Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should work with the Government of Nepal to ensure that the unique needs, vulnerabilities, and capacities of women and girls are considered and addressed in efforts to provide humanitarian relief and assistance in reconstruction in the aftermath of the April 25, 2015, earthquake.

expresses deep sympathy to the people of Nepal for the terrible loss of life, displacement, and massive destruction as a result of the earthquake;

expresses solidarity with the people of Nepal and continued commitment to provide essential assistance to help Nepal recover from this tragedy;

expresses continuing support for relief and reconstruction assistance provided by relief agencies and the international community;

urges the treatment of the issues of gender equality, female empowerment, and preventing and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) against women and children as a priority for the United States Government’s humanitarian relief and recovery efforts in Nepal;

recognizes the commitment of the United States Government to the promotion of local solutions and building the capacity of grassroots organizations, particularly those led by women and other marginalized groups, through activities including the meaningful participation of women and girls in needs assessments, program design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation;

recognizes that GBV is a human rights violation that must be effectively addressed;

affirms that prioritizing safe educational and economic opportunities for Nepali women and young and adolescent girls that enable them to lift themselves and their families out of poverty is a cost-effective way to help reduce GBV;

recognizes the absolute necessity of prioritizing the protection and empowerment of women, young children, and adolescents in the post-disaster setting through efforts of the United States Government, relief agencies, and the international community;

recognizes the urgent opportunity to fully and effectively implement the interagency Safe from the Start program and the policies that inform it, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy, United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, and National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security;

urges implicated United States agencies to fund and implement programs that are consistent with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings and build on best practices and lessons learned in implementation of Safe from the Start and related protection; and

affirms a deep commitment to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through United States-led post-disaster recovery and reconstruction activities to promote equitable economic recovery and the realization of social, economic, and political rights.