Purpose
This document looks at natural disasters and their gender specific impact. It looks at the risks women face in disasters and states that it is important that women not only be viewed as victims of disaster, but as agents of change as well.
Overview
- Gender is a significant factor in the construction of social vulnerability in relation to risk of natural disasters, the differential impact of disasters and potential for developing adequate responses to hazards and disasters. Gender-based differences and inequalities put some women and girls in particularly vulnerable situations.
- Women should not only be seen as victims. Women are agents of change, actors and contributors at all levels. Full understanding of the roles, contributions and knowledge of women and men in relation to the natural resource base is an essential starting point in working with natural disasters, particularly in terms of risk assessment and management.
- Emergency response and management must explicitly target women as well as men in all areas of support, based on the recognition that women’s involvement is essential to adequate recovery and potential for sustainable development and reduction of natural disasters.
Usage: Policy development
Audiences: Technical staff; Gender and diversity practitioners; Volunteers
Reference: United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (April 2004). Making Risky Environments Safer. Women 2000 and beyond. Published by the Division for the Advancement of Women/DESA. Pp.1-28. Available from: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/public/w2000-natdisasters-e.pdf [Accessed: 19th September 2015].
