‘Equality and inclusion go hand in hand with a secure Europe’

Disasters are not gender neutral. Gender inequalities caused by socioeconomic conditions, cultural beliefs, and traditional practices are behind a disproportional impact of disasters on women and girls. 

Around 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability, and this percentage is likely to increase in emergency situations. Yet these groups, often the most vulnerable during an emergency, are often excluded from decision-making processes. Only one EU country currently allocates money for disability measures in civil protection.

A Knowledge Series event on Inclusive Preparedness: Gender Equality and Inclusion in Disaster Risk Management brought together policymakers, project managers, and first responders from across the EU last week to look at these questions, and how to make disaster response and preparedness more inclusive. 

Gaetano Vivo, Deputy Head of Unit, Prevention and Preparedness (also DG ECHO) underlined that equality and inclusion were vital to civil protection and should go ‘hand in hand with a prosperous and more secure Europe’.  

Anna emphasised the need to ensure vulnerable people (e.g. children, women, the elderly and people with a disability) are considered in civil protection, highlighting that women and children are 14 times more likely to die in an emergency than men. However, it is also important to remember that ‘no one is born vulnerable’ she added, but ‘we become vulnerable as life circumstances impact us.’ 

World Bank’s approach to mainstreaming inclusive resilience

Cristina Otano, from the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR) took us through the Bank’s experience in mainstreaming inclusive resilience. She explained how good practices in this area can be applied in technical assistance and the design of projects, as well as policy operations.

‘It always comes back to data’

Mirtha Liliana Escobar, also from the World Bank, considered what advocacy in this area looked like. Although the World Bank has been investing in this area, it needs champions, she pointed out. According to Mirtha it always comes back to data, especially gender-disaggregated data, which there is never enough of. That’s why the World Bank partners with other organisations in this area e.g. UN Women.

A new procedure on how to evacuate those with disabilities in an emergency situation is currently being developed and approved at national level. Representatives from the community of persons with disabilities are closely involved to ensure that no one is left behind, and a national strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction is being developed in parallel with the World Bank. As Elena Treanta from the Romanian Department of Emergency added, the project has been very well received in Romania and the organisers are now keen to roll it out in other countries too.

‘This is just the beginning for us’ the project leaders add.