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In 1994 the Womens Commission for Refugee Women and Children carried out an assessment of reproductive health services in refugee situations. The study "Refugee Women and Reproductive Health Care: Reassessing Priorities" found that reproductive health care was not a priority for international relief agencies despite the fact that poor reproductive health is a significant cause of death and disease in refugee camps once emergency health needs have been met. In response the Womens Commission and other international organizations convened the Reproductive Health for Refugees Consortium (RHRC) with support from the Mellon Foundation. The RHRC is a group of seven agencies including the American Refugee Committee CARE International Columbia University International Rescue Committee JSI Research and Training Institute Marie Stopes International and the Womens Commission dedicated to improving reproductive health care in refugee and internally displaced settings emphasizing safe motherhood including emergency obstetrics family planning gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. (excerpt)