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International Women's Day, 2008
Statement
by Markku Niskala, Secretary General, on the occasion of International Women's Day 2008, in Geneva
7 March 2008 |
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Dear colleagues and friends,
Today, International Women’s Day, provides a particular opportunity for us all to acknowledge and pay tribute to the special contribution made by women within the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Today also urges us to reaffirm our commitment and sensitivity to the needs of women both in the planning, delivery and impact of our operational activities, as outlined in the IFRC’s Gender Policy.
The rationale for integrating a gender perspective into all humanitarian action is firmly rooted in the Fundamental Principles of Humanity and Impartiality.
Gender sensitive programming recognises both the unique needs and capacities of women. It is a prerequisite for us to effectively carry out our mandate to prevent and alleviate human suffering without discrimination.
It is also a key component of Goal 4 of the IFRC’s Global Agenda for 2006-2010, to promote respect for diversity and human dignity, and reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion.
Beyond its basis in the raison d’être of our International Federation, gender sensitive programming positively affects the quality, impact and sustainability of RC/RC humanitarian action - not only for women but also for the wider community, including men, children, and the elderly.
Gender sensitive programming empowers women by ensuring their active inclusion and enabling their access to resources. It is also intrinsically linked with poverty reduction and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, to which our International Federation has expressed its commitment.
Let us turn quickly to some success stories from which to draw inspiration. The project Breaking the silence – Addressing violence against women in Argentina is one, and reflected in the interview with its coordinator Gabriela Luna on the home page of our website.
Prevention and care of HIV/AIDS through the Global Red Cross and Red Crescent HIV and AIDS Alliance is another.
In the HIV/AIDS context, gender sensitive programming has included the collection and analysis of disaggregated data along sex and age lines and hence enabled us to concretely address specific needs of women.
It has empowered women to contribute to the sustainability of HIV programmes, through negotiation and life skills-based training in mother clubs in Nigeria.
It has enabled us to link HIV prevention to action on socio-cultural practices that are harmful to women’s health, such as female genital mutilation.
The 2006 campaign launched by the Red Cross National Societies of Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic, with the help of the Swedish Red Cross and Canadian CIDA is a case in point here.
Last week, in Johannesburg, at the first annual review of the Global Alliance on HIV in Southern Africa, National Societies discussed the importance of traditional community chiefs in gender-sensitive programming on HIV prevention.
Their participation is crucial to ensuring a successful outcome and durable impact.
Most importantly, HIV programming sensitive to the needs of women does not exclude men. Instead, it emphasises that the complementary participation of both men and women is essential for uptake and adherence to HIV prevention and care programmes.
Our activities in Southern Africa involving men in HIV home-based care through the recruitment of male care facilitators or in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission offer good guidance to us.
Friends and colleagues, in 2008, let us commit ourselves to take stock of other existing success stories, share our experiences, learn from one another, and implement a practical gender approach into all our operational activities.
And on this International Women’s Day, let us remind ourselves of the unique roles and contributions that women play within the International Federation, within each Red Cross/Red Crescent National Society and amongst the rich and diverse communities and cultures with whom we work.
Let us reach beyond words, and turn our last International Conference slogan into very concrete action and do it women and men, "Together for Humanity".
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