Loss and Damage: Gender Dimensions

This working session has been organized by UN Women in close collaboration with UNDRR and UNFPA. The session will focus on the critical contribution of women and girls in reducing disaster damages and losses through their effective and consistent engagement in disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and recovery processes given the increasing exposure to disaster risks and subsequent impacts across the region. It will highlight the underutilized potential of women and girls, their networks, skills and knowledge and how empowering them can lead to more transformative, effective, and sustainable DRR interventions. The discussions will explore the different impacts of disasters on women, girls, men, and boys, emphasizing the importance of women's participation and leadership in DRR coordination structures, resilience building interventions, preparedness and early warning systems. It will also address the need for gender transformative DRR policies that ensure equitable access to resources, opportunities and safety, thereby protecting everybody’s lives and investments from the adverse effects of disasters.