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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.