Virginia Murray
Head of Global Disaster Risk Reduction, UK Health Security Agency
Climate change sets a new challenge for disaster risk management as it increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, disproportionately impacting vulnerable and marginalized communities. Women face added risks due to their social roles, biological differences, cultural norms and limited access to resources, that have been historically overlooked and encounter numerous challenges that increase their vulnerability and exposure to disaster-related dangers.
Effective anticipation and mitigation of climate-related disasters must consider gender disparities to ensure that interventions effectively address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls, thereby enhancing overall resilience and promoting more equitable ou comes in the face of climate-related challenges. Besides, it also appears crucial to integrate the active participation and empowerment of women in disaster risk governance to ensure women have a say in the solutions that are designed for them.
