The invitation to join the initiative was extended by Monique Pariat, Director General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, in a meeting with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, this past February.
"Upon acceding to the initiative, Latvia commits itself to train and inform staff involved in dealing with emergencies and providing humanitarian assistance on matters of prevention of gender-based violence, as well as integrating those topics in training materials," the ministry said.
The “Call to Action” is a global initiative formally launched in 2013 by the United Kingdom and Sweden. The initiative aims at reducing and mitigating gender-based violence risk across all levels and sectors of humanitarian response from the earliest stages of emergencies, especially violence against women and girls, and at providing assistance to those affected by GBV.
The initiative brings together 72 members: states (including 15 EU Member States), donors, international organisations, and civil society organisations. At the end of June Latvia will take part in the annual Call to Action partners meeting for the first time.