Philippine agencies vowed to promote gender equality in the context of climate justice and disaster risk reduction and mitigation (DRRM), highlighting the fact that meaningful participation, humanitarian action, as well as leadership should not be gender neutral.
This was addressed in a feedback forum led by the Philippine Commission of Women (PCW) during the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women 66th Session (UN CSW66).
In the said forum, key agencies, organizations, and partners gathered and vowed to continuously work towards promoting gender equality and empowerment of women in the context of climate change, as well as environmental and DRRM.
PCW chairperson Sandra Sanchez Montano opened the session with a speech where she highlighted the need to promote gender equality and women empowerment.
“Women are likely to suffer higher rates of mortality, morbidity, and violence from the effects of climate change and disasters. In times of crises, women’s and girls’ unpaid care and domestic work is likely to increase, as also seen during this pandemic. Due to the enduring stereotypes, women continue to be underrepresented in STEM education and in decision-making processes at all levels of climate change development planning and DRRM phases of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery,” said Montano.
Role of women in climate justice, DRRM
In the same feedback forum at the UN CSW66, participants have committed to “accelerate progress” for gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls in climate change, environment, and disaster contexts.
This, according to PCW, can be possible by enabling the following strategies: allowing all gender to advocate for meaningful participation and leadership, increasing the resilience through gender-responsive strategies to address the impacts of climate change, providing climate and disaster risk-related information, as well as boosting up the technologies and financing.
Among the strategies that participants have agreed on to include identifying and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters.
They have also agreed to “encourage the leadership and participation” of women in these matters, adding that in fostering a gender-responsive and just transition, the right to work and rights at work “must be promoted."
Meanwhile, the gathering was held on May 20, 2022 via hybrid set up with over 200 individuals having participated in the forum, said PCW in a press statement issued on Thursday evening, May 26.