ACT Alliance believes in an end to gender inequality and injustice, gender-based discrimination and violence, and in closing the gender gap and address unequal power relationships for the promotion of human dignity for all. To this end, the ACT Alliance expects each member to develop a board-approved, gender justice policy which is specific and relevant to their local cultural and programmatic context within three years of the adoption of this ACT Alliance Gender Justice Policy.
While there has been progress on gender equality in some countries, women in many parts of the world suffer discrimination and are under-represented in decision-making processes. Violence against women remains an endemic problem inhibiting their full participation of women in their communities, economies and societies. When a humanitarian crisis occurs gender inequalities are even more acutely highlighted. In such situations, women, young girls and boys form the most vulnerable groups and are exposed to greater risk of sexual violence in particular. In recent years there has been growing evidence of violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice directed against people because of their gender and sexual identities.
The response to humanitarian and development needs and rights must be designed in a way that it pays attention to identifying the different needs, capacities and unique contributions of different individuals and groups. Ignoring these aspects has serious implications for the survival and protection of people and may create set-backs in efforts at long-term improvement.
Thus, all initiatives ranging from emergency assistance, recovery, reconstruction through to long term development, should utilize and benefit from gender sensitive analytical tools and approaches.
The first ACT Gender Equality Policy Principles were approved by ACT International Emergency Committee, 18 April 2008. On 6 September 2010 a revised policy was adopted by the ACT Alliance Governing Board, considering the broader mandate of ACT Alliance. Another revision was done in 2017 to make it congruent with existing standards and commitments adhered to by ACT Alliance. The 2025 revised policy includes a reference to the theological foundations, developed the policy’s mandatory nature and aligned this with the overall Quality and Accountability Framework of the Alliance. This policy applies to the ACT Secretariat, all ACT Alliance members, and affiliated staff/volunteers, to improve the quality and accountability to our commitments on gender justice.
ACT Alliance Gender Justice Policy 2025 English
