Environmental Disasters

Citation:

Acar, Feride, and Gamze Ege. 2001. “Women’s Human Rights in Disaster Contexts: How Can CEDAW Help?” Paper presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Environmental Management and the Mitigation of Natural Disasters: a Gender Perspective, Ankara, Turkey, November 6-9.

Authors: Feride Acar, Gamze Ege

Annotation:

The authors describe how CEDAW can contribute to the promotion of women’s human rights during and after disasters. They start by describing the unique experiences of women in post-disaster periods. As a result of social, economic, and other factors, women often face greater hardships than men during recovery. In addition, post-disaster policies and efforts can overlook or even contradict women’s human rights. The authors argue that CEDAW can be used as a forum to promote the human rights of women in several ways. It will be able to field inquiries into the treatment of women and how this can be improved in the face of disasters. It can also partner with other bodies of the UN to raise awareness and to give recommendations for facilitating women’s human rights. 168 states are party to CEDAW; the Convention thus has the ability to be used as a tool for change.

Topics: Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Rights, Women's Rights

Year: 2001

Citation:

Akçar, Sengul. 2001. “Grassroots Women’s Collectives - Roles in Post-disaster Effort: Potential for Sustainable Partnership and Good Governance (Lessons Learned from the Marmara Earthquake in Turkey).” Paper presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Environmental Management and the Mitigation of Natural Disasters: a Gender Perspective, Ankara, Turkey, November 6-9.

Author: Sengul Akçar

Annotation:

The author describes how women can gain influence, through grassroots organizations, in their communities and governments in post-disaster periods. Akcar states that post-disaster periods are ideal for engendering women’s opportunities: weakened governments, a desperate need for help from any source, international media coverage, and other factors allow women to use their unique skills to gain influence, especially through the gathering and dissemination of vital information. Using the example of women in Turkey after the early 1990s earthquake, the author describes the benefits and problems that can arise from partnering with other grassroots organizations, government-affiliated groups, NGOs, and others. In the end, Akcar notes several key areas, including disaster warnings and post-disaster management, in which women should become more involved.

Topics: Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Governance, Humanitarian Assistance, NGOs Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East, Europe, Southern Europe Countries: Turkey

Year: 2001

Citation:

Buvinic, Mayra. 1999. Hurricane Mitch: Women’s Needs and Contributions. Washington, DC: Women in Development Program Unit, Inter-American Development Bank.

Author: Mayra Buvinic

Annotation:

This report examines evidence from post-Mitch Central America and disasters in other parts of the world to identify the ways disasters affect women and to highlight women’s participation in prevention, relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts. It attempts to fill a void in the knowledge regarding people’s responses to disasters in the region, by exploring the gender dimension and providing general guidelines for integrating a gender perspective in effective disaster management. The report was prepared for and presented at the meeting of the Consultative Group for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America which took place in Stockholm, Sweden, May 25-27, 1999. It is based on a technical meeting attended by international and government agencies and NGOs which was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, May 6-7, 1999.

Topics: Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Humanitarian Assistance Regions: Americas, Central America

Year: 1999

Citation:

Chew, Lin, and Kavita N. Ramdas. 2005. Caught in the Storm: The Impact of Natural Disasters on Women. San Francisco: The Global Fund for Women.

Authors: Lin Chew, Kavita N. Ramdas

Annotation:

The authors offer an overview of the ways in which women are uniquely vulnerable during disaster recovery, before giving several remedial recommendations. Women face a variety of challenges: they are more susceptible to violence, do not receive adequate health care, are economically vulnerable, and are not given a say in reconstruction efforts. Thus, Chew and Ramdas state, the current male-dominated reconstruction systems are inadequate and even harmful to women. This can be fixed by allowing women to be involved in planning and decision-making. Women’s special needs should be taken into consideration, and efforts should be made to make them more self-sufficient and educated. The authors focus here on women's vulnerabilities rather than their accomplishments in the face of disasters, putting them in the stereotypical “victim” role. This is nevertheless a useful summary of the challenges that women face and the steps that can be taken to mitigate such challenges.

Topics: Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Gender Equality/Inequality, Humanitarian Assistance

Year: 2005

Citation:

Enarson, Elaine. 2000. "Gender and Natural Disasters." Working Paper 1, International Labour Organization Recovery and Reconstruction Unit, Geneva, Switzerland.

Author: Elaine Enarson

Topics: Economies, Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Gender Analysis, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equity, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations, Livelihoods, NGOs

Year: 2000

Citation:

Enarson, Elaine. 2001. “Gender Equality, Environmental Management, and Natural Disaster Mitigation.” Paper presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Environmental Management and the Mitigation of Natural Disasters: a Gender Perspective, Ankara, Turkey, November 6-9.

Author: Elaine Enarson

Annotation:

This report summarizes the discussions and conclusions of a six-week online conference in which 224 participants from around the world took part. The conference focused on five themes: gender myths and realities in disasters; ways in which women manage and use environmental resources; women’s and men’s coping strategies in the face of natural disasters; ways in which disasters can be used for social change; and methods for integrating gender equality into disaster prevention and development initiatives. Participants noted the important roles that women play during disasters and concerning the environment in general, and they asserted that women’s voices should be promoted in this field. They offer several examples of successful and failed strategies, and assert that education is key for promoting women’s participation. The conference ends with three knowledge gaps and three goals for further integrating gender into disaster and development issues.

Topics: Development, Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Gender Mainstreaming, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Humanitarian Assistance

Year: 2001

Citation:

Enarson, Elaine. 2001. “What Women Do: Gendered Labor in the Red River Valley Flood.” Environmental Hazards 3: 1–18.

Author: Elaine Enarson

Annotation:

• Drawing on narrative accounts from 115 informants in 14 group interviews, the paper explores women's disaster work at home, in the workplace, and in the community. A typology of ten forms of disaster work was developed to analyze the findings and encourage comparative research. Women's physical and socioemotional work in the household materially contributed to mitigation and reconstruction. Women were also “backstage” emergency responders in their professional roles in female-dominated occupations. These activities led some to collective and individual protest of social inequities arising during the flood. The findings were used to develop practical guidelines for more inclusive emergency planning and practice.

Topics: Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Households, Humanitarian Assistance, Livelihoods Regions: Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 2001

Citation:

Enarson, Elaine, and Maureen Fordham. 2001. “From Women’s Needs to Women’s Rights in Disasters.” Environmental Hazards 3: 133–36.

Authors: Elaine Enarson, Maureen Fordham

Annotation:

• The authors discuss the factors that make women especially vulnerable under current “gender-blind” disaster recovery practices. They cite physical reasons (pregnancy, menstruation, etc.) as well as social and economic reasons why special attention should be paid to women in disaster areas. Enarson and Fordham argue that “gender-blind” practices reconstruct women’s subordination. Recovery periods, they argue, should be used to educate communities about women’s rights and human rights in general in order to produce a positive outcome from natural disasters. To do this, they maintain, women should be given a bigger voice both in international organizations as well as in the communities that have been struck by disaster. Women must learn to overcome cultural and other obstacles in order to share their valuable abilities.

Topics: Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Gender Mainstreaming, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations, Rights, Women's Rights

Year: 2001

Citation:

Enarson, Elaine, and Joseph Scanlon. 1999. “Gender Patterns in Flood Evacuation: A Case Study in Canada’s Red River Valley.” Applied Behavioral Science Review 7 (2): 103–24.

Authors: Elaine Enarson, Joseph Scanlon

Annotation:

The authors look at the 1998 Red River Valley flood and subsequent evacuations in order to put disaster mitigation in a gendered framework. They argue that natural disasters are gendered experiences, in which longstanding gender roles become more rigid; this leads to specific experiences and responsibilities for men and women. Women traditionally perform less noticeable, domestically-based work, while men are given the spotlight through their “valiant,” more physical contributions. This can lead to inequalities and male empowerment over women. Enarson and Scanlon conclude by stressing ten points for future gender-focused research, the results of which could help communities to better care for and to better represent men, women, and children during disaster recovery.

Topics: Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Gender Equality/Inequality, Humanitarian Assistance Regions: Americas, North America Countries: Canada

Year: 1999

Citation:

Bradshaw, Sarah. 2004. Socio-Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters: A Gender Analysis. 32. Santiago, Chile: United Nations - Women and Development Unit. 

Author: Sarah Bradshaw

Abstract:

This paper analyses the socio-economic effects of hurricane Mitch using a gender approach and proposes new analysis indicators for crisis situations that may better reflect women’s disadvantageous position relative to men. The first section of the document discusses key concepts used in gender and disaster analysis, in the context of the region and hurricane Mitch. The following section examines the direct and indirect impacts, and looks at how they have affected women, as well as the responses to Mitch at three levels: first, that of individuals and their strategies for coping with the crisis; second, the actions of governments and the coordinated bodies of civil society; and third, reconstruction initiatives carried out by national and international organizations. The final section attempts to draw together the salient points and challenges suggested by the analysis. It also offers some recommendations for integrating this approach into future emergency and reconstruction scenarios and for reducing women’s current vulnerability.

Topics: Environment, Environmental Disasters, Gender, Women, Gender Analysis, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations Regions: Americas, Central America Countries: El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua

Year: 2004