Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence in Disasters: A Planning Guide for Prevention and Response

摘要

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina delivered a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast of the United States, destroying homes, and in some cases, entire communities. The 140 mph winds and rain that ravaged New Orleans destroyed a number of crucial levees, drowning over 80 percent of the city in flood waters; it took more than two weeks for the waters to drain and recede. But an even greater misery befell New Orleans when residents discovered that there was little help timely and adequate disaster relief proved unattainable. This compound tragedy shocked the nation; a natural disaster made worse by human error, poor planning, discrimination, neglect, and apathy resulted in the destruction of lives, homes, and the infrastructure and economy of an entire city and region. Hurricane Katrina crippled the cultural and social well-being of communities and cities, and ultimately had a profound effect on the entire country. The implications of this disturbing disaster reveal many structural and institutional weaknesses and deficiencies in current disaster prevention and relief systems; they bring into sharp focus many of the challenges and needs in planning for and responding to future calamities. In the face of disaster, governments, national organizations and agencies, and individuals from across the globe will sometimes pull together to provide adequate response; at other times they fall woefully short and serve as a study in human and organizational failure. The case of Hurricane Katrina points to a need for the development and implementation of systematized local, national, and international policies for responding to disasters. In addition to the 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there were several other recent natural disasters that wreaked havoc and loss: the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes in California; 1992s Hurricane Andrew in Florida; the 2004 tsunami in South Asia, and earthquakes throughout the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America. These disasters underscore a compelling need for analysis of how to respond to tragedies and their victims, and how to begin to design systems and approaches to diminish and prevent harm, pain, injury and death. In the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, an increase in sexual violence became a tragedy within a tragedy. Women, children, and men who chose not to, or were unable to evacuate, often due to financial constraints, were trapped without safe drinking water, food, shelter, or sanitary facilities. Many people lost loved ones in the flooding that followed the storm; most lost their homes and possessions. A large majority of Gulf Coast residents lost their jobs, schools, and neighborhoods. Atop these atrocities, some women, children, and men became targets of sexual victimization by others, and suffered the additional pain and trauma of sexual assault.