Download UNIFEM y el alcance de las metas comprometidas en el marco del

BRIEFING ON THE TECHNICAL WORKING
GROUP (TWG) ON GENDER EQUALITY AND
THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (GEEW)
OF THE REGIONAL COORDINATION
MECHANISM (RCM)
DR SUZETTE MITCHELL UNIFEM (PART OF UN WOMEN)
FOR IAP 4TH AMCDRR PREPARATORY MEETING 13 AUGUST
2010, INCHEON, KOREA
DRR & climate change are not gender neutral
Woman coping with flooded homestead.
Source: WEDO/ ActionAid Bangladesh, “Gender, Climate Change and Human Security”, 2008
STRUCTURE
• The Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) is an
ECOSOC mandated body delegated with the task to
coordinate UN system work in the economic and social
sectors at the regional level.
• Chair of the RCM is ESCAP
• The RCM is an executive level body with membership of
over 25 UN and affiliated agencies (includes the ADB
and IOM). The heads of agencies are represented in the
RCM. It's focus is to support the concept of "Delivering
as One UN" at the regional level.
RCM has six subsidiary bodies, which are
thematic and oriented around those areas that
are cross-sectoral and involve the work of
multiple UN agencies. The TWG for Gender
Equality and Empowerment of Women (TWGGEEW) is one of them. It is co-chaired by
ESCAP and UNIFEM (part of UN-Women).
Members:
ESCAP, UNIFEM , FAO, ICAO, ILO, ITU, UNAIDS,
UNDCP, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO,UNFPA,
UNFPA/CST, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, WFP,
WHO, Asian Development Bank (ADB), World
Bank, Asian Institute for Technology (AIT),
International Organization for Migration
(IOM),Regional NGOs
RCM Thematic Working Groups
Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
(Co-chaired by ESCAP and UNIFEM)

Education for All
(Co-chaired by UNESCO and UNICEF)

Health
(Co-chaired by WHO and UNFPA)

Poverty and Hunger
Co-chaired by FAO, UNDP and ESCAP)

Environment and Disaster Management
(Co-chaired by UNEP, OCHA and ESCAP)

Migration and Human Trafficking
(Co-chaired by IOM and ESCAP)

Items discussed in meetings 2010
ESCAP and / or UNIFEM to represent the TWG-GEEW at the
ISDR Asia Partnership (IAP) Meeting, 10-13 August 2010.
ESCAP and / or UNIFEM to represent the TWG-GEEW at the
Fourth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction,
25-28 October 2010.
ESCAP and UNISDR to discuss the modalities of holding a side
event and mainstreaming gender in the substantive sessions and
outcome document of the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on
Disaster Risk Reduction, and report back to the TWGGEEW
Follow up activities
TWG-GEEW compiled a list of suitable speakers to contribute to
the opening of the conference and the panel of a technical
session on Green Growth with Climate change Adaption and
Disaster Risk Reduction.
New resources being reviewed:
A review of Gender Issues in Disaster Risk Reduction in India
and Sri Lanka; Cross-Cutting or Side-lined?
•
A Critical Review of Cross-Cutting Issues in the Hyogo Framework
for Action Monitoring Process
•
Tool for Monitoring Cross-Cutting Issues in the Hyogo Framework
for action: Indicators and Strategies for Change
•
Regional UN system response: What has been done ?
The HFA progress review cycle 2007/9 coordinated by UN/ISDR monitors for the
extent to which countries in Asia and the Pacific rely on gender to
achieve their disaster risk reduction goals
Gender mainstreaming exercises in environment and disaster risk management.
At the UN entity level:
- Several gender mainstreaming initiatives are being implemented at the
programme level;
- Some agencies have specific action plans for gender mainstreaming in place
- Gender focal points have been appointed;
- Gender awareness-raising training for staff is carried out (by ESCAP, UNDP,
UNIFEM, WB, FAO).
-A Guidance Note on integrating gender sensitive DRR into MDG based UNDAFs has
been developed by UN/ISDR and UNDG
Priority Gender Issues on Environment & Disaster management
More women die than men as the direct and indirect result of natural disasters.
Following the Indian Ocean Tsunami, about 70-80 per cent of all deaths were
amongst the female populations16 and in Bangladesh after the 1991 cyclone disasters,
death rates among women were almost four times greater than those among men.
Differential impacts on men and women. Disasters and climate change related events
have different impacts on women and men – they are not gender neutral. This is due to
the different roles they occupy, the different responsibilities given to them in life, and the
differences in their capacities, needs and vulnerabilities.
Socio-cultural impacts. In the aftermath of disasters, women’s work load often
increases as they become the sole breadwinners for their families when men die, are
injured or migrate.
Psycho-social impacts. Disasters can result in increased suffering from domestic
violence and social exclusion, or post-traumatic stress disorders in women, who are also
often called upon to contribute to disaster recovery and to rebuilding shattered
communities.
Economic impacts. In the aftermath of disasters, women’s economic dependency on
men may further increase. When income generation opportunities become scarce, men
often venture into economic activities usually dominated by women, reducing women’s
economic opportunities.
Left out of planning for disaster risk management and response.
Women are often missing from the decision-making processes related to disaster
risk management, such as post disaster assessments, recovery programming, and
disaster reduction. Women are also often absent in climate change decisions,
such as adaptation and mitigation. The special needs of women and girls are
therefore not sufficiently met – or met as an afterthought.
Missed opportunities. Women are still seen as victims only, not as active agents of
change. Thus, women’s contributions to community led responses and recovery
activities and their specific skills and knowledge is not yet sufficiently recognized
and utilized across the region.
Women and Climate Change. Relatively little is known about the employment
and livelihood impacts of climate change. The sectors most likely affected by
climate change related event are the ones most directly dependent on the
weather, agriculture and tourism. Women stand to be disproportionately affected
by the impacts of climate change, not only because of theirbpresence in these
key sectors but also because of their family roles.
Impacts on women
The Impacts of DRR and
Climate Change on Women
CROP FAILURE
FUEL
SHORTAGE
Climate Change
SHORTAGE OF
SAFE,
CLEAN WATER
RESOURCE
SCARCITY
NATURAL
DISASTERS
DISEASE
DISPLACEMENT
WEDO 2008
CIVIL WAR / CONFLICT
Household food provision;
Increased agricultural work
Household fuel provision;
food-fuel conflicts
Household water provision;
exposure to contaminated
sources
Economic drawbacks; lack of
land tenure; resourcedependent livelihoods; school
dropouts, early marriage
Greater incidence of mortality;
reduction of life expectancy
Lack of access to healthcare;
increased burden of caring for
young, sick and elderly
Loss of livelihoods; lack of
adequate shelter; conflicts
Loss of livelihoods and lives;
sexual violence and trauma
Example of
exacerbated cycle of
poverty for women
WEDO 2008
Recommendations
Advocacy: There is a lack of understanding and awareness on gender issues,
often equated to women's issues. There is a need to: (1) Advocate for increased
political accountability and funding for regional action in the area of gender
sensitive disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; (2) Advocate for
increased representation and participation of women in all aspects of disaster risk
management and climate change adaptation.
Policy: So far, there have been many ad-hoc initiatives and policy commitments
but few practical strategies. Gender is still treated as an ‘add on’ issue with
isolated gender focal points/gender desks without true multi-disciplinary
integration efforts.
Tools: Gender analysis is not systematically applied during regional project design
and implementation, thus there is a need to develop regional guidelines and
methodologies that integrate gender, DRR, CC and Environment.
Research & Information: There is still a lack of disaggregated data on gender and
environment and disaster related issues, therefore there is a need for: (1) more
systematic research and data collection on differential impacts of disasters on
women and men in Asia and the Pacific;(2) to commission a regional study on
the economic costs of neglecting women in climate change issues.