A statement in which the stakeholder group of individuals and groups concerned with disability, represented by the Disability-inclusive DRR Network (DiDRRN), Rehabilitation International (RI) and the Nippon Foundation, note the inclusion of disability in disaster risk reduction (DRR) as critical for the creation of resilient, inclusive and equitable societies, and the effect of disability-inclusive DRR in increasing the resilience, and chances of survival, of all persons in a community and minimising collective damage and loss.
It proposes recommendations regarding: (i) actions related to evolving Post 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (HFA2) priorities; (ii) contributing to fostering inter-ministerial, inter-departmental and multi-sectoral engagement to ensure that disability-inclusive DRR is mandated and implemented; (iii) empowering persons with disabilities, and their representative organisations, to actively participate in, and report on, the development and monitoring of DRR plans, programmes and actions; (iv) extend the principles of universal design, in combination with assistive technology development and reasonable accommodation, to ensure the delivery of risk reduction related infrastructure establishment and service delivery for equal participation of persons with disabilities at all levels of DRR; and (v) strengthening community-based inclusive DRR initiatives to empower all persons with disabilities, including women, children and older persons, to realise their full participation in, and contribution to, all phases of DRR within their communities.
