InterAction

InterAction wishes you happiness and joy this holiday season!

The United Nations’ policy and decision-making processes are predominantly confined to exclusive spaces, with much of the work concentrated at its offices in Geneva and New York. These elite forums are removed from realities on the ground and often exclude those with lived experience. This needs to change. Along with Refugees SEAT, we take a look at how to enhance meaningful refugee participation. https://lnkd.in/eZugTkXz

Surging bureaucratic and administrative impediments (BAI) across Latin America are an increasing challenge to humanitarian access. So-called “NGO laws” and “Foreign Agent Laws,” which impose severe limitations on registration for civil society organizations, are one example of this global trend. NGOs that are forced to comply with reporting and registration requirements are subjected to stricter surveillance. However, those who do not comply risk losing necessary clearances, leaving humanitarian workers in volatile environments vulnerable to uncertainty, intimidation and threats, or even detention. A concerted effort is needed to address these measures, with a strong focus on advocacy and accountability. Our latest blog examines ⬇️

It’s not clear what will happen next in #Syria, or even if the war is over for good or simply heading into a new stage. What hasn't changed is that an estimated 16.7 million out of 23.5 million Syrians (more than 71%) are in need of some sort of assistance. Our Members, including The White Helmets, continue to to respond and provide support. Via The New Humanitarian 👇

Escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (#DRC) has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and left more than seven million people displaced. Meanwhile, the U.N. mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, is in the process of withdrawing. While civilians have taken steps to protect themselves, there is a pressing need to better understand and support these community-based protection mechanisms that are crucial for so many experiencing violence and displacement. Our Senior Program Manager for Protection, Caroline Zullo, shares a report produced with the Global Protection Cluster and DRC Protection Cluster that contains recommendations for Security Council Members, donors, and MONUSCO.

“InterAction stands in solidarity with the people of Syria and emphasizes the critical importance of centering Syrian voices and civil society during this pivotal period of transition. “The humanitarian needs across the country are immense, with nearly one million Syrians internally displaced since November 28 alone, and millions more enduring the devastating consequences of disrupted services and damaged infrastructure. Local Syrian organizations and civil society have been instrumental in providing life-saving assistance throughout the crisis, and their leadership must be supported and amplified." Read our full statement following the collapse of the Assad regime:

This year, our Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Working Group blog series amplified the voices of women and girls leading the charge against #GBV in humanitarian crises around the globe. For every woman and girl whose words made it into the series, there are countless others who remain unheard. This fight does not come without a price. The mental and emotional toll on GBV professionals, especially those who work closely with survivors, is an important yet often overlooked aspect of this field. Our final blog for the #16Days of Activism explains this issue and the need to prioritize the mental health of GBV professionals. Check the comments for a link to our site where you can see all eight blogs from the series, where Members highlight Sudan, Ukraine, Latin America, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, the DRC, and Guatemala.

In support of the #16Days of Activism to Prevent Gender-Based Violence (#GBV), our Senior Advisor for Protection coauthored an article with the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC on measuring sexual violence in conflict. The article highlights the use of the InterAction-led and developed GBV Prevention Evaluation Framework and its value to more effectively analyze, design, and measure GBV prevention outcomes. It challenges the humanitarian community to look beyond prevalence as the only source for measuring results. Read it here ⏬

Two major climate trends are reshaping the humanitarian landscape: the increasing frequency of acute, high-cost disasters and the rise of slow-onset crises like droughts and extreme heat. While the former—time-bound and often at least nominally predictable—has traditionally dominated humanitarian action, the latter presents a gradual, enduring challenge that demands urgent attention. Shelter and Settlements intern, Evan Anthony, examines the need for a holistic view of heat as a health and shelter issue, allowing for sustainable, dignified responses to one of the most pervasive challenges of our time.

The Guatemalan education system lacks vital sexual and reproductive health programs, with adolescent girls and young women suffering the most severe consequences of this lack of access to information. One of the most useful tools to address these issues is comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). Dulce Escalante and Faiza Husainy of the International Rescue Committee explain in this #16Days blog ⏬