IOM Colombia hosts fourth international conference on gender and disasters

Source(s): International Organization for Migration

The event, attended by government officials, academics and representatives of international agencies and civil society, focused on a gender approach to disaster risk management and reviewed the challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Delegates acknowledged the role of women in protecting the rights of children, elderly persons and people with disabilities and the limitations this situation poses to their response capacity and the possibility to migrate in search of work after an emergency.

The Action Plan for the Americas on Gender and Disaster Risk Management, drawn up in 2010, was also presented. It includes specific activities to be implemented by institutions across the entire continent with the aim of strengthening the capacities of governments in implementing public policies on risk management with a gender perspective and measures to reduce the gap between men and women regarding access to basic services, participation and decision-making processes.

"Women are one of the most affected population groups in disaster situations. Consequently IOM promotes international and regional discussion forums that make it possible to share lessons learned and encourage governments to promote the inclusion of a gender approach in prevention and emergency assistance efforts," says IOM Colombia Deputy Chief of Mission Alejandro Guidi.

The event was organized by IOM Colombia with support from the National Disaster Risk Management Unit, the High Presidential Commissioner's Office for Women's Equality and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).

For more information, please contact:

Natalia Vargas
IOM Bogota
Email: nvargas@iom.int
Tel. +571.6397777 Ext. 1733

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Country and region Colombia
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