Protection, gender and inclusion
Poverty, disasters and conflicts are harmful to everyone, but certain groups of people are affected by them disproportionately.
Factors such as gender, age, different abilities, economic background, ethnicity or nationality can affect the vulnerability of the individual.
It is essential to promote gender equality and strengthen inclusion to allow us to protect those in vulnerable situations while remaining true to our fundamental principles.
Incorporating the ‘protection, gender and inclusion’ (PGI) approach in our work is vital. Failing to include the approach in our work would mean not reaching those that need our assistance.
How we help
The PGI approach helps us to keep people safe. It helps us to better understand and support those in various vulnerable situations.
This approach helps us to diversify our activities through the inclusion and engagement of people excluded from society.
Taking the PGI approach into consideration in all areas of our work helps us to plan better ways to provide aid. This increases the community’s trust towards and acceptance of us.
Inclusive local actors
We support our local partners so that they are able to strengthen their internal structures supporting equality and inclusion.
For example, we provide assistance in carrying out PGI assessments, developing important practices and tools that increase equality and inclusion, and improving the partner’s preparedness to take PGI-related action by increasing accessibility and availability.
Additionally, we use data for improving our services. Analysing statistical data tells us which groups of people we are not reaching. Based on this, we can plan how to better reach all of those in need of help, without leaving anyone behind.
Disability inclusion
Our projects increasingly focus on the inclusion of persons with disabilities. We support the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making in their communities.
Read about the achievements made in Nepal by providing peer support to persons with disabilities.
Finnish Red Cross promotes global and local partnerships with organizations of persons with disabilities and for this we have partnered with Abilis Consulting Ltd.
We are collaborating in awareness raising with local organisations of persons with disabilities for example in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Nepal.
Together, we increase awareness on disability and the importance of including persons with disabilities by training the personnel and volunteers of our local partners.
Protection in challenging context
Violence occurs everywhere and it is especially exacerbated during times of crisis and disaster. In emergencies, we pay special attention to protection. Our long-term projects address the root causes of inequality and violence and increase the safety of girls and women.
PGI experts are required in aid work to make sure that we meet the needs of those in the most vulnerable situations. We support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement by providing equality experts from among the aid worker reserve of the Finnish Red Cross.
Themes of the international aid of the Finnish Red Cross
