Where we focus

Women & Girls

Women and girls—particularly in places affected by crisis—face discrimination, violence, and a lack of equal opportunities that threaten their lives and rob them of their potential. But with the right support and investment, they can change their own future and uplift entire communities. They can change the world.

Our goals

The International Rescue Committee is proud to fight for a world where women and girls have an equal chance to succeed.

Women and girls see real improvements to their safety, health, education, economic wellbeing, and their ability to make decisions that affect their lives.
How we get there:
Women's rights are human rights. The IRC is working to break down barriers for women and girls and ensure gender equality is a cornerstone of all of our programs.

See our work in action.
As many women as possible have the ability and power to create real change in their lives and communities.
How we get there:
We will work with women and girls of all ages to help them thrive. And we will rigorously measure the impact of IRC programs and share what we’ve learned with other organizations.

Stand with women and girls.
All people, regardless of their gender, enjoy the same rights and opportunities.
How we get there:
Narrowing the gender gap calls for addressing inequalities within our own organization, both through our hiring practices and how we operate day-to-day.

Read our Gender Action Plan.

Fast facts

As humanitarian need increases overall during the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRC is concerned that more women and girls at risk of gender-based violence are being left behind.

15 million

people in need, mainly women and girls, are missing out on gender-based violence services.

Despite a “shadow pandemic” of violence driven by COVID-19, the IRC found that funding for these services did not grow proportionally alongside need.

< $11

is allocated for each person in need of gender-based violence support services.

A new analysis by the IRC finds that the average funding request for gender-based violence services is only 3% of the total needed.

20 million

girls are at risk of not returning to school because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRC is calling on the international community to increase the involvement of local women leaders in developing COVID-19 response plans.

News and features

A mother kisses and holds the head of her son.

World Refugee Day 2022

100 million people displaced around the world: what you need to know

There are now 100 million people displaced worldwide as a result of the Ukraine war and new waves of conflict and violence in other countries.

A young woman, with her back to the camera, sits at a desk and types on her laptop.

Afghans in the U.S.

A young Afghan computer programmer builds her new life

Namkeen, wearing a red, black and grey head scarf, poses for the camera

Against the odds

Meet Namkeen, a trans rights activist changing attitudes in Pakistan

Namkeen shares her story

An Afghan aid worker's message to the world

Watch the video

A girl in a red dress runs through a camp for displaced people in Kabul, Afghanista. There are people an makeshift homes in the background.

Against the odds

An Afghan woman and aid worker speaks out

Reports

The International Rescue Committee's Gender Action Plan

Access to sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cox’s Bazar

See all reports and resources