Protection tools for women the response and recovery stages

Neumayer and Pleumper (for literature source see original document) suggest that policy makers, NGOs and the academic community “need to pay closer attention” to two aspects, in order to better protect women during the response and recovery stages of a disaster. One aspect to pay attention to is the medical, economic and security issues that women face. Another is to develop “mechanisms to ensure fair and non-discriminatory allocation of relief resources”. This is perhaps a limited recommendation, against the backdrop of the huge amount of valuable research undertaken by the authors, but highlights that DMAs need to be critically aware of cultural factors that render people powerless and vulnerable in disasters. A very practice-oriented “good practice checklist for gender and diversity in disaster risk reduction” from the Red Cross, for use during the preparedness, response and recovery stages, is highly instrumental.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Gender roles, Socio-economic status, Power relations, Rule of law

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Preparedness, Response, Recovery

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body, Local authorities, Government, National research bodies, Red Cross, NGOs, Military, Law enforcement agencies, Healthcare and emergency services, European Civil Protection Mechanism, UN and other international organisations

Recommendations:

• Empower vulnerable groups (i.e. children, elderly, and people with disabilities) by including them in disaster management decision-making and actions