Women's Protection And Empowerment

Self-care is easy to talk about and difficult to practice. In this episode we talk with IRC staff in Sacramento, Salt Lake, Lebanon and New York about why they do this work, the stress that often accompanies providing case management, signs of burnout and individual and group self-care techniques. Take some time to listen today, at the very least, let this be a reminder to take care of you because “we do our best work when we are also well.”

What are safety audits, how can they function best, and how can you make them actionable? In this episode, we tackle those questions about safety audits and dig into analysis. We talk about real recommendations given as the result of a safety audit and the actions taken afterward. Listen to and learn from IRC staff for best practices and lessons learned.

In this first in our new series collaboration with the GBV Area of Responsibility's community of practice, Sarah Martin interviews Eric Dentor (UNICEF) to hear about how he got into this work, his career pathway and what advice he would give to others.

Today, we're talking about the release of the GBV Blended Curriculum, an online and mobile application capacity development initiative. We'll introduce the curriculum, how it came to be, some of the topics covered and ways for frontline responders to take full advantage! Learn more about the curriculum here: https://gbvresponders.org/gbv-blended-curriculum/ Learn more about the Remote Offered Skill Building App (Rosa) here: https://gbvresponders.org/rosa-skill-building-application/ This project was funded by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

Why is a feminist approach to programming around gender-based violence so essential and yet misunderstood? In this episode, we talked with IRC staff from Nigeria, Mali and Uganda about the theory behind our work and the practical implications of a feminist approach. This includes impacts on help-seeking behavior, recovery and operating in the context of systematic oppression.

How do you build sustainability, effectiveness and long-term change for GBV response? The Building Local, Thinking Global initiative is a coalition of feminists, women’s rights organizations, activists, academics, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and regional civil society networks aiming to do just that – harness the collective power of the humanitarian community to respond to violence against women and girls in crises by thinking globally and acting locally. * * * * In this episode, we talked with three members of the coalition from IRC and Raising Voices about the vision for the initiative, the approach and what’s to come from this powerful collaboration.

In this episode we explored further the idea of integration GBV programming and cash-based interventions by talking about the experience of Women's Refugee Commission, International Rescue Committee, and Mercy Corps in Jordan. This complements the previous episode, Where do cash-based interventions fit in programming for women’s protection and empowerment? * * * * Read about the toolkit here: https://www.womensrefugeecommission.org/issues/livelihoods/research-and-resources/1549-mainstreaming-gbv-considerations-in-cbis-and-utilizing-cash-in-gbv-response Read the Jordan case study in more detail here: https://www.womensrefugeecommission.org/issues/livelihoods/research-and-resources/document/download/1560

Livelihoods support can provide a route to economic well-being with the means of moving beneficiaries on the path from survival to long-term recovery. Cash-based interventions are one type in the form of direct financial assistance. How can we acknowledge and mitigate the risks of cash for survivors of gender-based violence? What are the models to consider? In this episode, we talked with Tenzin Manell of the Women’s Refugee Commission to hear more.

Recent immigration policies have fostered a climate of fear among immigrants and their loved ones. A hardline stance against the undocumented, resulting in threats of detention, deportation and separation have impacts at the individual, community and institutional level with public health effects. How do these policies impact women and girls? Is immigration a women’s issue? In this episode, we brought together experts in law, immigration, and psychosocial care to discuss these issues and the impact.

In 2017, we conducted a research project in Lebanon to answer several key questions: what are women and girls’ access to mobile phones and the Internet, what are the barriers to their access (real and perceived), and what are their desired uses and safety concerns? In working with potentially vulnerable populations such as forcibly displaced women and girls, is mobile technology the appropriate channel for communication, service provision, information dissemination, awareness raising, and empowerment activities? In this episode, we discussed the reason we conducted this research and our findings and recommendations, including safety planning, planning for shared use of mobile devices, and community assessments, among others. * * * * If you want to read the research findings, search for Safety planning for technology: displaced women and girls’ interactions with information and communication technology in Lebanon and harm reduction considerations for humanitarian settings in the Journal of International H

Stories are among the most powerful calls to action. They can ignite action and drive change, but the process of sharing one’s story, especially for survivors, can be re-traumatizing. How can we create change while maintaining our ethical principles? In this episode, we talked to Michael Kass of The Center for Story and Spirit about ethical storytelling: what is it, what are the ethical criteria, how to approach subjects, what organizations commonly get wrong, and the concept of “deep consent.” To learn more: http://www.michaelkass.co/; http://ethicalstorytelling.com/

For the second edition of Feminist Book Club we read Bell Hooks' Feminism is for Everybody. This seminal writing covers the spectrum of feminism. We focused our conversation on the linkages between feminism and other systems of oppression such as racism, classism, and homophobia, how feminism and reproductive rights are connected at a foundational level, the role of men in fighting patriarchy , beauty standards, and the future of the feminist movement. Pick up a copy of this classic and read along!

Being a parent and an aid worker can feel at times like a trade-off, a double life, or at best a balancing act. What should you expect as a parent working in this field? How do you balance dueling responsibilities at home and with your passion? What lessons have you learned as a parent in this field? In this episode, we talked with four brave parents about their experience in having it all. * * * * If you want to read some of the books and resources we referenced, here's the list: -Clive and His Babies by Jessica Spanyol (check out the whole series of Clive books) -Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood -Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole -Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans -A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara -Free to be You and Me by Marlo Thomas and Friends and Peter H. Reynolds -Better than a Lemonade Stand by Daryl Bernstein and Rob Husberg -Calm Parents, Happy Kids: The Secrets of Stress-free Parenting by Laura Markham -Prince Cinders by Babette Cole

For the first Women's Protection and Empowerment edition of the Feminist Book Club we read - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All be Feminists. A fitting start, this essay on feminism looks at definitions, gender expectations, and gender roles. We talked about Adichie's description of feminist, ingrained expectation and norms of each gender, and gendered concepts of "should." A crucial part of our role in this movement is creating spaces like this, so read along with us and join the conversation!

This year for International Women's Day we asked IRC staff - why is now the time for gender equality, women's rights and justice? From Myanmar to Lebanon, Sierra Leone to Chad and Miami, here's why the time is now.

The model of care for child survivors of gender-based violence can come from the perspective of service providers working in gender-based violence or child protection. Which approach best serves the individual? In this episode, we look at the similarities and complementary differences through the lens of a case study and discuss practical ways these sectors can collaborate. Read the guidelines referenced here: http://gbvresponders.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CCS-Guidelines-lowres.pdf

Building off the decade-long #MeToo movement, #AidToo focuses on the safety and security of female aid workers and the culture of sexual harassment and abuse. Our organizations have a duty of care for staff and to ensure a safe working environment. What should humanitarian organizations do to keep their staff safe from sexual harassment?

Menstruation is a regular part of life for women and girls globally. The right to safe menstrual hygiene management involves knowledge, dignity, privacy, and the appropriate products. Yet, in many settings, women and girls instead face stigma and unsafe options for accessing and using sanitary materials. This can result in isolation, school drop-out, and increased risk of violence, including sexual exploitation. In this episode, learn from IRC’s Ethiopia program, how they consulted girls and arrived at a creative solution for menstrual hygiene management, positively influencing girls and their communities.

Creating Opportunities through Mentoring, Parental Involvement and Safe Spaces (COMPASS) program - IRC has been designing, implementing and evaluating the COMPASS program in DRC, Ethiopia and Pakistan. COMPASS stands for Creating Opportunities through Mentoring, Parental Involvement and Safe Spaces. Implemented over the last several years, the program recognizes the vulnerabilities of adolescent girls and the need to establish a stable foundation to transition into adulthood. This program has a unique focus on prevention and response to violence and involves more than just the individual girl in a more holistic approach. In this episode we talk about the research findings of COMPASS in Ethiopia and DRC. Read more here: https://gbvresponders.org/compass/

The What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls research project is focused on building an evidence base on how to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in conflict and humanitarian crises. As part of that project, the Global Women’s Institute at the George Washington University, the International Rescue Committee, and CARE International UK collaborated on the first large-scale research study of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in several areas of South Sudan impacted by war and conflict. In this episode, Dr. Mary Ellsberg, Founding Director of the Global Women’s Institute of the George Washington University discussed the key findings from the research: the pervasive rates of VAWG, common forms of violence, and the relationship between experiences of conflict and VAWG. To learn more visit, www.whatworks.co.za