The first Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) since the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the world and highlighted existing inequities kicks off on Monday, May 23, in Bali, Indonesia. WEDO will be joining partners from the Women’s Major Group of the UNDRR’s Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism to advocate for gender to be considered in all aspects of the Global Platform.

What is the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction?

The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) is the main global forum to assess and discuss progress on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. This year, the seventh session of the GPDRR will be organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Government of Indonesia.

What is the link between gender, climate change, and DRR?

Considering that 98 percent of disaster displacement in 2020 were caused by weather related events, we can anticipate that disasters will continue to be more frequent and intense. As these events will impact people differently across geographies, gender, class, race, abilities and age, we all must work together to stop these events from happening by taking ambitious actions against climate change, ensuring countries and communities are well equipped to adapt, and reducing disaster risks. And when disaster hits, response must be timely, adequate and inclusive—and communities and nations must be supported to recover back better from the losses and damages caused by disasters.

Despite women being amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and disasters, their participation, leadership and knowledge are central to preventing and recovering from disasters. This is why we cannot build resilient global communities without women and girls’ leadership.

What are feminists calling for at GPDRR?

WEDO is co-leading engagement of the Women’s Major Group within the Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism of the GPDRR—representing a moment for feminist organizations to come together in a stronger collective voice ahead of the mid-term review of the Sendai Framework.

We call upon the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction and its member states to:

1. Ensure the meaningful engagement and leadership of women at all levels of DRR, especially of grassroots and young women;
2. Realize commitments on localization, including the incorporation of gender equality and social inclusion measures into national and local disaster risk reduction strategies;
3. Eliminate gender-based violence and promote SRHR;
4. Increase feminist financing for disaster risk reduction;
5. Promote an inclusive and equitable recovery; and
6. Ensure policy coherence.

READ THE FULL KEY DEMANDS BRIEF HERE.

Participate with us at GPDRR 2022:

EVENT | Whole of Society Approach in Implementing the Sendai Framework
24 May 2022, 15:30-16:30 Bali local time
Exhibition Gallery, Bali International Convention Centre | Online streaming link 

For more information about the GPDRR 2022 or the Women’s Major Group, contact Mishy Singano at: [email protected].