The 2013 Because I am a Girl report found that:

• Violence against girls increases following a disaster

• Girls and young women are more vulnerable to sexual harassment and abuse during and after a disaster

• Even though girls’ vulnerability to gender based violence is recognised, actions to improve the situation are not being put into place

• There are not enough women in disaster response and assessment teams, despite guidelines stating there should be

• Measures like better lighting around toilets, protection around water points and working with men and boys to combat gender based violence is not integrated into humanitarian response enough

• Child marriage is used by families as a coping strategy during and following a disaster – most of the 25 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are considered fragile states, or at high risk of natural disaster. There is international recognition that child marriage is a widespread problem but the link with disasters has not yet been recognised.

GIRLS’ SAFETY AND DISASTERS