What We Do
The goal of the Reproductive Health Response in Crises (RHRC) Consortium* is to increase access to a range of quality, voluntary reproductive health (RH) services to crisis- affected persons around the world. Read more about Who We Are.
Mission Statement
The Reproductive Health Response in Crises (RHRC) Consortium is dedicated to the promotion of reproductive health for all persons affected by humanitarian crises. The RHRC Consortium promotes sustained access to comprehensive, high quality RH programs in emergencies and advocates for policies that support RH of persons affected by armed conflict.
We believe that everyone has a right to quality reproductive health care and that reproductive health programming must promote rights, respect and responsibility for all. To this end, the RHRC Consortium adheres to three fundamental principles: using participatory approaches to involve the community at all stages of programming; encouraging RH programming during all phases of emergencies, from the initial crisis to reconstruction and development; and employing a rights-based approach in all of its work, as articulated in the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development Program of Action.
The RHRC Consortium is comprised of seven agencies: American Refugee Committee, CARE, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, International Rescue Committee, JSI Research & Training Institute, Marie Stopes International, and Women’s Refugee Commission.
Objectives
RHRC Consortium members work together in the following areas:
• Service Provision: To expand and improve reproductive health services for crisis-affected women, men and adolescents.
• Assessment: To promote the inclusion of reproductive health and gender as part of the initial situational analysis in emergencies and ongoing needs assessments in displacement and post-conflict settings.
• Design, Monitoring and Evaluation: To develop, disseminate and utilize guidelines for the design, monitoring and evaluation of reproductive health projects in humanitarian settings.
• Training: To promote the use of existing training modules and develop, adapt and test new modules to improve reproductive health education and services.
• Research: To pursue a select research agenda to improve service delivery and funding for reproductive health for crisis- affected populations.
• Capacity Building: To provide technical and organizational development support and linkages for local and national organizations to provide quality reproductive health services in humanitarian settings.
• Advocacy: To advocate for improved reproductive health services and favorable policies among governments and agencies providing assistance to crisis-affected populations.
• Documentation and Dissemination: To document and disseminate good reproductive health practices and lessons learned on reproductive health in humanitarian settings, targeting crisis-affected communities, field staff, managers, policy makers and donors.
• RAISE: RHRC Consortium member agencies are partners of the Reproductive Health Access, Information and Services in Emergencies (RAISE) Initiative, a global endeavor designed to catalyze change in how reproductive health is addressed within relief organizations, field services and global decision-making.
Today's Realities
• 40 MILLION ARE DISPLACED: There are more than 40 million refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing conflict and persecution in the world today. Millions more are affected by natural disasters.
• WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE AT RISK: During crises, women and girls face extraordinary difficulties that affect their reproductive health. In any population, 15% of pregnant women will suffer unforeseen life-threatening complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Rape and other forms of gender-based violence escalate during conflict, disaster and displacement. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and human trafficking; they are at increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• GENDER: Conflicts and natural disasters affect women, girls, boys and men differently. In the 2005 tsunami, up to 80% of those who died were women in parts of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In contrast, in situations of armed combat, young men are more often
the primary victims. Yet, gender considerations, including the different needs and equal opportunities for women, girls, boys and men, are often inadequate in emergency response.
• REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IS LACKING: Reproductive health services designed to meet the needs of women, men and adolescents remain inadequate in refugee, internal displacement and other humanitarian settings. Lack of access to reproductive health services results in preventable death, morbidity and disability among women, men and adolescents; an increase in the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS; and an increase in unsafe abortions.
• NEEDS ARE BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM: The average length of displacement for refugees is 17 years; they need comprehensive reproductive health services throughout this period. Sustainable solutions in humanitarian settings may take years to achieve. Agencies must integrate reproductive health and gender considerations into their emergency preparedness in order to implement priority reproductive health services outlined in the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health at the onset of a crisis. More comprehensive reproductive health services should be offered as the situation stabilizes.
Our Accomplishments
The RHRC Consortium has significantly contributed to improved reproductive health in humanitarian settings. Major accomplishments include:
• Expansion of reproductive health service delivery: Increased access to reproductive health services in over 110 sites in 48 countries through collaborative work with governments and NGOs.
• Participation in global evaluation of reproductive health services in humanitarian settings: In 2004, conducted a global evaluation with partners to highlight the progress and remaining gaps in improving reproductive health services for crisis-affected populations.
• Initiation of research, publication of papers and hosting of research conferences: Together with technical and local partners, conducted research to document refugee and internally displaced persons’ needs to better advocate to donors and policy makers, and to improve reproductive health service delivery. Organized three landmark research conferences on reproductive health in emergencies in 2000, 2003 and 2008.
• Integration of the MISP in the Sphere standards: Successfully advocated for the integration of the MISP for Reproductive Health in the 2004 revised version of the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response for humanitarian assistance providers.
• Partnered with key alliances for advocacy: Actively collaborated with other agencies to draft, field test, revise and update Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings: An Inter-agency Field Manual, a key field tool to guide quality reproductive health services in crisis settings.
• Development and dissemination of resource materials: Published reports, field guides, manuals and articles that have led to measurable improvements in reproductive health care for crisis-affected populations, including field-friendly manuals for humanitarian workers on HIV/AIDS, emergency contraception, the MISP, gender-based violence, emergency obstetric care and sexually transmitted infections.
*formerly Reproductive Health Response in Conflict Consortium
