of hope,trust and self-worth.

TheInternational Federation’s

2007 World Disasters Report noted“Disaster after disaster produ-ces irrefutable evidence that with

displacement — be it as a result ofnatural hazards or conflict — therisks of physical abuse to women agirls rises substantially.” vi Althoughcollecting hard data on the mag-nitude of interpersonal violenceis challenging in any context, and

reporting is complicated by theshame, stigma and secretive natureof sexual, physical and psychologiviolence, certain trends are clear.Numerous sources confirm that following disasters, the rates of violendisclosed in surveys, reported toauthorities and non-governmentalagencies, and through calls madeto crisis lines increase.vii Taken as awhole, the evidence is clear: the risof violence is predictable.

IFRC




DATA ON VIOLENCE INDISASTERS IN THE AMERICASHaitiAfter the earthquake in 2010, reports based on

assessments from a number of Haitian and inter-national agencies revealed that interpersonal vio-lence, especially sexual violence, within the campsfor internally displaced people (IDP) in Port-au-Princeposed an extreme humanitarian threat. The threat washighest for children (girls and boys) and women, withthe risk continuing even one and a half years after theearthquake. In one survey, 14 percent of women in theIDP camps reported one or more experiences of sexualviolence since the disaster.viii

Another study found that 60 percent of women andgirls interviewed said that they feared sexual violenceagainst them or members of their household; the samestudy found that 70 percent of respondents reportedfearing sexual violence more now than before theearthquake. ix

A study from the United Nations High Commissioner forRefugees (UNHCR) found women and adolescent girlsengaging in transactional sex — where sex is exchangedfor access to protection, food, health care or other basicservices — within IDP camps in Port-au-Prince waswidespread more than one year after the earthquake,and was exacerbated by precarious and vulnerableconditions. Of the women and girls who participated inthe study, 100 percent had been directly involved in orwitness to transactional sex. x

CaribbeanFor two years after volcanic eruptions in Montserrat in1997, there was an increase in hospital visits allegedlydue to violence.xi

Following Hurricane Noel in the Dominican Republic in2007, there was a documented increase in the reportingof sexual violence against women and girls living instorm shelters. xii

NicaraguaAfter Hurricane Mitch in 1998, there were increasedallegations of domestic violence.xiii

27 percent of female survivors and 21 percent of malesurvivors reported that violence against women in

families and communities had increased followingHurricane Mitch.xiv

United States of AmericaIn 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit the states ofLouisiana and Mississippi, allegations of intimate part-ner violence in the affected areas increased up to threetimes the national rate. xvThere was also an increase inallegations of emotional and physical violence found inLouisiana.xvi

In 1999, six months after Hurricane Floyd inNorth Carolina, brain injuries were five times more

common in the areas hardest hit by the disaster.The researchers concluded the increase was dueto elevated stress among parents, leading to higherincidence of child abuse.xvii

During the 1993 Missouri floods, there was a rise indemand for protective services for women. The averagestate turn-away rate at domestic violence sheltersin flood-impacted areas rose 111 percent over thepreceding year. Women’s services reported sheltering400 percent more women and children from violencethan they had anticipated. xviii

After Hurricane Hugo struck South Carolina in 1989,allegations of child abuse increased at three, six and11 months after the hurricane, compared to the previousyear. In the first three months there was a nearly300 percent increase in allegations of child abuse.xix

In California, the Santa Cruz Sex Assault team reportedthat sexual assaults increased after the 1989 LomaPrieta earthquake by 300 percent and there was a600 percent increase in domestic violence reportsduring the first four months following the earthquake.xx

The research findings represent specific exampleswhere the problem has been examined. However, overall,the response to violence from disaster respondersremains limited, uneven, of uncertain quality, and react-ive rather than strategic and proactive. In many disastersituations the predictable risks and actions to addressviolence continue to be neglected.




WHY VIOLENCEESCALATES IN DISASTERSSocial determinantsThere is no single factor that puts people at risk ofinterpersonal or self-directed violence during and afterdisasters. Rather, people hurt other people and hurtthemselves due to a harmful mixture of complex riskfactors, or social determinants, between individuals andwithin their families, communities and societies. Theseexist before a disaster happens and intensify duringdisasters. The combination of the social determinantsvaries in each unique place and their intensity shifts asthe situation on the ground changes.

While there are many variables that increase the risk ofviolence during a disaster, common underlying social

determinants include → gender- and age-based inequalities and discrimination,→ social isolation and exclusion,→ harmful use of alcohol and other substances,→ income inequality,→ lack of protection systems, and→ misuse of power.

Prevention efforts that address these common factorsthus have the potential to decrease the occurrence ofmultiple forms of violence. While these factors increasethe risk of violence during or following a disaster, itshould be emphatically clear that disasters themselvesdo not cause violence.

In essence, during disasters a combination of negativeshocks reinforces one another. Social and communitysupport systems become strained, stress upon familiesand individuals begins to reach a boiling point, peopleresort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as sub-stance abuse, those who are marginalized are pushedfurther to the margins and become more desperate anddependent, and protective mechanisms are either non-existent, overstretched or under enforced. This results inthe increased likelihood of people losing self-control ormisusing power to take advantage of others.

JOSÉ MANUEL JIMENEZ, IFRC




Figure: Social Determinants in Disasters that Increase the Risksfor Self-Directed and Interpersonal Violence xxi

History of violence Disabilities from the

disaster Relationship, material

and livelihood lossesfrom the disaster

Psychological trauma Increased stress Pyschological/personal-

ity disorder Alcohol/substance abuse Separation from family Socially excluded/

marginalized

Access to lethal means/ weapons Victim of child

maltreatment Lack of prevention

education

History of violence Injuries from the disaster Loss of family members Harmful parenting

practices Increased stress on

family members Tensions from changes

in family roles andresponsibilities

Alcohol/substance

misuse Lack of informal support

systems from family andfriends

Lack of preventioneducation

Poverty Limited access to basic

needs High unemployment High crime levels Inadequate victim care

services Insecure and crowdeddisplacement settings

Weak protection systems Lack of prevention

education

Poverty Economic disparities Weak economic safety

nets Gender inequality Age inequality Lack of protection laws Poor rule of law Cultural norms that sup-

port violence Access to lethal means/

weapons

INDIVIDUAL INTIMATERELATIONSHIPS COMMUNITY SOCIETY/

CULTURE




“WITHOUT APPROPRIATE MANAGE-MENT, DISASTER SHELTERS AREAT RISK OF BECOMING INSECURESPACES, EXPOSING FAMILIES TOVARIOUS RISKS. THIS AGGRAVATESTHE TRAUMA OF FAMILIES WHOARE ALREADY COPING WITH THEPHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICALEFFECTS OF THE DISASTER.”Maria Elisa Alvarado, Director General,Honduran Red Cross

Since 1998, the Honduran Red Crosshas been involved in numerous

responses to hurricanes, droughtand a 2009 earthquake. Much of itslearning about violence followingdisasters comes from the experi-ence of managing shelters followingHurricane Mitch, a devastating hur-ricane that swept through CentralAmerica in 1998, with estimates ofover ten thousand people killed andover two million made homeless.

“At the request of the govern-

ment, the Red Cross took over themanagement of shelters housing1,372 families (6,676 people),” recallsMaria Elisa Alvarado, Director Generalof the Honduran Red Cross. An aver-age of 600 families (3,600 people)remained in the Tegucigalpa sheltersfor three and a half years. “Given thetransitory nature of how people lived,and the difficult urban environment,we saw a number of social problemssuch as family violence and gang

violence which caused insecurity, andwere exacerbated by the crowdedconditions.”

Sheltered families came from dif-ferent low-income neighbourhoodsand living quarters, each sufferingthe loss of family members andbelongings, and facing great chal-lenges to recovery. In the shelters,the situation worsened because ofcrowding and a lack of communitystructures. Gangs took advantageof the situation, with tragic conse-quences: there were 18 murdersinside the shelters. “Violence wasthe product of a lack of economicopportunities, educational andorganizational resources, and poorsecurity,” says Alvarado.

The Honduran Red Cross workedwith the Spanish Red Cross andother organizations to address theissues in the shelters. “We madedealing with this situation a priority,and took a much more active role incommunity organizing because werecognized that success in any otherarea was dependent on success inthis,” said Alvarado. They began byidentifying positive leaders in thecommunity and encouraged themto play a role in community projectcommittees. Dialogue and groupcohesion across the leadership ofthe committees was promoted. TheRed Cross also reached out to fam-ilies of gang members and consultedwith experts on Honduran youthgangs to get advice.

Consultation with residents wasdone, in part, by mapping theneeds and perspectives of differentgroups: men, women, youth, chil-dren, and the elderly. This approachof segregating the groups led to amore comprehensive picture of thechallenges people faced, includinggender discrimination, lack of jobs,high cost of basic staples, excessiveconsumption of alcohol, domesticviolence, teen pregnancy and pooreducation.

This focus on facilitating communi-cation and participation paid off,helping shelter residents to breakdown the isolation and begin toaddress, as a community, the prob-lems they faced. According to oneformer resident who played a role inthe shelter committees, the key wasto find the right way to help the shelter residents help themselves: “wewere not looking to have the food puinto our mouths; we needed collab-oration as much as possible to sup-port us in improving the conditionsof our lives.” With greater autonomyand participation, communitiesbecame more resilient, better ableto tolerate their losses and to toler-ate each other in their close livingsituations. “We promoted the idea ofself-management, involving peoplein the planning, management andfacilitation of programming,” notesAlvarado.

PROFILE: HONDURASPREDICTABLE, PREVENTABLE12



FAMILY WHOSE HOME WAS DESTROYED BY HURRICANE MITCH LIVING AT A STADIUM, SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS. \\© SEAN SPRAGUE \\ SPRAGUEPHOTO.COM

The Honduran Red Crossoffers the following lessonslearned:

→ Avoid, as much as possible, mas-sive concentrations of people inone place.

→ Involve communities in the man-agement of shelters and theirprograms; there is an importantrole for the Red Cross in facilitatingand organizing participation,

and ensuring that tasks andresponsibilities are clear.

→ Provide more support andresponse to the conditions ofpeople who are sheltered in hostcommunities.

→ Work directly with communitiesand families to allow opportunitiesfor dialogue around violence, its

risk factors and solutions.→ Seek to ensure that the stay in

shelters is as short as possible

and pursue alternatives with theauthorities to normalize the lives ofamilies as quickly as possible.

→ Invest in building the skills ofresponse teams, including recog-nizing the triggers that can lead toviolence.

→ Recognize the need for cap-acity building, awareness and

counselling support to staff andvolunteers.




Environmental/situationalconditionsIn 2009, 42.3 million people wereforced to flee their homes due toconflict, violence and human rightsviolations.xxiiMany of those peoplewere forced into displacementcamps, slums or temporary shelters.

Specific risk factors for violencewithin displacement camps include→ lack of security and policing;→ poor perimeter security;

→ lack of lighting; → inadequate toilets/latrines and

washing facilities in and around

the camps; → lack of privacy while using hygiene

facilities;→ insecure and inadequate shelters;

→ overcrowding/high density; → lack of formal or informal protec-

tion systems; → potential of forced evictions

(often multiple times);→ lack of analysis and understand-

ing of the extent/forms of violencein the immediate aftermath of adisaster; and

→ lack of will among leadership toprioritize violence prevention.

Collapse or strain upon communitysupport and protection systemsIn disasters, formal and informalsupport systems that people rely onin their daily lives to cope with stressand adversities can become strainedor even collapse. As a result, the riskthat stress will be handled in harm-ful ways is elevated.

Factors that can take shape in adisaster include disruptions anda decrease in the availability oraccess to, and the quality and speedof, support provided by govern-ment, civil and non-governmental

agencies;→ breakdown of law and order— impunity;

→ inadequate response from lawenforcement to victims/survivorsand inflictors of violence;

→ few protective measures forsurvivors of violence, puttingpeople at risk of revictimizationand a deficit of support to helpwith physical and psychologicalwounds;

→ no reporting system;→ limited information about the

process to report violence; → family separation, including separ-

ated and orphaned children; → silence from bystanders who

feel unsafe stopping or reportingviolence, do not know what todo, or who believe the violence isacceptable; and

→ exploitation of vulnerabilities bythose in positions of authority.

Lack of violence prevention educa-tion and protection systemsThe degree to which communitiesunderstand violence prevention andprotection systems in advance of adisaster will have an impact on thesafety of individuals and commun-ities during disaster response andrecovery.xxiii

Key gaps often include → lack of education and empower-

ment opportunities made avail-able to beneficiaries;

→ limited education and training todisaster responders;

→ inconsistent screening of disasterresponders to ensure they do notpose a threat to beneficiaries; and

→ deficit of internal systems withinorganizations to create safeenvironments free of violence,including within standard oper-ating procedures for disasterpreparedness, response andrecovery.

Key risk drivers that are common in disaster situations




Compromised access to goods andservicesIn some disaster situations, humani-tarian aid may be present yet accessto it may be compromised. Questionsof who controls access, who facesbarriers to access and why, and whois neglected all become relevantin disasters. A lack of access tohumanitarian aid can create depend-ency on people with harmful inten-tions, which further increases therisks of abuse of power and violence.

Key access issues include→ limited access to livelihoods

and income; → unequal distribution of

humanitarian and emergency aidwithin and between camps;

→ unequal power and social normsthat restrict access to services andsupport for women, children, theelderly and those with disabilities;

→ lack of support for those withmental health issues to accessservices;

→ lack of health care and safeaccess to food, shelter andcooking fuel; and

→ fear of encountering violencewhile accessing goods, servicesor support.

Pre-existing risks of violenceViolence has a catastrophic tollon human beings of all ages,backgrounds, abilities, gendersand beliefs. While anyone can beaffected, some groups of people areat higher risk than others.

In the time of a disaster, groups ofpeople with pre-existing vulnerabil-ities to violence are most threatenedbecause the factors that put themat risk become intensified. In mostcommunities and cultures thesegroups are primarily children andwomen.

Children face disproportionate risksin disasters because they are thesmallest, weakest and most depend-ent members of society. In disastersthis vulnerability is compounded.Children who are separated fromtheir families or become orphanedare the most at risk: their vulner-ability is multiplied by a loss of theircaregivers and the lack of reliableprotection systems in disasters.

Women are not inherently vulner-able but can be made so due tosocial and cultural factors suchas gender-based discriminationand inequalities that may increasein emergencies. The majority ofthose who die in natural disastersare women; women tend to haveless access to essential resourcesfor preparedness, mitigation andrehabilitation.xxiv

Woman can also face high levels ofsexual violence in the aftermath ofdisasters, as well as discriminationwithin the assistance process. xxv

Moreover, violence against womencan grow when men feel threatenedby shifts in power relations causedby women moving from traditionalgender roles to acquiring moreresponsibility and opportunities inrelief and recovery initiatives.xxvi

Gender-based violence is also athreat for men and for people whodo not adhere to traditional genderroles present in their societies. In

addition to gender, other factorsrendering some groups more vul-nerable to violence may includeethnicity, indigenous populations orspecific tribes, skin colour or shade,membership in a class or caste thatis characterized by lower social andeconomic standing, xenophobicstereotypes, immigration statusor internal displacement, sexualorientation, age including the elderlyand youth, disability, or politicalor religious beliefs/affiliation. Anygroup that is viewed by others as“less than”, “different” or “havingreduced human worth” is at greaterrisk of violence.

“VIOLENCE BREAKS UP FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRIES;WATCH THOSE AROUND YOU AND PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY.”RED CROSS SMS VIOLENCE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, HAITI \\ CANADIAN RED CROSS




“FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE, WESAW A GREAT SOLIDARITY BETWEENPEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AMONGSTOUR VOLUNTEERS. HOWEVER WEHAVE ALSO SEEN THAT THE LIVINGCONDITIONS PEOPLE FACE SINCETHE EARTHQUAKE HAVE LED TO ANINCREASE IN VIOLENCE. WE AREWORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS,STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO INTE-GRATE VIOLENCE PREVENTIONACROSS ALL OUR PROGRAMS, ANDINTEGRATE IT INTO THE TRAININGOF OUR VOLUNTEERS.”Dr. Michaële Amédée Gédéon, President,Haitian Red Cross Society

The Haitian Red Cross Society(HRCS), in partnership with theSpanish Red Cross, has worked toreduce levels of violence in com-munities like Bel Air for a num-ber of years. However, followingthe devastating earthquake ofJanuary 12, 2010, this work tookon a new priority. “Violence hasincreased, it is physical, emotional,and sexual…there are many victims,especially the young,” said an HRCScommunity mobilization officer.“There are many problems in thecamps, overcrowding, insufficientlatrines, and many rapes. We seechildren left to themselves, withgirls at particular risk,” added FernaVictor, Branch Development Directorfor the HRCS.

While violence is not new to Haiti,the earthquake increased thevulnerability and risk. “Disaster andviolence go together because onecan cause the other,” notes an HRCSvolunteer. “There are a number offactors that can help promote —or prevent — violence, even indifficult conditions such as ours,”said Dr. Gédéon. “A camp wherethere is light at night is safer thanone where there is not. Some campsare safe spaces, others are not.”

Violence prevention work in Haitihas included practical actions, suchas working with the InternationalFederation to improve lighting in thecamps of La Piste and Annexe de laMairie, and the neighbourhood ofDelmas 30. An SMS/phone text andradio campaign was also launchedproviding

PROFILE: HAITI




information on violence preventionand how victims of violence can gethelp. HRCS leadership also par-ticipated in a Canadian Red Crosshosted three-day “Ten Steps toCreating Safe Environments” train-ing to advance non-violence withinthe HRCS and its programs, anddeveloped an action plan.

“Violence is hidden, it is not easy totalk about,” said one staff member.“This work has given me heart. Thereis too much violence in my country…

With the Red Cross, I can see that thepossibility to reduce violence exists.”

Integrated into the HRCS action plan areconcrete steps to protect volunteers fromviolence such as working in pairs andlearning how to keep themselves safe.Listening to victims of violence and givingthem the help they need are critical aspectsof volunteer training.

Next steps for the HRCS include expandingviolence prevention work across the countryand continuing training for staff andvolunteers in how to protect themselves andothers. Engaging communities in violenceprevention work is also a priority. As one

HRCS volunteer explains, “adults train theyouth, youth train the children, and childrenare our future.”

TALIA FRENKEL, AMERICAN RED CROSS




CECILIA GOIN, IFRC

ABUSE OF POWERBY HUMANITARIANAID WORKERS INDISASTERSReports from around the worldhave shown that even humanitarianaid workers can pose a threat topeople affected by emergencies.Aid workers whose inherent task isto serve the injured, sick, homeless,hungry and unprotected, havebeen alleged to abuse and exploitthe most vulnerable. Allegationscontinue to be made against aidworkers for causing physical injuryand forcing beneficiaries to providesex in exchange for humanitarianservices, basic care and access toresources. xxvii

Over the past decade an alarmingpattern of reports from acrosshumanitarian agencies, especiallyin emergencies, has becomeapparent. This betrayal ofresponsibility requires action fromevery humanitarian agency and

its leadership. The problem hasgenerated attention and action fromhumanitarian agencies, but moremust be done.

Simplified solutions like updatingcodes of conduct are not enough.Humanitarian organizations havea duty of care for those they serve.When violence does occur, breachesneed to be reported with appropriatefollow-up.

The pattern of abuse from aidworkers clearly requires that allhumanitarian agencies address thisproblem in comprehensive ways.Solutions exist; it is now for leadersto ensure they are used.




THE CONSEQUENCESOF COMPLACENCYThe visible and invisible conse-quences of interpersonal and self-directed violence are heightenedwhen those who can take actionremain complacent. Although itis often kept hidden and secret,the hurt from sexual, physical orpsychological violence and neglectcontinues long after buildings havebeen rebuilt, livelihoods generatedand clean water becomes available.Not only can there be immediate physical

injuries and scars, but the damage to emo-tions and self-esteem and the impact on per-sonal relationships can last years or a lifetimeand influence future generations in a family.The list of human impacts of interpersonalviolence, especially against children, is longand includes increasing the risk of substancemisuse and other risk behaviours, low self-esteem, unhealthy relationships, self-harmand suicide, and health conditions such ascancer and heart disease. xxviii

The economic impacts of interpersonaland self-directed violence include costs fortreatment, care and support, legal proceed-ings, and loss of work or school time. Recentresearch on the linkages between violence tocommunity development show that the pace,scale and quality of development is under-mined by violencexxix and has an impact on acountry’s gross domestic product. Economichealth is essential to rebuilding a vibranteconomy that provides employment andmotivation, and generates funds for socialsupport systems.

BARRIERS TO TAKINGACTIONSocial barriersWhile the problem of violence is clear andsolutions are available, there remain barriersat multiple levels that restrict action. A lackof laws, unequal and discriminatory gendernorms, and perceptions of violence as alegitimate option for solving problems can bedeeply embedded in societies and will not berooted out in weeks or months.

Organizational barriersWithin organizations, barriers like complexbureaucratic systems, fear of disclosures,overburdened personnel, lack of funding, lack

of protection systems, programmatic silosthat limit integration of the issues, and a lackof technical guidance are all common. Alsocommon in disasters is a lack of coordina-tion and meaningful communication betweenorganizations.

Individual barriersIndividual barriers such as the emotionalnature of interpersonal and self-directedviolence, beliefs that violence is inevitable,personal experiences and biases, and beingunsure what to do and where to start canhalt or deter action. Barriers for benefici-aries include not being invited to participatein solutions, lacking control over preventionprocesses, economic and other dependen-cies, being unaware of helping resources, andineffectual responses by disaster responders.

Although there are credible tensions thatrequire a particular balance and responsein each disaster, the ultimate compass fordecision making remains the humanitarianimperative to ensure safety. It is generallyaccepted among the human rights communitythat the first priority in a disaster is to protectlife, personal security and the physical integ-rity and dignity of affected populations.xxx




USING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACHTO PRIORITIZE PREVENTIONDisasters driven by theforces of nature are oftenunpredictable and can-not be prevented, yet theirimpact can be reduced.Thus “disaster risk reduc-tion” language is a suit-able paradigm. In contrast,violence is not unpredict-able or shaped by inevit-able forces of nature, evenin disasters. Violence is aproduct of human mindsets,behaviours and the choicesindividuals make of theirfree will.

In the same way that other publichealth crises such as diarrheal dis-ease, respiratory illness, malnutri-tion and the spread of infectiousdisease can be anticipated andaddressed, so can interpersonaland self-directed violence.

Part of the solution lies in theapproach to countering the risk.Countering the risk of violencerequires a move away from reactiveresponses after violence happens toa proactive “upstream” approach to

stop violence from happening in thefirst place.xxxi

A public health approach to violencprevention focuses on a science-based methodology in which→ population-based data is gathered

to describe the problem, its scope,causes and consequences;

→ risk and protective factors aredefined; and

→ research-based interventionsare piloted, measured and thenscaled up.

Even small investments in preven-tion can lead to large and long-

lasting impacts. This is true not onlyin development settings but alsoin situations of emergencies andrecovery.




MOVING FROMPAPER TO PRACTICE:IMPLEMENTINGEXISTING STANDARDS

Preventing violence in disastersis not a new dialogue. Work from anumber of agencies and coalitionsin recent years have promoted theintegration of safety, protectionand violence prevention into thecore practice of humanitarian workin disasters. However, the chal-lenge of moving these standardsfrom paper to practice remains.Below are examples of standards,guidelines and a charter that theInternational Federation has for-mally supported.

The Sphere ProjectHumanitarian Charter andMinimum Standards inHumanitarian ResponseAccording to the Sphere Standards,the rights to protection and secur-ity are cross-cutting and includeprinciples such as avoiding expos-ing people to further harm in dis-

asters due to humanitarian action,ensuring people’s access to impar-tial assistance, protecting peoplefrom physical and psychologicalharm due to violence and coercion,and assisting with accessto remedies and recovery fromabuse. xxxii

Inter-Agency StandingCommittee→ Guidelines for Gender-Based

Violence Interventions inHumanitarian Settings: Theessential message of the guide-lines is: “All humanitarian actorsmust take action, from theearliest stages of an emergency,to prevent sexual violence andprovide appropriate assistance tosurvivors/victims.”xxxiii

→ Guidelines on Mental Healthand Psychosocial Support inEmergency Settings : Theseguidelines help humanitarianactors identify, monitor, preventand respond to protection threatsand failures through socialprotection and to abuses throughlegal protection.xxxiv

Children’s Charter forDisaster Risk ReductionThe development of this charterhas been led by several humani-tarian agencies including PLAN,Save the Children, World Visionand UNICEF. Among its core ele-ments is that child protectionmust be a priority before, duringand after a disaster. xxxv

A public health approach thatrelies on comprehensive preven-

tion strategies, integrates justice,gender, and human rights per-spectives, and aims to reach theentire population through primaryprevention, rather than only somesegments, is required. The designand implementation of preventionprograms and protection systemsneed to acknowledge and lever-age individual and communityresilience so that programs andsystems are “strength-based” andfocus not only on people’s vulner-abilities but also their capacities.

AMANDA GEORGE, BRITISH RED CROSS




“WE ARE REVIEWING OUR RECOV-ERY FRAMEWORK — TRYING TOMOVE FROM THE REACTIVE TOTHE PROACTIVE, NOT JUST PROVID-ING EMERGENCY SERVICES BUTALSO VIOLENCE PREVENTIONAND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT —AND LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICESWITHIN THE MOVEMENT FORRELIEF AND RECOVERY.”Louise Geoffrion, Deputy Director,Disaster Management, Canadian Red Cross

In the past several years, the prov-

inces of Saskatchewan, Manitobaand Alberta have experiencedcomplex, large scale disastersincluding simultaneous forest firesand massive flooding. According toforecasts, this is a trend that willcontinue for several more years. Theresult has been extended evacua-tions, lengthy recovery periods andcomplicated assistance programsfor both households and commun-ities. The continuous re-occurrenceof flooding prevents full recovery for

most families and decreases theirsense of security and safety whileincreasing financial concerns anduncertainty.

According to Canadian Red CrossProvincial Director, Cindy Fuchs,local Red Cross responders havewitnessed this tension and frustra-tion turn into violent reactions ina variety of ways: “in some casesit is an increase in interpersonalviolence where evacuation sheltersare located. In some cases the anger

and frustration is directed at localauthorities or Red Cross workersthemselves.”

The impact of violence can be dif-ficult to measure. In Slave Lake,Alberta, clients told local recoveryteams that there had beenan increase in interpersonalviolence following the fires whichdestroyed much of the town andcaused $700 million in damages,even though official statistics on

domestic violence had gone down.“Community members said theybelieved that less people werereporting violence, and that thedisplacement of families to othercommunities meant that the prob-lem of increased violence movedwith them,” said Fuchs.

However, Red Cross case workershave also heard from individualswho say that the disruption causedby a disaster provided them withan opportunity to leave an already

abusive situation.“Exposure to issues of interpersonalviolence, violence directed at hostcommunities, or even at the RedCross itself can lead to increasedstress,” says Ange Sawh, Director ofDisaster Management for WesternCanada. In some cases this has ledto personal issues at home if peopleare unable to cope with the level ofstress they are experiencing.

PROFILE: CANADA

Canadian Red Cross hasidentified a number of lessonslearned and best practicesfromrecent responseexperiences:

→ Increase specific programming fordealing with the emotional impactsthat occur in a disaster event —

both for Red Cross responders aswell as people in the affected com-munity. The response to the psycho-logical well-being of individualsand families needs to be proactive.Waiting for a problem to arise,means the response is too late.

→ Prepare staff and volunteers toanticipate and address issues ofinterpersonal and community vio-

lence, and to protect people moreeffectively when violent situationsarise. Some steps that have beenidentified include adapting disas-ter response training materials toinclude more content on violenceprevention, and developing casestudies based on actual eventsto help workers expand their




EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM WOLLASTON LAKE HATCHET LAKE FIRST NATIONDUE TO FOREST FIRES IN NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN \\ RICHARD MARJAN, THE STAR PHOENIX.

understanding of how to handlesituations in which violence occursor is reported to have occurred.

→ Collect data and have a sense ofwhat is going on in the commun-ity to anticipate challenges andrespond to them.

→ Consider the capacity of localorganizations and authorities toaddress and respond to violence.Red Cross programs need to linkwith these local programs.

→ Include violence preventionprogramming as part of disasterresponses; the linkage has shown

positive results especially foraddressing interpersonal violence.Where prevention programming hasbeen introduced, people are talkingto the Red Cross about violence.

→ Work with communities on vio-lence prevention prior to a dis-aster because that approach is

more effective than introducingviolence prevention during or aftera disaster.

→ Draw on best practices fromthe ICRC security resourceSafer Access and the experienceof international colleagues.




BEST PRACTICESFOR ACTIONThe following best practicesbuild on existing standardsand experience, the Inter-national Federation’sStrategy on Violence Pre-ven tion, Mitigation andResponse , and data onwhat does and does notwork for addressing violenceduring and after disasters.These best practicescan be taken across thedisaster preparedness andresponse cycle.

1DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Put our humanitarian house in orderEach humanitarian agency has aresponsibility to not only supportdisaster affected communities toprevent violence, but also to ensureit has its own internal systems (poli-cies, standard operating proced-ures, education and monitoring) inplace to create safe environments.Examples of internal systemsinclude→ procedures for screening disaster

responders; → a code of conduct, anti-harass-

ment and child protection poli-cies that clearly define expectedbehaviours;

→ education to all staff and volun-teers on appropriate and inappro-priate behaviour;

→ reporting systems; and→ information on where to refer

beneficiaries if violence occurs.

Link to Vulnerability and CapacityAssessmentsIntegrating the prevention of vio-lence within Vulnerability andCapacity Assessments (VCAs) isessential to understanding therisks and strengths of communitiesin preparing for a disaster and forensuring the “do no harm” principlethrough addressing violence. VCAsgather intelligence and perspectivesfrom local communities and shapethe actions across the disasterresponse cycle. When the protectionfrom violence is omitted from a dis-

aster response, the entire responsecan be negatively affected.




EducateA primary task is to educate disasterresponders of all levels and com-munities to be prepared to minimizethe risk of violence and respondrapidly and effectively if it doesoccur. Some of the key Red CrossRed Crescent training courses inwhich violence prevention needs tobe strengthened with appropriateeducation and tools include→ Community Based Disaster

Reduction (CBDR), → Field Assessment Coordination

Teams (FACT),→ Emergency Response Unit (ERU)

for all personnel, → ERU Psychosocial and Community

Based Health Modules,→ Regional Intervention Team

(RIT) and National InterventionTeam (NIT),

→ Restoring Family Links (RFL), → Vulnerability and Capacity

Assessments (VCA), and → Community-Based Health and

First Aid (CBHFA).

Education for beneficiaries andRed Cross Red Crescent person-nel needs to include awarenessof existing global standards andhow they apply in local settings;the risks and protective factors forviolence and how they can be pre-vented; and how people who havebeen hurt can be supported.

PartnerThere is strength in numbers. Nosingle agency, no matter how large,can address violence on its own.Through partnerships and networks,the strengths of each agency can

be coordinated and leveraged, andthe scope and scale of the responseincreased. Partnerships need to bedeveloped in advance of disasters

as part of preparedness planningso that in emergencies partnerscan mobilize in complementaryand reinforcing ways. Partnershipsinclude working with national andlocal government agencies, grass-roots and international non-govern-mental organizations (NGOs) and theUnited Nations (UN), and participat-ing in humanitarian clusters. Specialfocus should be placed on workingwith existing agencies and networksthat prevent or respond to violenceso that already active grassrootscapacities are enhanced and can bedeployed in disasters.

DANIEL CIMA, IFRC




2EMERGENCY RESPONSE ANDEARLY RECOVERY

Prioritize the prevention of violence

In the same way that the risk forother public health emergencies areclosely monitored and respondedto in disasters, addressing violencealso requires attention and resour-cing and should include preven-tion education campaigns, masscommunication and on the groundmitigation efforts.

Respond rapidlyRight from the initial assessmentsdone by FACT or Pan-AmericanDisaster Response Unit (PADRU)teams, violence prevention andaddressing the impacts of violencemust be made a cross-cutting issuethat is part of decision making andplanning priorities. The followingquestions can help to determine keyfactors that should be mapped inthe immediate response:

What functioning, trusted andaccessible support systems andprotective factors are available?

What are the specific risks forviolence within the context of theaffected communities?

What police, UN, private, commun-ity or other security measures arein place?

Who is vulnerable to violence, whyand where?

Collect data and monitorData and statistics on interpersonaland self-directed violence need tobe collected at key points of contactwith beneficiaries. Data collectioncan occur as a part of patient visitsto temporary or permanent health-care facilities as an integral part ofroutine morbidity surveillance (seeSphere 2011 Handbook for samplereporting forms). Statistics can alsobe collected at food distributionpoints, shelters, etc.

IFRC




Support community-based socialsupport and self-helpFamily and community mechanismsfor protection and psychosocialsupport should be promoted. Keyactivities can include keepingfamilies together, whenever pos-sible; supporting adults to preventchildren from becoming separatedfrom their families; organizing familytracing and reunification for childrenand adults separated from theirfamilies; and preserving family unityand enabling people from particularvillages/communities or supportnetworks to live in the same area ifthey are displaced.

Speak up; raise our col lective voiceThe threat of violence and theavailability of prevention strategiesand helping resources need to becommunicated rapidly, widely andrepeatedly through technology,social media, mass communication,high level and local networks, andword of mouth.

Advocate to government andhumanitarian agency partnersAction at the ground level can yieldbenefits, but it is far more effectiveif it is complemented with humani-tarian diplomacy to high-levelauthorities. Decisions at these lev-els can impact systems, resources,

attention and action on the ground.Key humanitarian diplomacy mes-sages and tools need to focus onpersuading relevant governmentand humanitarian agencies to putin place environmental systemssuch as lighting, adequate toiletfacilities, prevention/mitigation/response education, protection andsecurity systems.

3LONG-TERM RECOVERY ANDDEVELOPMENT

Take a long-term view and apply a

comprehensive approachResponding to violence in disastersis essential. However, on its own itis not enough — action in crises canonly yield finite results. For violenceto be addressed in a comprehensivemanner, primary prevention actionsare required in disaster prepared-ness, during a disaster and into therecovery and development phases.Similar to other deeply embeddedproblems like HIV, Mother, Newborn

and Child Health, and Tuberculosis,violence cannot be uprooted in six-month or two-year project cycles.Rather, a long-term approach withadequate resources, technical sup-port and attention is essential.

Focus on priority actions for vio-lence preventionBased on the needs of local com-munities, the capacity of the RedCross Red Crescent National Societyand the roles of other partnersaddressing violence, there are anumber of priority actions that canbe pursued by National Societiesto support long-term safety. Theseinclude initiatives for addressingalcohol and substance misuse andabuse, managing stress, counteringprejudice against stigmatizingconditions, and promoting per-sonal safety and non-violence inhomes, schools, workplaces and in

communities.




4CROSS CUTTING ACTIONSACROSS THE DISASTERRESPONSE CYCLE

Ensure opportunities for beneficiaryparticipation and accountabilityThe people who benefit from inter-ventions, such as children, youthand women, need to have the oppor-tunity for participation, ownershipand leadership at all levels includingassessment, design, implementa-tion, monitoring and evaluation.

Beneficiaries’ strengths as well astheir vulnerabilities need to be con-sidered in defining prevention andprotection actions. It is also import-ant to ensure that beneficiaries havea clear, accessible and safe feed-back/complaints mechanism.

Leaders must leadThe role of senior leadership incommunities, governments andhumanitarian agencies is pivotal.When leaders prioritize safety, muchcan be achieved; when leadersfail to fulfil their responsibility toaddress violence, the consequencesfor organizations and beneficiariescan be deep and long-lasting. Notonly do leaders set the tone forhow a disaster will be respondedto and what the priorities are, theyalso determine how and if peopleabusing their power will be heldaccountable.

Incorporate genderThe particular needs and strengthsof women, men, girls and boys andother gender identities need to beacknowledged, understood andincluded. Understanding the gender

roles and responsibilities of malesand females in affected communitiesand how they have been influencedby the disaster, the status of femalesin the society including legal status,and the level of access and controlof resources such as relief items andmoney is important.

Include children and youthChildren and youth need to partic-ipate and be represented, asappropriate, in decision makingthat affects them. Preventingviolence against children and youth

requires a particular focus acrossthe disaster response cycle becausethey are the most at risk and theconsequences can be most seriousfor them. Young people are not onlyaffected by disasters; they alsohave a valuable role in rebuildingcommunities.




Integrate into existing tools andapproachesThe financial, human and technical

resources and capacity to addressinterpersonal and self-directedviolence can vary widely amongorganizations, countries and evenwithin cities and communities. Assuch, a strengths-based approachthat integrates violence preventioninto existing programs, policies,procedures and training is essentialto maximize limited resources andto leverage what is already in placeand proven effective.

Monitor, evaluate and define les-sons learnedEnsuring quality and effectiveness in

programming is critical to successfulviolence prevention. Good intentionsare not enough. Clear measurementsof what works, what does not, andhow programming can be modified toimprove impact are necessary.

BudgetAction requires money. Each levelof response — disaster risk reduc-

tion, emergency and early recov-ery, and long-term recovery anddevelopment — needs a budgetfor integrating violence prevention.Opportune and effective ways tosecure funds include adding vio-lence prevention into emergencyappeals and as a budget line intoDisaster Risk Reduction (DRR)and other sectors (e.g. BeneficiaryAccountability, Community BasedHealth and First Aid, HumanitarianValues, Organizational Development,and Youth).

BENOIT MATSHA-CARPENTIER, IFRC




“VIOLENCE PREVENTION PRO-GRAMMING AMONG NATIONALSOCIETIES IN THE AMERICAS HASA LONG HISTORY. SUPPORTINGPARTNERSHIPS BETWEENNATIONAL SOCIETIES TO FINDINNOVATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESSISSUES OF VIOLENCE IS THE NEXTSTEP. THE FOCUS ON PROMOTING

CULTURES OF NON-VIOLENCE INSTRATEGY 2020 AND WITHIN THEAMERICAS ZONE PLANNING MEANSINCREASED ATTENTION AND SUP-PORT TO NATIONAL SOCIETIESDOING THIS WORK, AND MOREFOCUS ON HOW TO INTEGRATE VIO-LENCE PREVENTION INTO DISASTERPREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE ANDRECOVERY ACTIVITIES AND ACROSSCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN THEREGION. ”Jan Gelfand, Head of Operations,International Federation of Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies, Americas Zone

“In the Americas, we have to addressviolence,” says Jan Gelfand, Head ofOperations for the Americas Zone.Violence has been identified by thePan American Health Organizationas the social pandemic of the 21st century, with one study finding thatduring the period of 2004–2009xxxvi

four of the five most violent coun-tries in the world were within theAmerica’s region. Social inequality,social exclusion and a misuse of

power are major factors escalat-ing the risk of violence. “This canbe expressed in the form of suicide,assault, abuse exploitation, homi-cides and gang activities,” explainsGelfand. “When people feel they can’trely on institutions to support andprotect them, violence may seem likethe only available way to negotiate

the challenges they face. We have toengage more across our programs,with a special emphasis on ourdisaster-related activities, to addressthe risk factors, and prevent violence.”

Consistent with Strategy 2020 , theAmericas zone office has increasedthe profile of violence preven-tion in the 2012–2015 zone- andcountry-specific Long Term PlanningFrameworks. “The focus is bothon strengthening National Societyand the International Federation’swork with communities to preventviolence, and also ensuring a safeenvironment for Red Cross staffand volunteers,” says Gelfand. Thisincludes violence prevention insituations of disaster and crisis, andalso integrating violence preventionactivities across institutional andprogram areas.

Four thematic focus areas forintegrated zone programming havebeen identified: urban risk, migra-tion, climate change and violence.In the Americas, the InternationalFederation will pursue a strategyof building on the points of con-nection across these areas throughintegrated community programming

The strategy also places increasedattention on the growing vulner-abilities and needs of particularlyhigh-risk communities. “We see thatthere are people living along thefault lines of inequality, poverty andinsecurity, with some communitiesparticularly affected by the changingpatterns of disaster risk and crises,”explains Gelfand. In practical terms,this means that violence preventionbecomes a core component of thework being done with communitiesand beneficiaries in disaster andcrisis operations, in urban settings,with migrant communities as well aother ongoing program areas.

An important part of the Internat-ional Federation’s approach toaddressing violence is a focus onpolicies and systems to preventviolence within our own institutionsthrough the adoption of resources

such as the Ten Steps to CreatingSafe Environments .

PROFILE:INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONAMERICAS ZONE




BOLIVIAN RED CROSS

TheTen Steps framework includesanalyzing the specific context ofthe problem of violence, recogniz-ing people’s specific vulnerabilitiesand resilience, defining and under-standing the risks and protectioninstruments, and training. This workis particularly important in prepar-ing for, responding to and recoveringfrom disasters. The Ten Steps frame-work supports staff and volunteers,

ensuring that Red Cross and RedCrescent programs are delivered in asafe environment — whether that bein the context of ongoing communityactivities or during the intensity of adisaster operation.

“Strategy 2020 , and the Interna tionalFederation’s Strategy on Violence

Prevention, Mitigation and Response are a wake-up call for the Red Cross

Red Crescent Movement to assesswhat needs to be done and take con-crete action in the area of violenceprevention,” says Gelfand. “We haveput violence prevention, both in ourwork with communities and withinour own institutions, as one of thepillars of our commitment to reducingrisk and vulnerability. This is thevision and the plan in the Americas.”




CONCLUSIONIn disaster after disaster,the risk of interpersonaland self-directed violence

increases from a combina-tion of factors. Althoughanyone can be vulnerableto violence, people withpre-existing vulnerabilitiesto violence, such as chil-dren, women and otherswho are marginalized, areat particular risk. Althoughthe problem of violencein disasters is complex, it

is not inevitable. Violencecan be prevented. The riskof violence needs to beaddressed through a publichealth approach that is partof all programming sectorsin a disaster. Best practicesexist and can be imple-mented across the disastermanagement cycle.

A CHILD WEARING A STICKER CALLING FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WLA PISTE CAMP, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI \\ JULIET KERR, IFRC VIOLENCE PREV




RESOURCESInternational FederationStrategy on Violence Prevention, Mitigation and Response (IFRC)Gender Strategy (IFRC)forthcoming

“Ten Steps to Creating Safe Environments”www.redcross.ca/tenstepsViolence Prevention Modules for IFRC Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA)email: [email protected] Practical Guide to Gender-Sensitive Approaches to Disaster Management (IFRC)ICRC“Safer Access”http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/resolution/council-delegates-resolution-7-2011.htm or,http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/red-cross-crescent-movement/council-delegates-2011/cod-2011-6-1-ns-draft-resolution-eng.pdfNational SocietiesCanadian Red Cross, Resources for preventing child maltreatment, and bullying and harassment, and promotinghealthy youth relationships. Specific resources include, “Be Safe!” Violence Prevention Resources for Community-Based Programs for Adults, Youth and Children www.redcross.ca/respectedCanadian Red Cross,Violence Prevention Modules for Emergency Response Unit training email: [email protected] Red Cross,Handbook on Preventing Violence against Children www.redcross.ca/respectedSpanish Red Cross, Estrategia Regional de Prevencion de Violencia CentroAmérica, México y Caribe. (ERPV)http://www.cruzroja.es/portal/page?_pageid=174,12290203&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30Colombian Red Cross, Paz, Acción y Convivencia” / “Peace, Action and Coexistence.” (PACO)http://www.cruzrojacolombiana.org/publicaciones/pdf/Cartilla%20Paco_1372010_103353.pdfHumanitarian AgenciesWorld Health Organization,Preventing violence and reducing its impact: How development agencies can help http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241596589_eng.pdfUN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF and World Health Organization,World report onviolence against children http://www.unviolencestudy.org/Sphere Project, Humanitarian charter and minimum standards in humanitarian response

http://www.sphereproject.orgInter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC),Guidelines for gender-based violence interventions in humanitarian set-tings: Focusing on prevention of and response to sexual violence in emergencies http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/downloadDoc.aspx?docID=4402Children in a Changing Climate,Children’s charter: An action plan for disaster risk reduction for children by children.http://plan-international.org/files/global/publications/emergencies/Childrens_Charter%20new.pdf




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HumanityThe Red Cross endeavours to preventand alleviate human suffering wher-ever it may be found, protecting lifeand health and ensuring respect for thehuman being.

ImpartialityThe Red Cross is guided solely by theneeds of human beings and makes nodiscrimination as to nationality, race,

religious beliefs, class, or politicalopinions.

NeutralityIn order to continue to enjoy the confi-dence of all, the movement may not takesides in hostilities or engage at any timein controversies of a political, racial,religious, or ideological nature.

IndependenceThe national societies must alwaysmaintain their autonomy so thatthey may be able at all times to act inaccordance with the principles of themovement.

Voluntary ServiceIt is a voluntary relief movement notprompted in any manner by desire forgain.

UnityThere can be only one Red Cross or oneRed Crescent society in any one country.It must be open to all. It must carry onits humanitarian work throughout itsterritory.

UniversalityThe International Red Cross and RedCrescent Movement, in which all soci-eties have equal status and share equalresponsibilities and duties in helpingeach other, is worldwide.




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