The 2005 Hyogo Framework for Action has called for a gendered approach in disaster risk reduction efforts. Despite being frequently battered by climate-related disaster events, countries in Southeast Asia remain rather slow in mainstreaming gender in their disaster management policies and action plans.

THE Asia-Pacific is the world’s most disaster-prone region. Close to 30% of natural disaster events that hit the Asia-Pacific between 1970 and 2014 took place in Southeast Asia. The increased frequency and severity of natural disasters is often attributed to climate change phenomenon.

As climate change remains an issue, the recurrence of climate-related disasters at higher intensity is expected, and for this reason, the region must step-up its disaster management practices by accelerating the mainstreaming of gender sensitivities in regional, national, and sub-national disaster management policies and action plans.

… Margareth Sembiring is a Senior Analyst at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.