Women as Humanitarian Leaders in Asia Pacific
The WaHL initiative is a significant effort aimed at empowering women within the Movement in the Asia-Pacific region to take on leadership roles within the humanitarian sector. It seeks to address gender disparities in leadership positions and create a more inclusive and equitable environment within the RCRC Movement.
In 2018, IFRC and its members committed to achieving gender parity in leadership by 2022 within the Asia Pacific. In December 2023, the Asia Pacific regional members reviewed their progress in Hanoi, which, at 31%, was well behind the target. They re-committed under the “Ha Noi Call for Action’ to achieve gender parity by 2028, this time with more intent and clearer plans and funding allocation, with support from the IFRC secretariat.
To inspire all women in Asia Pacific in their future within the IFRC secretariat and national societies, to have access to more opportunities for capacity building, support, inspiration, mentoring and coaching, in order to pursue leadership positions. It will focus on overcoming the different barriers that women at all levels of the organization face that may disengage and disillusion them and prevent them from accessing more senior positions.
