Women’s Refugee Commission Marks World Humanitarian Day with Call for Gender Equality Across Humanitarian Action

New York, NY — Ahead of World Humanitarian Day, Women’s Refugee Commission Executive Director Sarah Costa issued the following statement:

“On World Humanitarian Day, we pay tribute to the humanitarians who risk their lives in the U.S. and around the world to alleviate suffering and advance the rights and protections of the most marginalized populations. At the Women’s Refugee Commission, we understand full well the devasting consequences of displacement for women and girls and the need to strengthen gender equality in humanitarian response. 

“This Sunday, we renew our call for greater inclusion and leadership of women and girls in humanitarian action. Discrimination in law and practice, and the exclusion of women in decision-making processes, are the reasons why too often humanitarian response is still gender-blind—with dire consequences for the health and safety of affected populations.

“By ensuring that affected populations shape the polices that impact their lives, we not only promote vital protections and services, but also work to advance gender equality across all levels of humanitarian response.”