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Live chat: addressing violence against female aid workers Live chat: addressing violence against female aid workers
(about 17 hours later)
As campaigners around the world ready themselves for the launch of the One Billion Rising movement on Thursday, recent violent incidents in Pakistan and northern Nigeria have lefty us wondering: is enough being done to protect the women at the frontline?As campaigners around the world ready themselves for the launch of the One Billion Rising movement on Thursday, recent violent incidents in Pakistan and northern Nigeria have lefty us wondering: is enough being done to protect the women at the frontline?
Why women? With only one week to prevent an unwanted pregnancy and three days to prevent HIV, Aisha Bain at International Rescue Committee explains that women and girls face "increased risks and specific needs".Why women? With only one week to prevent an unwanted pregnancy and three days to prevent HIV, Aisha Bain at International Rescue Committee explains that women and girls face "increased risks and specific needs".
Further unpicking the relevance for the development community, and referring specifically to the shootings in northern Nigeria, Ana Lukatela, programme specialist with UN Women's peace and security section writes: "These murdered women played a critical role in these UN-sponsored polio vaccination drives. In conservative societies where ordinary women often lack freedom of mobility, it is female health workers that play a desperately needed role in bridging the gap between the private space of the home and the public arena of basic service provision.Further unpicking the relevance for the development community, and referring specifically to the shootings in northern Nigeria, Ana Lukatela, programme specialist with UN Women's peace and security section writes: "These murdered women played a critical role in these UN-sponsored polio vaccination drives. In conservative societies where ordinary women often lack freedom of mobility, it is female health workers that play a desperately needed role in bridging the gap between the private space of the home and the public arena of basic service provision.
"To be sure, we cannot advocate for women to take on public roles in insecure employment conditions, and then leave them to be gunned down on the street.""To be sure, we cannot advocate for women to take on public roles in insecure employment conditions, and then leave them to be gunned down on the street."
And it is not just the safety of the expatriate that is of concern but especially that of the local staff, trained to deliver interventions and who fall victim in far higher numbers. From counsellors of victims of violence, to community health workers and agricultural extension officers, as the sector prepares for the commission on the status of women in March, is there sufficient acknowledgement of the risks to these development actors? Within the wider calls to end violence against women, should aid workers themselves be explicitly addressed?And it is not just the safety of the expatriate that is of concern but especially that of the local staff, trained to deliver interventions and who fall victim in far higher numbers. From counsellors of victims of violence, to community health workers and agricultural extension officers, as the sector prepares for the commission on the status of women in March, is there sufficient acknowledgement of the risks to these development actors? Within the wider calls to end violence against women, should aid workers themselves be explicitly addressed?
On Thursday 14 February, we'll bring a panel from across the sector to explore what the evidence is for rising violence against women in development and what individual or organisational lessons there are on how best to protect professionals in the field. Join us in the comment threads at 1pm GMT to share your own experiences and thoughts.On Thursday 14 February, we'll bring a panel from across the sector to explore what the evidence is for rising violence against women in development and what individual or organisational lessons there are on how best to protect professionals in the field. Join us in the comment threads at 1pm GMT to share your own experiences and thoughts.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). If you are unable to get online on Thursday, email your views to globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk or follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevliveThe live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). If you are unable to get online on Thursday, email your views to globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk or follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive
PanelPanel
Judy Anderson, executive director, Heal Africa US/ACT for Congo, Monroe, US. @HEALAfricaJudy Anderson, executive director, Heal Africa US/ACT for Congo, Monroe, US. @HEALAfrica
Having grown up in the Congo, Judy has worked in Africa and the US in various consultancy roles for NGOs, including Tearfund UK. Judy has worked at Heal for the past seven years and spends 3-4 months of every year in Rwanda and the CongoHaving grown up in the Congo, Judy has worked in Africa and the US in various consultancy roles for NGOs, including Tearfund UK. Judy has worked at Heal for the past seven years and spends 3-4 months of every year in Rwanda and the Congo
Denise Furnell, senior director global safety and security, International Rescue Committee, New York, US. @IRCukDenise Furnell, senior director global safety and security, International Rescue Committee, New York, US. @IRCuk
Denise joined the humanitarian sector having spent 10 years in the Australian military and commercial security sector. Denise now creates programmes to protect over 10,000 IRC across the world, and has worked in Afghanistan, Indonesia, the Caucuses, Chad, Sudan and across the Middle East. Denise joined the humanitarian sector having spent 10 years in the Australian military and commercial security sector. Denise now creates programmes to protect over 10,000 IRC across the world, and has worked in Afghanistan, Indonesia, the Caucuses, Chad, Sudan and across the Middle East
David Clamp, security adviser, VSO, London, UK. @gambiaclampsDavid Clamp, security adviser, VSO, London, UK. @gambiaclamps
David has worked with VSO in various capacities, invcluding volunteer trainer, programme manager and country director of The Gambia. As security adviser, David supports VSO's teams in 34 countries as they manage risk. David has worked with VSO in various capacities, invcluding volunteer trainer, programme manager and country director of The Gambia. As security adviser, David supports VSO's teams in 34 countries as they manage risk
Lisa Reilly, coordinator, European Interagency Security Forum, London, UK. @EISF1Lisa Reilly, coordinator, European Interagency Security Forum, London, UK. @EISF1
Lisa joined EISF in 2011, following a number of years working overseas in various humanitarian crisis responses, and as a security trainer. EISF shares best practice on security risk management in the humanitarian sectorLisa joined EISF in 2011, following a number of years working overseas in various humanitarian crisis responses, and as a security trainer. EISF shares best practice on security risk management in the humanitarian sector
Christina Wille, director, Insecurity Insight, Bellevue, SwitzerlandChristina Wille, director, Insecurity Insight, Bellevue, Switzerland
Christina co-founded Insecurity Insight, which developed the security in numbers database, which pools security information from 10 major international humanitarian aid agencies and analyses insecurity on aid deliveryChristina co-founded Insecurity Insight, which developed the security in numbers database, which pools security information from 10 major international humanitarian aid agencies and analyses insecurity on aid delivery
Ian Woodmansey, security manager, RedR UK, London, UK. @RedRUKIan Woodmansey, security manager, RedR UK, London, UK. @RedRUK
Ian manages global humanitarian security training programmes and training courses. Ian has worked in Pakistan, South Sudan, Burundi, Mauritania, Afghanistan and Indonesia. Ian has held previous positions with Oxfam, ICRC, MSF and the UN. Ian manages global humanitarian security training programmes and training courses. Ian has worked in Pakistan, South Sudan, Burundi, Mauritania, Afghanistan and Indonesia. Ian has held previous positions with Oxfam, ICRC, MSF and the UN
Christine Persaud, independent consultant, Ottawa, Canada
Christine has worked in humanitarian assistance since 1999 and began as a project coordinator for various NGOs including MSF. Since 2003 she has been an independent consultant in safety and security and in emergency assessments for humanitarian and development organisations
Rowan Harvey, women's rights advocacy adviser, ActionAid UK, London, UK. @rowanharvey1Rowan Harvey, women's rights advocacy adviser, ActionAid UK, London, UK. @rowanharvey1
Rowan has held campaign and advocacy roles at various NGOs. In her current position, Rowan focuses particularly on issues surrounding violence against women and girls and women's rights in Afghanistan. Rowan has held campaign and advocacy roles at various NGOs. In her current position, Rowan focuses particularly on issues surrounding violence against women and girls and women's rights in Afghanistan