Drawing attention to disproportionate effects on women and girls

April 4, 2011
Contact: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director
jessica@soroptimist.org
215-893-9000 x129

Philadelphia, Pa.—In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Soroptimist has made a $10,000 donation to The Iwaki Fureai Support Center, an organization that works with domestic violence victims in Iwaki City, Fukushima prefecture. The funds will be used to repair the badly damaged facility so that it can reopen to assist abused women who are in need of shelter and support services.

“During and following any disaster, we know from experience that women and girls are disproportionately vulnerable from a variety of dangers. They are especially at risk for domestic violence that tends to increase in the wake of disasters,” said Leigh Wintz, SIA’s executive director.

Soroptimist, an international organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls, has approximately 13,000 members in Japan, many of whom have been personally affected by the recent disasters.

 “Even though we have members suffering in Japan, they are reaching out to others who have greater need. We are gratified that three local Soroptimist clubs in Japan support the Iwaki Fureai Support Center through their service as board members.

“Our members in Japan have been working very hard to address the issue of domestic violence. It has been difficult because culturally it’s not always an easy job,” Wintz added. “This donation will help to continue the domestic violence work that is so urgently needed.”

Because of existing gender inequalities that are magnified during and after natural or man-made disasters, women are especially at risk. Typically, their primary roles as caregivers limits women who have less mobility and are often less able to evacuate even if there is warning of a coming disaster, as was the case in Japan. Following this disaster as in any other, the reconstruction process does not impact women and men equally. When aid is given to “heads of households,” women-headed families may be ignored.

More information about the devastating impact of disasters on women can be found in the Soroptimist whitepaper, “Reaching Out to Women When Disaster Strikes.”

“While the scale of the catastrophes in Japan is still being determined, we hope that all those involved in disaster relief and response—from aid workers to foreign militaries—make women’s health and safety a priority,” added Wintz. “Our hearts go out to all the people of Japan, but especially to the women whose special needs are often ignored.” 

In addition to making the $10,000 donation to repair the domestic violence shelter, Soroptimist will spend the coming months evaluating ongoing need in Japan. While Soroptimist is not an immediate relief organization, it has set up a special fund at www.Soroptimist.org/donate.html to accept contributions, which it will distribute to long-term relief projects that will assist Japanese women with rebuilding their lives. Updates will be posted at www.soroptimist.org and on the Soroptimist Facebook page.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Soroptimist offers programs that improve the lives of women and girls through social and economic empowerment. Its major program, the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, provides cash grants for women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training. Each year, about $1.5 million is disbursed to deserving women through this award-winning program. Soroptimist is a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs. For more information, visit Soroptimist.org.