The importance of gender equality in Disaster Risk Reduction planning in Central Asia
Joint statement by UNICEF and the IFRC Regional Offices for Europe and Central Asia
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change. On this International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, UNICEF and IFRC call on governments and partners to ensure that emergency and disaster preparedness plans integrate gender specific needs assessments and those responding to climate change-related disasters and emergencies are prepared to respond to the unique needs of women and girls.
Despite the increasing attention, pledges, commitments, and action plans at multiple levels towards preparing for and responding to climate related emergencies, the recent Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-20301 notes significant gaps in inclusion of women and girls in disaster risk reduction planning and response, including across Europe and Central Asia. For example, just 4 per cent of 225 COVID-19 task forces created during the pandemic in 137 countries had gender parity. Around 84 per cent were considered male dominated.2
Overall, there is a lack of consideration for how girls and women access services and resources before, during and after emergencies, a limited number of services for them to access, and little data to inform on the different needs, risk exposure levels, coping mechanisms and vulnerabilities of women and girls, especially those with intersecting discriminations.
UNICEF and the IFRC are working together to bring women and girls to the forefront of disaster risk reduction planning, governance mechanisms and response in the Central Asian region. By conducting targeted gender in emergencies trainings for government, non-governmental organizations, teachers and administrators at the forefront of disaster response planning and implementation across all countries in Central Asia, UNICEF and the IFRC are calling on governments, donors, policy makers and civil society:
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to promote gender equality and empowerment of women and girls across disaster risk reduction initiatives and adopt targeted actions mobilizing both men and women to promote gender equality outcomes in disaster risk reduction;
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to step up efforts to recognize the importance of taking into consideration the unique needs of women and girls and including their capacities, skills, knowledge, and participation in the development of disaster risk reduction action plans and frameworks;
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to increase the voice, participation and engagement of women and girls in framing disaster risk reduction initiatives;
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to enhance political accountability, institutional capacities and financial resources for concrete gender transformative policies, finances, substantive programmes and action on advancing gender and disaster risk reduction efforts across the region.
[1] UNDRR, Summary: High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, <https://sendaiframework-mtr.undrr.org/>, p.7
[2] UNDRR, Policy Brief: Gender-Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction, March 2022, <https://www.undrr.org/>, p.2
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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
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About IFRC
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network. Our secretariat supports local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 191 countries, bringing together more than 16 million volunteers for the good of humanity.
