Humanitarian Health Action

Women's health

The improvement of women’s health in crises is a key issue within the work of WHO’s Health Action in Crises. WHO's participation in inter-agency initiatives, work on sexual and reproductive health in crises including work to improve the health sector response to gender-based violence and projects and training activities related to gender are all examples of the Organization's commitment to improving women’s health in humanitarian settings.

Tools and Guidelines

IASC gender handbook

Reporting and interpreting data on sexual violence from conflict-affected countries: dos and don’ts (UN Action guidance note)

Gender considerations in disaster assessment

Clinical management of rape survivors

IASC guidelines for gender-based violence interventions in humanitarian settings

WHO ethical and safety recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring sexual violence in emergencies

Reproductive health during conflict and displacement

Reproductive health in humanitarian settings: an inter-agency field manual 2010 (IAWG)

Sexual and reproductive health during protracted crises and recovery

Recognizing the gap in sexual and reproductive health in protracted crises and recovery, WHO UNFPA and the Andalusian School of Public Health convened a global consulation in September 2009 in Granada, Spain (also called "Granada Consultation").

Sexual & reproductive health (SRH) including HIV: from minimum initial response to comprehensive services

Publications

Health in Emergencies, Issue 20
Focus: women's health
January 2004

Training

WHO, UNHCR & UNFPA Clinical Management of Rape e-learning Programme (English & French)

Different needs - equal opportunities: increasing effectiveness of humanitarian action for women, girls, boys and men (IASC)

Inter-Agency Initiatives & Partnerships

UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict

IASC Sub-Working Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action

Inter-agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG)

Global Health Cluster

Areas of Women's Health in Crises

Related Links

Emergency Response Framework (ERF)

ERF is to clarify WHO’s roles and responsibilities and to provide a common approach for its work in emergencies.

Events

Consultation on Health and the Post-2015 Framework for Reducing Risks of Disasters

Participate to online discussion.

Analysing Disrupted Health Sectors in Countries in Crisis course

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
17-28 June 2013

Features: emergencies

Definitions: emergencies

Questions and answers about WHO's role in Humanitarian Health Action