Uprooted from their homes and detached from family and community, women and girls become targets for attack because of their gender. Today, rape and sexual abuse have become weapons of war and strategies for ethnic cleansing. Traumatised and exhausted women trek out of war zones, hoping to find a safer if not truly safe place for themselves and their families. But the crowded conditions in camps and settlements increase their vulnerability, as does the necessity of venturing into unfamiliar countryside to collect water or gather wood for fuel. Stripped of the economic means of survival, many are exploited sexually or forced into prostitution simply to ensure their children have something to eat.
Humanitarian assistance helps women to protect themselves and their children.
We have learned that involving women in the management and distribution of relief is not simple idealism it is a proven and effective strategy for reaching the most vulnerable people. But women are too often seen only as the victims of war. My experience over the last decade has convinced me that women are also crucial to building peace and making the transition to sustainable development. In fact, women are often the first to build bridges across divided communities and to work toward co-existence and reconciliation. The influence of women should not be limited to the grassroots level.