Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
The need for gender-responsive and inclusive DRR has never been more urgent. Hazards and risks are not experienced equally; women, in particular, face unique challenges that compound the impacts of disasters. Yet amid these challenges, UNDRR is championing a transformative approach that ensures no one is left behind, not only reducing risks but also empowering communities to build a more resilient future.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Network for Disaster Risk Reduction has over 1,535 active members. Operating through autonomous working groups and guided by a robust long-term strategic plan, the network is redefining disaster resilience in the region. Liliam Patricia Cuevas Berrio from the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction affirmed:
The Women’s Network for Disaster Risk Reduction is a unique platform that highlights the vital role women play in disaster risk management. It fosters a sense of shared commitment and responsibility among its members, providing an opportunity for collaboration, learning and empowerment. Initiatives like these are essential to advancing resilience and ensuring inclusive governance in the region.
The Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities: Addendum for Gender Equality and Intersectionality has enabled local governments to diagnose gaps in their DRR strategies and implement tailored, gender-sensitive actions. This tool not only identifies weaknesses but also highlights opportunities for growth, ensuring that disaster response plans incorporate the perspectives and needs of all community members. Such initiatives are laying the groundwork for systemic change by transforming data into actionable insights and making gender equity a central pillar of disaster governance.
Beyond the Americas, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Manila broke new ground by establishing the first-ever Help Desk on gender-responsive and socially inclusive DRR. Its findings are already steering future interventions towards more meaningful dialogue and action.
Perhaps the most ambitious of these efforts is the Sendai Gender Action Plan (GAP), launched in March 2024. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has integrated the GAP into its National DRR Action Plan, directly addressing the unique risks faced by women and girls. As one Lao People’s Democratic Republic government representative stated, highlighting the transformative impact of this global initiative: “The Sendai GAP has been instrumental in helping us integrate gender-responsive strategies into our DRR action plan. It ensures that the needs of all our people are addressed during every step of the process.”
Similarly, in Cambodia, collaborative efforts between UNDRR and UN-Women have enriched national strategies with diverse gender perspectives. In Samoa, enhanced capacities for collecting disaggregated data have provided clearer insights into how disasters affect different groups, leading to more targeted DRR interventions. Initiatives in Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan have further bolstered gender-responsive governance.
The journey towards gender-responsive DRR is not without challenges. Persistent gender inequalities and entrenched social biases continue to pose risks that are often magnified during disasters. However, UNDRR is fostering environments where women and girls can lead the way in building safer, more resilient communities.
In 2024, UNDRR also made strides in championing disability inclusion, advocating for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in DRR at international events and in key discourses. Key moments included presentations at the thirtieth session of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Summit of the Future high-level event on disability inclusion and the Equality Conference in Ankara.
Closer to home, UNDRR implemented its disability inclusion policy, achieving milestones such as recruiting staff with disabilities, developing guidelines for reasonable accommodation, and ensuring participation of persons with disabilities in regional DRR platforms. Awareness was raised through publications and social media, and the UNDRR United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy focal point actively supported policy implementation.
Efforts extended to making workshops and webinars accessible, updating conference registration templates and ensuring accessible options for Disability Inclusion Scorecard workshops globally. UNDRR’s communication and knowledge management activities featured numerous content pieces on disability, garnering significant engagement on social media, to further spread the important message of inclusive DRR and how to make it happen.