14 March 2018
Upscaling Disaster Resilience in Southeast Asia — Engaging Women Through the WPS Agenda
Abstract
The Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s move towards an integrated and people-centred community presents an opportune moment for relooking issues surrounding women and their role in this envisioned integration. One key area where this integration can take place is in ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief policies. A deeper acknowledgment of the gendered nature of disaster response in existing arrangements will help in planning strategic and more effective measures to create a disaster resilient region. A key conceptual tool that can be used in this is the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). Its transformative appeal can be harnessed to address perceived gaps, vis-à-vis women’s participation, in decision-making and planning strategies. It is hoped that through this initiative, overall community resilience will be enhanced. In addition, the incorporation of the fundamental pillars of UNSCR 1325 can produce more sustainable rehabilitation and recovery strategies for communities.
About the Author
Dr Tamara Nair is Research Fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. She graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Geography and went on to train at the National Institute of Education (NIE). She obtained a Masters in Environmental Management, a Graduate Diploma in Arts Research and a PhD in Development Studies from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Project Management accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Singapore from Temasek Polytechnic.
Her current research focuses on issues of power and the biopolitics of hunger in Southeast Asia and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the region. Her recent publications have focused on the systematic food insecurities of the Rohingya in Myanmar, and the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities, including women, in local development. She has published in development studies journals; writing on marginalised communities and sustainable development, power and subject creation, and ideas of citizenship.
Abstract
The Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s move towards an integrated and people-centred community presents an opportune moment for relooking issues surrounding women and their role in this envisioned integration. One key area where this integration can take place is in ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief policies. A deeper acknowledgment of the gendered nature of disaster response in existing arrangements will help in planning strategic and more effective measures to create a disaster resilient region. A key conceptual tool that can be used in this is the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). Its transformative appeal can be harnessed to address perceived gaps, vis-à-vis women’s participation, in decision-making and planning strategies. It is hoped that through this initiative, overall community resilience will be enhanced. In addition, the incorporation of the fundamental pillars of UNSCR 1325 can produce more sustainable rehabilitation and recovery strategies for communities.
About the Author
Dr Tamara Nair is Research Fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. She graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Geography and went on to train at the National Institute of Education (NIE). She obtained a Masters in Environmental Management, a Graduate Diploma in Arts Research and a PhD in Development Studies from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Project Management accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Singapore from Temasek Polytechnic.
Her current research focuses on issues of power and the biopolitics of hunger in Southeast Asia and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the region. Her recent publications have focused on the systematic food insecurities of the Rohingya in Myanmar, and the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities, including women, in local development. She has published in development studies journals; writing on marginalised communities and sustainable development, power and subject creation, and ideas of citizenship.
