1. Are there any international standards for
gender and diversity sensitivity in disaster
response and recovery?
Even if you understand the importance of
gender and diversity sensitivity in disaster
response and recovery, you might not be sure
what and how to act. There are internationally
accorded guidance and it has been used in
the overseas post-disaster fields. We would
like to introduce the widely used international
standard, “The Sphere Project: Humanitarian
Charter and Minimum Standards in
Humanitarian Response.”
The Sphere Project was started in 1997 by
international NGOs, the International Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement in order
to stipulate minimum standards (hereafter, the
Sphere Standards) that should be met in relief
activities after disasters or conflicts. Gender
and diversity sensitivity is stipulated as a
cross-cutting theme that is necessary in any
humanitarian response. The Sphere
Standards can be referred to by thematic
sectors or by sections. It is useful for many
people in different positions: officers of
governments, staff of private voluntary
organizations, volunteers, and people who
work on disaster prevention at the local level.
2. Affected people have “a right to life with
dignity” and “a right to assistance.”
The biggest reason why the minimum
standards were created and gender and
diversity sensitivity was prioritized within it is
that people who need support most and who
are in the most vulnerable position are unlikely
to receive assistance. In the confusion,
assistance may continue without knowing if it
is provided to people in the most vulnerable
position and people who are discriminated
against. If assistance is provided without
being aware of various unfairness and
discrimination embedded in society, certain
affected people might be further damaged
without intention.
The Sphere Standards stipulate two core
beliefs; 1) that those affected by disaster or
conflict have a right to life with dignity and,
therefore, a right to assistance; and 2) that all
possible steps should be taken to alleviate
human suffering arising out of disaster or
conflict. The ethical and legal backdrop to
these beliefs is “the Humanitarian Charter”
and “the Protection Principles”. “The
Humanitarian Charter” contains international
legal instruments relating to international
human rights and humanitarian action: The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination, Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women, Convention on the Rights of
the Child, and Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, etc. The Protection
Principles set out principles of actions to
ensure individual rights in accordance with
“the Humanitarian Charter”; that inform all
humanitarian action: 1) Avoid exposing people
to further harm as a result of your actions, 2)
Ensure people’s access to impartial
assistance – in proportion to need and without
discrimination, 3) Protect people from
physical and psychological harm arising from
violence and coercion, and 4) Assist people to
claim their rights, access available remedies
and recover from the effects of abuse.