Japanese experts call for gender equality - World | ReliefWeb

By Yuki Matsuoka KOBE, 16 October 2012 - A panel of eight leading women experts meeting at the birthplace of the Hyogo Framework for Action called on UNISDR Chief, Margareta Wahlström, to exert pressure for gender equality in disaster risk reduction. The dialogue with Ms. Wahlström was part of Kobe's observance of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The high-level panel concluded: "Practices around the world that exclude rather than include women in decision-making, reinforce inequality and hamper the ability of communities to become, and stay, resilient to disasters." The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters was agreed by UN Member States at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe seven years ago, a few weeks after the Asian tsunami. The HFA Mid-Term Review of country-level implementation found that only 20% of planned disaster risk reduction activities take gender into account.