The rationale for integrating a gender perspective in the activities of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies lies in the Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian mandate - to prevent and alleviate human suffering without discrimination. Gender equality ensures that there is no sex-based discrimination in the allocation of resources or benefits, or in access to services. The purpose of this policy is to define the main approach of the Federation to how to address gender issues in Red Cross and Red Crescent actions. The Federation's focus is on gender, rather than specifically on women.
Gender refers to the roles, responsibilities, needs, interests and capacities of both men and women.
These are influenced by social and cultural factors. Men and women often play different roles in society and accordingly they may have different needs. This policy establishes the basis for the Federation and individual National Societies to ensure that the gender differences are taken into account and dealt with in relation to core programmes as defined in Strategy 2010, such as disaster relief, disaster preparedness, health and promotion of humanitarian values. With regard to gender issues, the goal of the Federation is to ensure that all Red Cross and Red Crescent programmes benefit men and women equally, according to their different needs and with the input and equal participation of men and women at all levels within the National Societies and the Federation's Secretariat. This includes performance evaluations, budget allocation analysis and actions to enable the full participation of men and women on an equal and meaningful basis in all Red Cross and Red Crescent activities at all levels.