Significance of gender in Aceh aid management

Significance of gender in Aceh aid management

Nori Andriyani, Jakarta

This article focuses on the need to ensure that gender
equality is adopted in all aid efforts in Aceh, particularly
those by the government and development agencies.

A gender perspective is significant to ensure equality in aid
between men and women victims of the Aceh tsunami. This
perspective means that we acknowledge the different needs of men
and women. This perspective also makes us aware of the
patriarchal culture here that could result in blocking access of
women to aid.

Aceh is a province long riddled with armed conflict between
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government. The
people of Aceh have been traumatized by the conflict. On top of
this is the tsunami disaster. The building of a new Aceh is a
crucial and significant effort to be undertaken by all. We not
only need to rebuild the physical structures, but also the Aceh
people's dignity.

This comprehensive rebuilding need for Aceh also means the
need to ensure that women's interests are guaranteed and
strengthened.

Data from the National Coordinating Body on Disaster and
Refugee Management (Bakornas PBP) shows the number of refugees in
Aceh totaling 394,285. Meanwhile, the women's empowerment
minister stated in her report to the House of Representatives
last month that 60 percent of the refugees are female. This is a
considerable number of women refugees that need support. This
data shows the significance of focusing on women's needs, young
and old.

The minister also reported that about 20 percent of the
refugees are children. With a majority of refugees being women,
the question is then how aid has so far met women's needs. This
data on refugees, differentiated by gender and age, is important
for planning the effective management of aid for Aceh.

When we review the local and international news, the overall
impression is that aid for tsunami victims is in the form of
food, water, shelter, medication and the public works of burying
the dead and cleaning the cities of debris. We do not see aid in
the form of underclothes (bras and underwear) for women and
menstruation pads.

Efforts to meet women's needs are clearly minimal, as first,
there are far more women than available menstruation pads.
Second, and more importantly, women's needs go beyond
menstruation pads.

The fuller list of women's immediate needs may include
vitamins for pregnant and nursing women, maternity girdles for
women after birth, medicines for pregnant or menstruating women,
head scarves and other Muslim women's clothing for the dominantly
Muslim Acehnese.

Besides the immediate needs for women's day-to-day living,
there is also the need for privacy and this need is related to
safeguarding against the potential sexual harassment of women.

The list of women's needs above are the immediate needs after
the disaster. Besides this, there are longer term and strategic
needs for women and they relate to access and empowerment.

These include, first, enabling women to get back land and
housing documents lost in the waters.

Second, allocating a budget for young female students to get
scholarships for school and university.

Third, allocating a budget for women to get training in
starting small businesses.

Fourth, providing women the allocation of credits to start
small businesses. The World Bank before the tsunami disaster was
supporting PEKKA, a project for Aceh women's economic
empowerment. This is one example that the support for women
tsunami victims can take.

Fifth, immediate trauma healing specifically for women so that
they can quickly return to a productive state. Many Acehnese
women are, for example, nurses who have been traumatized and
cannot resume work immediately. Another need is for the stronger
Aceh women to be able to help with the healing process for other
Aceh women. The work of community-based trauma healing that such
NGOs like Pulih Foundation and the Women's Volunteers for
Humanity in Aceh could set the example of women empowerment.

All these supports have to be available for women without
having to have recognition from father, husband or other male
members of the family. These are the affirmative actions needed
for Aceh women. Also, by acknowledging women as independent
entities, we help women out of the patriarchal constraints that
hinder their progress.

These examples are some of the pro women policies that have to
be taken by the national and local government institutions
managing the Aceh aid, as well as by international and local
development organizations working in Aceh.

All of the suggested ways to meet women's specific needs and
the need to ensure access for women to be independent and
sustainable will only remain an empty dream if they are not
adopted by the major players in the rebuilding of Aceh. The first
major player is the government.

The most important bodies needing active presence of the
ministry's officials are the Bakornas and the newly formed agency
called the Badan Otorita Aceh. The approach to ensure gender
perspective is included in the two bodies can be by first,
establishing a separate unit for women or second, by
mainstreaming gender throughout the body or both.

Besides the government, it is obvious that development
organizations, particularly the international ones have shown a
significant role in the aid for Aceh tsunami victims.

It is important for these organizations to also acknowledge
women's specific needs and develop affirmative action programs
for women. Some of these organizations, have taken the first
approach of establishing a separate unit to work towards gender
equality.

It is over a month since the Aceh tsunami disaster. Media
reports on it have started to recede. Yet, the work of rebuilding
Aceh has just started. It is very important to bear in mind the
main principle of empowerment for the Aceh people themselves and
not to make them merely objects or project targets. A part of
this principle is for aid to Aceh to have a strategic approach
for women's empowerment.

The author is a graduate student in the Women's Studies
Program at the University of Indonesia.