Women's Refugee Commission records, 1979-2024

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Access restricted. Donor permission is required to access the series Reproductive Health Program with the exception of Summary Outputs located in Box 13B. Contact Research Services for information....
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Women's Refugee Commission and Human Rights Archive (Duke University)
Abstract:
The Women's Refugee Commission (WRC) was established in 1989 as part of the International Rescue Committee. It advocates for laws, policies, and programs to improve the lives and protect the rights of refugee and internally displaced women, children, and adolescents. Collection includes audiovisual materials; field and research reports; program materials; files from its executive directors, board of directors, board and commission members, and foundation; subject files; media binders; and other assorted materials. Featured in the audiovisual materials are interviews; specific initiatives such as the WRC's Voice of Courage luncheons; and footage and photographs from trips to refugee camps. In addition, materials include focus on programs aimed at children, education, and youth; the Reproductive Health program; the Livelihoods program; and others. Countries represented include Cambodia, Afghanistan, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Thailand, Myanmar, Israel, Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Liberia, Kosovo, Iraq, Zambia, Tanzania, the United States, and others. Material predating the founding of the WRC primarily includes photographs from UNHCR and other organizations. Acquired as part of the Human Rights Archive.
Extent:
57 Linear Feet
0.92 Gigabytes
Language:
Majority of material in English
Collection ID:
RL.01405

Background

Scope and content:

The collection materials represent different operations within the Women's Refugee Commission including its work with refugees, programs, and internal activities with the majority created since the organization's founding.

It includes a wide range of audiovisual materials depicting WRC staff such as speaking engagements, luncheons, and interviews, as well as those depicting refugees such as raw footage of trips to refugee camps, field visits, testimony, and other activities. There are extensive printed materials and publications produced by WRC including trip reports to refugee camps around the world; public reports and guidelines on specific issues such as domestic and gender-based violence, reproductive health, and the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), armed conflict and its effects on children, and fuel alternatives and strategies.

Several series focus on programs led by WRC including work related to children, youth, and education; women; reproductive health; and social livelihoods and protection. Materials frequently found throughout include reports and meeting files, but there are also conference and event files, donor and subgrantee files, research files, agendas, and other assorted materials. The majority of material with the Reproductive Health series is restricted.

In addition, there are clippings and other files related to refugees and WRC's media coverage; files related to foundations, trusts, and charities supporting WRC; and a wide range of subject files focused on topics relevant to WRC's work including refugee women and their organizations, internal displacement, literacy, resettlement, projects, education for girls and adolescents, and WRC's partners in refugee work.

Finally, the collection includes materials such as summary reports; correspondence; meeting files; files for board members, commissioners, experts, and fundraisers; mailings, donor files; design materials; and other assorted materials. They cover the work done by Executive Directors Mary Diaz, Carolyn Makinson, and Sarah Costa; the Board of Directors; staff at the New York Office and those at the Washington D.C. office. These files include topics such as the WRC programs and initiatives, UN Security Council resolutions, Advocacy Day, Haiti, gender, immigration, anniversary celebrations, publications, and working groups.

Acronyms frequently used in the collection:

  • AGDM: Age Gender Diversity Mainstreaming
  • CSW: Commission on the Status of Women
  • EmOC: Emergency Obstetric Care
  • GBV: Gender-based Violence
  • INS: Immigration and Naturalization Service (US)
  • IRC: International Rescue Committee
  • MISP: Minimum Initial Service Package
  • RH: Reproductive Health
  • RHC: Reproductive Health in Crises
  • RHRC: Reproductive Health Response in Conflict Consortium
  • SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
  • UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund
  • UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • WPS: Women, Peace, and Security
  • WRC: Women's Refugee Commission

Biographical / historical:

The Women's Refugee Commission, originally known as the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, was founded in 1989 by Catherine O'Neill, Liv Ullmann, Susan Forbes Martin, and Susan Stark, with the support of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Mary Anne Schwalbe served as the founding director, from 1989 to 1994. She was followed by executive directors Mary Diaz, 1994-2004, Carolyn Makinson, 2004-2010, and Sarah Costa, 2010 to the present. The organization aims "to ensure that the voices of refugee women are heard and to provide these women and their families with the best opportunities for safe, productive lives and a future without fear."

Today there are several programs within the Women's Refugee Commission, including Reproductive Health, Fuel & Firewood Initiative, Livelihoods, Youth, Disabilities, Detention & Asylum, and Gender. To address the needs of displaced women, children, and youth, the WRC staff works with local humanitarian groups to document best practices, propose solutions, and lobby for improvements in refugee policies and protections within the United States and at the United Nations.

Source: Women's Refugee Commission, visit their website: www.womensrefugeecommission.org

Acquisition information:
The Women's Refugee Commission records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2009-2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Meghan Lyon, November 2009; Alice Poffinberger, October 2018, July 2019; Tere Elizalde, October 2025

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, November 2009; Clare Callahan, August 2012 Web content described by Michelle Runyon, May 2020 Materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2009-0235, 2009-0212, 2010-0122, 2011-0068, 2011-0128, 2011-0131, 2012-0150, 2016-0110, 2025-0115

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access restricted. Donor permission is required to access the series Reproductive Health Program with the exception of Summary Outputs located in Box 13B. Contact Research Services for information.

Access restricted. The Washington D.C. Office Files are closed until 2031 unless prior permission is received from the donor.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are original audiovisual items that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that need to be reformatted. Access copies of electronic records require special equipment. Contact Research Services for access.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Women's Refugee Commission records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m13142