instigated . In 2011 Sendai , women composed only 10 % of DRR roles in the city . Since the disaster , Japan has incorporated more women as representatives in prefectural disaster management councils to ensure that they play a key role . Thanks to the Sendai Framework , other nations are also asking the question – What is the role of women in reducing disaster risk , and how can they be more fully included in the future ?
“ Adopting a gender-sensitive approach to disaster risk management is not only an issue of basic human rights but also effective on the practical level . Simply put , policies that ensure that women as well as men are fully involved in planning DRR strategies and are full participants in recovery efforts are more likely to succeed . Disaster response strategies that protect and assist women as well as men are better for the community as a whole . A gender-sensitive approach is also a smart policy in that it enables the resources of all members of an affected community to be fully utilized ,” (“ Disaster Risk Management ,” p . 17 ).
Recommendation .
1 . Gender Analysis : “ Humanitarian actors [ including all stakeholders involved in disaster response ,
such as the HN , UN , U . S . Government , military , civil society , international agencies , etc .] should carry out a rigorous and context-specific gender analysis of the populations they set out to support . […] Gender-sensitive baseline information – both qualitative and quantitative – should be collected at household and community level . Sex- and age- disaggregated data , as well as data on other social determinants of vulnerability , should be collected and analyzed routinely , in order to target assistance towards those most at risk ,” ( Oxfam ( 2013 ), p . 3 ). It is important as such that gender considerations and a gender assessment be incorporated into all HA / DR doctrine , handbooks , and guides .
2 . Response : Humanitarian actors as part of HA / DR must be mindful of vulnerabilities in disaster rescue and how gender and cultural norms may impact locations of where men , women , boys , and girls may be trapped during disasters . Temporary shelters should be designed in consultation with local women in order to take care of women ’ s specific needs . HN women should be in leadership positions during crises to ensure that women ’ s needs are addressed , and women ’ s and women ’ s organizations ’ official and unofficial disaster relief efforts should be acknowledged . Long-term response efforts to humanitarian disasters must be designed to deal with the social impacts if fewer women survive .
3 . Prevention : Implement the Sendai 2015-2030 framework to increase gender mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Reduction ( DRR ) efforts . Involving HN women and women ’ s organizations in HA / DR efforts is also paramount , making sure that women are not just included as tokens but as partners . Gender-sensitive prevention efforts aimed at decreasing the high rate of female mortality during disasters should include teaching women skills that may save their lives during disasters ( e . g ., tree climbing and swimming ) and familiarizing them with early warning systems . Furthermore , development work targeting gender inequalities may decrease the high rate of female mortality , since the gender gap is most exacerbated by women ’ s socioeconomic status .
Note : See also the recommendations within this document from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction ( UNISDR ) for increasing gender sensitivity in DRR : “ 20-Point Checklist on Making Disaster Risk Reduction Gender Sensitive .”
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