Women building their future: Gender breakthroughs in post-tsunami Aceh

This document examines the lessons learned from the Indian Ocean tsunami and looks at how the world can be better prepared and make wiser decisions when homes, livelihoods, and communities must be restored or replaced.

It documents what went wrong for women and girls in the aftermath of the tsunami. It notes that in Aceh, where mistakes were certainly made, significant gender breakthroughs were also realized. The recommendations include that a comprehensive plan for long-term recovery be developed and should include a gender-sensitive exit strategy that can institutionalize mainstreaming in the transition from relief and recovery to disaster resilient development.