August 16, 2019 — As the UN’s World Humanitarian Day recognises the contribution of women humanitarians working on the frontline of emergencies, more than 400 women aid workers, and their allies, have signed an open letter demanding that world leaders better meet the needs of women and girls caught up in conflict and crisis.
Women and girls are particularly vulnerable during emergencies and often bear the brunt of the impact of forced displacement. Evidence tells us that issues such as gender-based violence (which includes sexual assault, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, child marriage, abduction, and female genital mutilation) spike quickly during crises and remain at extremely high levels throughout. Meanwhile in protracted emergencies access to services can be hugely restricted. That means girls don’t get an education, and women don’t have the opportunity to access decent and safe work.
Dear World Leaders,
As women working on the frontline of emergencies, we welcome that this year’s World Humanitarian Day will be dedicated to raising the voices of women aid workers. We wish to pay particular tribute to those colleagues who are also part of the communities where we work and who help others while often trying to rebuild their own lives.
Women caught up in disasters are sometimes portrayed as helpless victims and passive recipients of foreign kindness, but nothing could be further from the truth. Whether working for aid agencies, or supporting their families and their communities in other ways, local women and girls are the invisible face of recovery in some of the world’s most difficult places.
Together we fight for those who have been forgotten, whose rights have been violated, and whose pleas for help have been ignored. As we celebrate the role of women humanitarians with uplifting stories of personal sacrifice and collective resilience, let us not lose sight of how much more there is still to do before we can say that we truly honor these women.
Whether it’s the scarce resources to tackle the epidemic of gender-based violence; the “Global Gag Rule” designed to restrict sexual and reproductive health services; the poor provision of transformative programmes such as education and livelihoods; the slow progress to end sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse; or the pittance of funding that finds its way to local women’s organisations, we have seen the gap between rhetoric and reality widen in recent years when it comes to women and girls living in crises. This gap cannot stand, we cannot continue to fail women by letting global action stop at words alone.
The upcoming G7 in Biarritz will be the first of many international events over the next 18 months where our leaders will celebrate the strides made towards gender equality in the 25 years since the Beijing Declaration. These will be empty words without the recognition that we continue to leave many women and girls behind – especially those living and working in humanitarian contexts. We call on you to ensure that these upcoming conversations centre on how to better protect and empower the women and girls being left behind, to listen to women and girls and plan according to their needs, and to agree to concrete plans for making political declarations a reality on the ground.
Yours in partnership,
Abdijabar Rashid Maalim, GBV Prevention Officer
Abdijamal Hassan Mire, Field Manager
Abdimahad Abshir, Senior Finance Officer
Abdisamad Abdinor Mohamed, Rule of Law Officer
Abdullahi Askar , Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer
Abebech Mammo, Social Service Officer
Abukar Mohamud Ga'al, Deputy Director for Programs at International Rescue Committee
Adam Mukhtar, M&E Officer
Adhanom Solomon, Field Coordinator
Aditi Ghosh, Deputy Humanitarian Director
Adnan, Country Director
Ahsan Abbas, Senior Supply Chain Coordinator
Alex Sitwaminya , GBV Manager
Ali Wood, Humanitarian Specialist
Alicia Silverstein, Regional Program Officer, Great Lakes
Alina Potts, Gender-based violence prevention & response
Aliya Abidi , Project Manager
Alyssa Shumaker, Safety & Security Coordinator
Amelia Reese Masterson, Consultant, GBV/SRH
Amin Mohammad, Operations Coordinator
Amy Neinan , Women’s protection and empowerment coordinator
Amy Sheppey, Media & Communications / Gender Security
Anastasia Moran, Officer, International Programs Policy and Advocacy
Angellah Gwaro, Programs officer
Anna, Grants Officer for Violence Prevention & Response
Anna Saffer, Regional Program Officer for Asia
Anna Thorne, Programme Officer, Humanitarian Capacity Building team (SCUK)
Anneleen Vos, Policy Officer
Anny Modi, Women's empowerment and community integration
Anon, Director
Anon, Senior Clinical Manager
Anon, Roving CWI Senior Officer
Anon, EH manager
Anon, Nurse
Asad Jalal, Technical Controller- Asia
Asha Abshir Ali , Women Protection and Empowerment Senior Officer
Asha Nelima, Reproductive Health Nurse
Asiya, WPE Senior Officer
Astrid Sletten, Global Roving Country Director
Attau Ur Rahman, M&E Assistant In IRC-PRP
Aurelie Leroyer, GBV Technical Advisor
Aziz Ali, Managing more than 500 workers
Bahadur Khoso, M&E Assistant
Bahiyyeh Syed, Executive Officer
Basharat Hussain , Reading Quality Associate
Bashir Ahmad Mehraban, Support the human in need
Belay, Senior Program Manager
Bénédicte Haudebert, Grants Manager
Benjamin Hill, Education in Emergencies
Betelhem Mengistu, Community Well-being Initiative Coordinator
Bianca Wachtel, Communcations
Brittany Lambert, Humanitarian policy expert
Bruk Kindeya, WASH officer
Carine, Senior Policy Advisor
Carly Vogel, Program Assistant
Caroline Lai, Deputy Director of Programs
Cassandra, Senior Grants and Partnership Coordinator
Catherine Harrington, Campaign Manager - Nationality Rights
Chine McDonald, Communications
Chloé Cébron, Advocacy Advisor
Christina Calbos , Project Manager
Christopher B. Estallo, Programs Coordinator
Cidra Iqbal, Program Officer
Claire Eldred, Health Program Management
Claire Hancock, Global Livelihoods Specialist
Clara Ituero Herrero, Gender Advisor
Cokie van der Velde, Water and Sanitation Specialist
Consolate Apio, Women's Protection and Empowerment: Listen Up! Project Officer
Dahir Shire, Field Coordinator
Dale Buscher, Vice President, Programs
Dania Gharaibeh, Deputy Director of Gender Equality at IRC
Daniel Gebreselassie, HR/Admin Manager
Danny Glenwright, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger Canada
Daphne Jayasinghe, Policy Adviser, Economic Programmes
Dashakti Reddy, GBV Specialist
David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee
Daud, Child protection officer
Debbie Nolan, Learning and Training Adviser
Deka Dimbil, Emergency response coordinator
Diana Quick, Communications
Domenico, Deployable Child Protection in Emergencies Advisor
Dominique Cardinal, Humanitarian Programs Officer
Dr Toby Leslie, Epidemiologist
Dr. Mujahid Azam, Policy and System Coordinator
Eftychia Georgiadi, Child Protection Manager
Elena, Project Officer
Elena Bezzolato, Programme Coordinator, SGBV in humanitarian
Eliana, Protection and gender expert
Elinor Raikes, Head of Program Delivery
Elisa David, Refugee Resettlement
Elizabeth Nyariek Kuong, GBV response officer
Emmy Moorhouse, Gender Equality Advisor, East Africa
Erica Pilcher, Emergency Accountability Coordinator
Esther Karnley, Women's Protection and Empowerment Coordinator
Esther Opoka, Field Coordinator
Eva Gashi, GBV Case Manager
Fahima Abdi, Senior Grants and Partnerships Officer
Fairouz Hassan, Gender & Protection Advisor
Farah Malaeb, WPE Life skills assistant
Farhat Khattak, Assessment Manager
Fatima, HR Admin Assistant
Fawad Ahmed, Assessment Manager/M&E Coordinator
Felipe Rojas Lopez, SRH Technical Advisor for a medical INGO
felisters nekesa, Senior Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Fiona Gall, Director of NGO Platform in Afghanistan (ACBAR)
Francis Ns. Sala-Diakanda, Country Director
Frehiwot, GBV Response Officer
Furqan Khan , Senior Manager Supply Chain
Gabrielle Szabo, Snr Gender Equality Adviser
Gatwiech Nywon, CP IMS/M&E Officer
Gebreanania Mehari, Senior Environmental Health Manager
Genevieve Chicoine, Regional Monitoring and Action Coordinator
Ginette Mballa, Director, Finance
Gregory Matthews, Deputy Regional Director
Gretchen, GBV Psychosocial Support Specialist
Gunther Pratz, Deputy Director Emergency Preparedness
Habib Rehman, Supply Chain Assistant
Hammad Hussain, Graphic Designer
Hannah Gibbin, Country Director
Hannah Tyler, Business Development Manager
Harriet Awuor, Women's Protection and Empowerment Manager
Harriet Kezaabu, WPE Coordinator
Hasen Muse, Senior GBV officer
Heidi Rosbe, Project Officer, Ahlan Simsim
Helea, Emergencies Unit Coordinator
Helena Lupton, Senior Advisor Strategic Partnerships
Helena Minchew, Advocate for women & girls
Hodan Nour , Senior GBV program manager
Huma, Reporting Officer
Huzan Waqar, Team Lead
Ikran, Human resource and administration Officer
Ilaria Michelis, Technical Advisor
Imogen Sudbery, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Europe
Ingrid Bigirimana, Women Protection Empowerment Coordinator
Irfan Majeed Butt, National Assessment Coordinator
Irum Fatima , Active role in various networks and alliances
Ismail, Finance officer managing and controlling humanitarian fund
Ivi Psalti, Administration Support
Jacqueline Paul, Senior Gender Adviser
Jamil Ahmed, Technical Coordinator
Jamila Lecky, Human Resources Advisor
Janet Mugo, Adolescent Research Manager
Janette Garber, WGPE Coordinator
Jean Casey, Project coordinator, What Works To Prevent VAWG
Jean McLean, Communications
Jennate Eoomkhan, Women's movement in emergencies.
Joanne Creighton, Women's Protection & Empowerment Technical Advisor
joelle el khoury, Senior Women's Protection & Empowerment manager
Jonathan Schwartz, Chief Sales Officer
Joseph Kiarie, A Paediatric Clinical Officer in a Refugee Camp.
Joy Masheti, WPE Coordinator
Juliet Were, Training women leaders.
Junaid Tahir, Survey and Study Coordinator
Kaltuma, Grants Officer
Karima Ghafury, HR/Admin Officer
Karimullah Dawary, HR Assistant
Kate Crichton, BD Manager
Kate Moger, Regional Vice President
Katherine Gambir, Research Advisor
Kelly Joseph, Consultant and Working with Women and Girls in Emeregncies
Ken Bluestone, Head of Policy & Influencing
Khadija, Monitoring and Evaluation
Khadim Hussain, M&E Coordinator
Khalid Usman, Policy and System Officer
Kimja Vanderheyden, Advocacy advisor at INGO Forum
Kristine, Protection Coordinator
Kristy Crabtree, Information Management and Technology Advisor
Kyaw Zaw Myat , Senior Clinical Manager
Lamis Delbani, Women Protection and Empowerment
Leah Akai Loiyanai, HR Officer and GE Champion
Leila Younes, Regional Gender Equality Advisor
Lia Mocka , Gender-Based Violence Specialist
Liliane Munezero, Emergency Response Team WPE Coordinator
Lina Abu Awad , Grants Manager
Lina Srivastava, Founder, CIEL | Creative Impact and Experience Lab
Liya Wondimu, Community wellbeing initiative Psychologist
Longa Louis Sylvester, Women Protection and Empowerment Manager
Lorentza Ruud, Grants Manager
Loseb Bagashvili, Regional Emergency Coordinator - Asia
Lucille Terré, Program Manager
Lucy Juneau , Campaign & Outreach Officer
Lucy Keating, Communications
Lydia Ciesluk, Digital Communications Officer
M. Dawood, M&E Officer
Madlin Sadler, Chief Operating Officer
Maham Sajjad, Program Officer
Mahmuda Begum , Women's Protection & Empowerment Manager
Mahrukh Rauf, Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Mahwish Omer, Senior Manager Post Award
Marcy Hersh, Senior Manager, Humanitarian Advocacy
Maria Anna V., Social worker
Maria Fix, Nurse and medical coordinator
Maria Holtsberg, Gender and Inclusion Advisor
Marian Hassan Mohamud, Deputy Health & Nutrition Coordinator
Marie-Charlotte Garin, Gender and Disability Project Officer
Marta Royo, Executive Director
Martha Roussou, Senior Advocacy Officer
Martha Sambiro Mwachia, Clinical Officer
Maryam Mohsin, Media Manager
Medina Shariff Abdullahi, ERD-Women Economic Empowerment Officer
Melanie Ward , Deputy Director of Programs
Melinda Frimpong, Digital Advocacy Content Officer
Melissa Pearce, Information Officer
Mendy Marsh, Executive Director, Co-Founder, VOICE
Mersha Fikre Estifanos, Senior Consortia Coordinator (RDPP and SINCE)
Michael Arnaud, Associate Director Gender and GBV
Michal Blaszczyk, Communications Manager
Michelle Kim , Project Officer
Michelle Wong, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Miheret Betseha, Women Protection and Empowerment Unit Officer
Mina Jaf , work with refugee women
Miranda Hurst, Senior Policy Advisor
Mireille Flores Avila, Humanitarian Programmes Manager
Mohamed Shafi Jama, Community Health Supervisor
Mohammad Aslam Khan, Operations Management, Administration, HR, Logistics, Procurement, Security
Mohammad Nasir Rizaee, Education Coordinator
Mohammad Sami Alsamman , Emergency Surge Recruiter
Morganne King Wale, War Child Canada
Muhammad Asad Sardar, Supply Chain Coordinator
Muhammad Haroon Altaf, Director HR
Muhammad Naeem Sargana, Policy and Systems Coordinator
Mukhtar Sirat Mahdi, Nutrition Manager
Mukhtar Yalahow, Finance Manager
Muktar Yusuf , Senior IT officer
Musca Philipps, Sexual and reproductive health expert
Naeem Sohail Butt, Chief of Party, Pakistan Reading Project
Naol Abera, CBP/SGBV Intern
Naomi Tulay Solanke , Executive Director
Nasir Khan Yousaf Zai, Senior Coordinator MEAL
Nassima Sahraoui , Assistant coordinator
Naw Hsa Kweh Hmoo, Project officer
Nefeli Bami, Senior Protection Officer
Nicole Behnam, Senior Technical Director for Protection
Nicole Walden, Deputy Regional Director, East Africa
Nicoleta Petalidou, Protection Manager
Noelle M Rancourt, Independent Consultant
Noor Ul Amin, Reporting and Liaison Manager
Noorullah Hassan, Emergency WASH Manager
Norman Gustavson, PhD, Psychosocial Services
Nur Hassan Ahmed , Protection and Rule of Law Officer
Nuzhat Amin, Program Manager Education
Ochola Alice Jean Mangwi, GBV Sub-cluster Co-Coordinator
Oenone Chadburn, Head of Humanitarian Support
Panagiota Stravogianni, Social Worker
parwana sharifi, Provincial Protection Officer
Patricia Gray, WPE Technical Advisor
Patricia McIlreavy, Vice President, Humanitarian Team
Patrick Durrant , Emergency Response Manager
Patrick Ikileng, Health worker
Paula Tenaglia, Director of Operations
Peters Lony , Research officer
Phoebe Kung'u, Regional Supply Chain Director
Polyxeni Fotaki, Nurse
Polyxeni Lappa, Psychologist
Pramaningtyas Sarce Margareth, Executive Director
Quresha, Human Resource Coordinator
Rachel C Unkovic, NGO Coordination Advisor
Rachel Nyanquoi Jackson, Senior Field Manager
Rachel Swift, Humanitarian Specialist
Rafael A. Velasquez Garcia, Head of Disaster Risk Management
Rahel Tsegay, GBV Response Officer
Rebecca Gang Leslie, Senior Technical Advisor, Protection and Rule of Law
Regina Itwara , Nurse - Hospital Matron
Rissi Assani-Alabi, Language & Development Consultant
Romal Qadir, M&E Officer
Ruby Ajanee, Promote gender equality and gender inclusion
Ruth, Project Manager
Ruth Price, Advocacy Officer
Saba’ zyoud, Case manager
Sadia, Women's Protection and Empowerment officer
Safi Ahmad Aryan, Warehouse and Inventory Officer
Salome Ntububa, Regional Emergency Manager
Samah Mannai, Women Protection & Empowerment Senior Response Officer
Sana Zulfiqar, National Humanitarian Coordinator
Sandra K. Krause, Senior Director, Sexual and Reproductive Health
Sandrine Simon, Health and advocacy director
Sanna Johnson, Regional vice president
Sarah Cornish-Spencer, Women's Protection and Empowerment Senior Technical Adviser
Sarah Martin, GBV Prevention and Response Consultant
sarah neusy, Sexual & Reproductive Health Technical Advisor
Sawsan Sweidan , Senior response officer
Senait Fisseha , Gender Program Manager
Shah Agha Seroush , Technical Supply Chain Officer
Shehzad Ahmed, M&E Assistant
Silvia Andena, Deputy Director Programs
Simret Gebretensaie, CWI response officer
Sinéad Murray, GBV Consultant
Sireen Abu Asbeh , Grants Manager
Soliyana Habtemichael, Protection Associate
Sophia, Technical advisor
Sophia, Women Protection & Empowerment Senior Manager ,Bangladesh
Stacey Sawchuk, Humanitarian Program Manager
Stefania Chirizzi, WPE Coordinator
Sultan Nasari, Economic Wellbeing Programme Coordinator
Sumbal Iqbal, Reporting Officer
Suree Nohpo, Senior Livelihood Manager
Susan D., Consultant
Susanne White, Social and Digital Marketing Officer
Tanit Iglesias Zayas, Health Advisor
Toorpikai sana, Child Protection Officer
Urmila Shrestha, Executive Director
Vannina Kaneza, Grants and Partnerships Officer
Vannina Kaneza, Grants and partnerships Officer
Veronique Ossohou-Kone, GBV Technical Advisor
Vicki Aken, Country Director
Viktoria Lovrics, Project Officer - GBV and Nutrition
Wahdatullah Adil, Senior Project Supervisor
Wendy Barron, Country Director
William Ekai, Medic
Yodit Dejene , Adolescents Girls Program Officer
Yohanna Philip, Programs Coordinator
Yolande Longang Tchounkeu, WPE coordinator
Yves Nommay, Director International Safety and Security
zahra, Senior Manager : Women's Protection & Empowerment
Zain ul Abedin, Deputy Director Programs
Zainab Sulaiman , Project Consultant
Zoe Fregoli, Fundraising Manager
Zuhra, Project officer, M&E for nutrition and Gender Equality
Zuhra Wardak, Compliance Coordinator
Zuhra Wardak, Compliance Coordinator
Καλλιοπη Μπακαλη, Social scientist
Farah B. Salhab, Adolescent Girls' Program Manager
Rgbe Gidey, Reproductive Health Clinical Mentor
Inam, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion(WASH) Officer
Melkam Abiy, Senior Education Program Officer
Selfago, Camp Manager
Adhanom Medhin, HR/Admin
Mitslal Tadele, Reproductive Health & HIV/AIDS officer
Tsige Tafere, SCM
Meron Asrat, Finance Controller
Solomie Mekuria, Senior Budget & Compliance Manager
Anthony Davis, Policy & Advocacy Advisor, Gender Equality
Kolli Harriet, WPE Research Manager
Nada Shall, BLN Assisstant
Gizman, Empowering vulnerable women and girls
Jayne Crow, Programme Specialist, Innovation
Huda Ghalegolabi, Disaster Risk Management Program specilaist- CPIE
Kristina Wintermeier, Programme Specialist - Gender in Emergencies
Vincent Mageto, Laboratory Technologist
Lilian Nzioki, Medical officer
Rebecca Gordon, Gender Equality Technical Advisor
Mahlet Bitew, HR/Admin Assistant
Bethelhem Amanuel, Receptionist
Ghida Anani, Founder and Director, ABAAD
Sisay Biruk, Camp Manager, Supporting Vulnerable People
Damtew Gebretsadik, Health manager at Assosa Field Office,BGRS
Sisay Biruk, Camp Manager, Shimelba
Wossen Belete, Senior Supply Chain Officer
Patrician Gateru, Gender Equality Champion
Brita Fernandez Schmidt, Executive Director, Women for Women International UK
Amparo Miciano, Secretary General
Yasmin McDonnell, Humanitarian Policy & Advocacy Adviser
Hasna Behlok, Community Mobilizer
ANON, PM
Shahrin Chowdhury, Women Protection and Empowerment Manager
ANON, Community Mobilizer
Nasra Hassan, Governance and Rights Coordinator
Muna Jama, Health Manager
Abdirashid Adan, Medical Officer
abdullahihassans, medical officer
Halimasa'dia Abdi Ali, Community Engagement Manager
Fikadu Tadesse, CWI prevention officer
Naik Mohammad Qoraishi, Deputy Director Operations
Pauline Obongo, Nurse
Manal Fataftah, Women Empowerment and Protection Program Coordinator
Rana Almutairi, WPE Senior Response Officer
Dina Alkhazali, Counselor
Wala Alrefaei, Counselor
Suzan Matalkah, Counselor
Abdirahman, Senior Finance Officer
Mohamed Ali Sheikh Ali, Finance Assistant
Samah Mannai, Women Protection & Empowerment Senior Response Officer
Maggie Panetta, Program Assistant, Middle East
Dini Zakia, Communication & Networking Specialist
rishamadnan, Program Coordinator
Imdad Ali, Regional Coordinator
Sanni Bundgaard, Technical Advisor
Gebremariam, Hygiene and Sanitation Promotion Officer
Etsegennet Hailu, Human Resources
Elizabeth Akiru Paringiro, Community Health Officer
Alia Shawarbeh, Counselor
Celine Lesavre, Sexual & Reproductive Health Coordinator
Reine, Senior Response Officer
Rita Fenianos, WPE Capacity Building and Partnership Officer
Nicholas Muthuri Judith, Registered Clinical Officer
Suha Abdel Qader, Senior Response Officer
Poppy Kennedy,Policy and Advocacy Assistant
Fuad Abdi Aidid,Senior Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Ed Watkiss,Head of Business Development - Humanitarian Policy and Practice
Hana Mlouk,Community Mobilizer
Sara Tlayjeh,Life Skills Assistant in Women Protection and Empowerment sector
Triantafyllia Karanika,Protection Coordinator
Dina Tannous,WPE Case management officer
Claire Grant,Women's Protection Advisor
Kathryn Hoeflich,Deputy Director of Partnerships
Genet Shume,Women Development Manager
Moussa Arab,Senior Broadcast IT Security Consultant
Glykeria Arapi,Head of Local Programmes, Monitoring & Evaluation
Tontie Binado,Programmme Manager
Ora Mato Barclay Keller,Executive Director-The Girls for Change organization
Assad Abdella,Environmental Health Coordinator (WASH)
Christina,International Project Manager Women's rights (POWER project)
Nilofar Kayhan,Humanitarian and Development Program Manager
Sophie Laurence,Quality Unit
Malin Isabelle Daviknes,Partnerships Coordinator
Lubna Alkanawati,Country Director -Women Now for Development
Jamie Weiss-Yagoda,Senior Education Policy Advisor
Rebecca Fernandes,Education Program Coordinator
Jane Kim,Product Officer
Foday Kanyi,Programme Manager- Livelihoods, Resilience and Climate Justices
Kiruba Murugaiah,Education Advisor
Shaima Zahedi,Education Specialist
Meas Sopheareak,Fundraiser
Jalil Ahmad Karimi,Assessor & Distribution Officer
Rezene Asmelash,Senior Water Technical Officer
Sandrine Houel,Child Protection Coordinator
Genet Alemayehu,HR/Admin Assistant
Beatrice Rimberia,Nurse
Weldekiros Assefa,Water Technician Officer
Racha Fouani,Senior Case Management Officer -WPE-
Roselyne Buchichi,Clinical officer
Maxime,Head of Humanitarian Programs
Ivana Chapcakova,GBV Specialist
Hana Chakhari,PC
Haja Kakay,Women's Protection and Empowerment Senior Manager
Laurence,Quality of healthcare practices
Oscar Franklin,Partnerships Lead
Thomas Fedlu,Child Protection Coordinator