Women's Refugee Commission

WRC’s vision is a world in which internally displaced and refugee women, children, and youth:
are safe, healthy, and self-reliant;
have their human rights respected and protected;
and inform and drive their solutions and development.

WRC drives change through targeted applied research, field assessments, pilot programs, and strategic advocacy to identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities within the humanitarian system. The organization identifies what needs to change and how to implement improved practices. WRC develops tools, guidance, trainings, and provides technical assistance to bring about needed improvements; and advocates with donors, policy makers and practitioners to ensure that recommendations are institutionalized and implemented across the globe.

WRC is recognized internationally for cutting-edge work on a wide range of issues—the U.S. State Department, donor governments and UN agencies turn to the WRC to inform their program and policy work on displaced and asylum-seeking women, children and youth. WRC is frequently invited to meet with officials, conduct high-level trainings, join coalitions, and provide input on legislation and policy. Fostering an environment for organizational learning is not only part of our internal culture, but also influences how we work with and communicate with our partners—including our local NGO implementing partners.

Our work begins in the community. We listen to displaced people and learn about their strengths and their unmet needs. Together with them and local partners we identify potential solutions to the challenges they face. We develop tools and provide technical assistance to practitioners to improve humanitarian response. We work with donors,
policymakers, and practitioners to ensure that our recommendations are institutionalized and implemented across the globe.

Economic Empowerment: We are advancing refugee women’s access to cash assistance and safe employment opportunities. This puts women more directly in charge of their finances, helping to increase their independence and reduce their risk of gender-based violence. WRC continues to update resources for practitioners, like our Toolkit for Optimizing Cash-based Interventions for Protection from Gender-based Violence.

Sexual and reproductive health: As the result of our advocacy and leadership, lifesaving sexual and reproductive health care is now a standard part of humanitarian response from the very onset of an emergency. WRC continues to undertake case studies to identify the SRH needs of women and girls in crisis, and we are currently working with partners to expand a community-based health program in Nigeria to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition services in areas affected by conflict.
Disability inclusion: We undertook groundbreaking research on refugees with disabilities. We piloted strategies that strengthen their resilience, and formed partnerships with humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and local organizations of women with disabilities to advocate for their inclusion and access at local and global levels.

Migrant rights and justice: We are recognized as a leader in defending the human rights of migrants, empowering migrant and refugee women, children, and families to seek protection and safety- including asylum- at international borders, and for holding the US government and other policymakers accountable when they violate those rights. WRC continues to monitor conditions of detention and access to asylum, attorneys, and due process – primarily in the United States, and documents our findings, makes recommendations for improvement, and advocates for change. We regularly provide education to the public and congress for government policies that uphold due process and human rights for migrants and families seeking protection.

Adolescent girls: Our research, resources, and trainings enable humanitarian practitioners to identify, engage, and support displaced adolescent girls, whose rights and needs are frequently overlooked. We are undertaking field assessments to understand how adolescent girls use technology to access sexual and reproductive health information and services.

Ending violence against women and girls: WRC is a leader in global efforts to prevent gender-based violence in emergencies, working with NGOs, UN agencies and donor governments to promote gender equality to mitigate risks of violence against displaced women and girls. WRC continues to support the GBV Call to Action to end gender-based violence in emergencies global initiative, in partnership with the Government of Canada.