Advocacy Brief
Jun 10, 2026Towards a Legally-Binding Convention on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters
This guide, produced by WEDO as part of the Secretariat of the Women & Gender Stakeholder Group of the UNDRR, introduces the ongoing process to develop a legally binding convention on the protection of persons in the event of disasters (PPED) — and explains why feminist and gender-justice advocates need to be paying attention.
After nearly a decade of legal drafting, the international community is moving toward a binding treaty that will establish clear state obligations for disaster risk reduction, response, and international cooperation. The convention is to be adopted at a UN Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Manila in early 2027. The stakes are high: disasters are increasing in frequency and severity, and no globally binding legal framework currently governs how states must act to protect affected populations.
Yet the current draft text contains no mention of gender, women, or intersectionality — despite overwhelming evidence that women, girls, and marginalized communities are disproportionately and differently affected by disasters. A small number of state submissions have proposed gender-inclusive amendments, but these remain fragile and far from guaranteed.
With the preparatory process now underway and key negotiating deadlines approaching, this guide maps the milestones, explains what the draft articles cover, and outlines how civil society can engage to ensure the final convention reflects the realities of those most at risk.
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