G ENDER M ANAGEMENT G ENDER ISSUES IN DISASTERS

M AGNITUDE OF DISASTERS 56% of people killed by disasters across the world lived in South Asia (World Disaster Report, 2002) 90% of natural disasters & 95% of disaster-related deaths world wide occur in developing countries By 2025, 80% of world’s population estimated to live in developing countries 60% of them will be vulnerable to disasters (Sahni, Dhameja & Mcdury, 2001)

V ULNERABILITY TO DISASTERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Poverty, caste, ethnicity, age, gender are factors affecting people’s vulnerability Physical vulnerabilities Social vulnerabilities Attitudinal vulnerabilities

P HYSICAL VULNERABILITIES Hazard prone locations of settlement Insecure and risky sources of livelihood Lack of access to basic production resources (land, farm, inputs, capital) Lack of knowledge and information Lack of access to basic services

S OCIAL VULNERABILITIES Lack of institutional support structures and leadership Division and conflicts within communities Restricted decision making Weak kinship relations

A TTITUDINAL VULNERABILITIES Dependency Resistance to change Other negative beliefs

P ERSPECTIVES TO DISASTERS Dominant perspective Disasters/ conflicts viewed as isolated events Linkages with conditions in society during normal times not always analyzed Alternative perspective Disasters/ conflicts seen as part of development process Analysis of linkages with society during normal times is necessary (Ariyabandu & Wickremasinghe, 2005)

Dominant perspective Emphasis on technical/ law and order solutions Aim of intervention is to return to situation before event Does not address different vulnerabilities of men and women Alternative perspective Emphasis on solutions that change structures/ relationships. Disasters/ conflicts viewed as opportunities for social transformation Builds in gender perspective

W HY AND HOW IS GENDER RELEVANT ? Socio-cultural construction Social reality overplays biological differences Gender refers to way men and women are perceived, evaluated and expected to behave Responsibilities and roles Characteristics and conduct Appearance and dress codes Gender disparities in indicators of human development -- HDI, GDI, GPI

G ENDER SENSITIVE APPROACH TO DISASTERS Recognizing different vulnerabilities of men and women Though men too may face severe disadvantages, they do not experience gender discrimination Gender factors increase risk for girls and women Identifying capacities

G ENDER FACTORS INCREASING RISK FOR WOMEN Child birth and pregnancy- related health limitations Mobility limitations Greater risk of domestic and sexual violence More likely to be economically dependent Less access to credit Fewer land rights Less control over labour More often employed as part-time, in free-trade zones More responsibility for care-giving Higher illiteracy rates, lower levels of schooling Less personal autonomy and decision-making power

I MPACT OF DISASTERS ON MEN AND WOMEN -- R EALITIES FOR S OUTH A SIA Differences in Social and cultural impacts Economic impacts Psychological impacts

D IFFERENCES IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACTS Increase of female-headed households Attitudes of male preference Greater burden of care giving and domestic responsibilities Social marginalization of widows Less access to relief supplies and resources

D IFFERENCES IN ECONOMIC IMPACTS Greater lack of income opportunities for women Loss of women’s assets Increasing economic dependency on men Increased suffering among vulnerable Forced to prostitution, begging

D IFFERENCES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS Women as frontline responders and caregivers Helplessness and depression Anxiety stems from perception of risk/fear to family Sense of entrapment and lack of options Strongest effects for PTSD Women’s rates exceed men’s by 2:1 Postpartum strain when disasters strike immediately after childbirth Increase in violence against women

I DENTIFICATION OF CAPACITIES Challenging stereotypes – women as helpless victims Recognizing women’s roles in rescue operations as sustainers and re-builders Gender-based differences in community preparedness Using indigenous knowledge Preparing households Protecting assets Sharing of information and warnings through informal networks Rebuilding after disorder Coping as disaster strikes Providing nursing care Collecting and storing water Collection of food, cooking the next meal

L ACK OF GENDER SENSITIVITY IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT Invisibility and stereotyping of women Inadequate security results in increasing gender- specific risks Denial of specific needs Lack of sensitivity towards alleviating women’s roles results in worsening the workload Lack of awareness about legal and cultural discrimination results in denial of rights

A GENDA FOR CHANGE Recognition of women’s practical gender needs denial of work opportunities, cooked food, secure shelter, water, fuel etc. Recognition of women’s strategic gender needs personal security, freedom from domestic violence, educational opportunities, legal rights etc. Inclusive processes of monitoring and evaluation by sharing information with all stakeholders Gender disaggregated disaster risks and need analysis Equitable gender representation in all aspects of disaster management and planning

THANK YOU