Disasters triggered by natural hazards and climate change can affect vulnerable groups, with those impacted exhibiting lower levels of resilience against them. Every disaster hitting Latin America and the Caribbean is a reminder that women and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by disasters on multiple dimensions, from a lower life expectancy and a greater probability of facing unemployment to a higher likelihood of having a workplace accident along with experiencing lower consumption levels post-disaster.
Moreover, we also know that the risk of violence against women and girls increases after a disaster. Previous post-disaster experiences indicate that in situations of displacement, besides suffering the negative impact of the temporary disruption of law enforcement, women are also more likely to be victims of violence and may end up facing situations for which there are no preventive measures, considering the gender dimension during the disaster response and recovery phases.
The difference in the impact of disasters on people is explained by existing gender gaps in exposure, vulnerability, and resilience to natural hazards. For example:
- Women’s socio-economic disadvantages may contribute to their higher disaster mortality rate. (The lack of access to early warning systems and the lack of agency to make decisions within the household are also factors that contribute to the gender mortality rate gap).
- Similarly, social norms, which influence labor market participation as well as asset holding and accumulation, are likely to determine how disasters impact women.
- Likewise, societal discrimination contributes to systemic barriers to education, health care, employment, transportation and infrastructure, housing, political and public life, justice, and other aspects of life necessary for people with disabilities to live independently and fully included in their communities.
There is unmistakable evidence that the role of women in disaster risk management is essential to increasing community resilience and reducing human loss in the face of growing climate threats. When countries incorporate the gender dimension into national disaster risk management policies, i.e., from women participating throughout the entire decision-making process to them exercising leadership roles in their communities so that prevention, adaptation, response, and recovery from disasters can be attained more effectively, the chances of success at becoming more resilient increase significantly.
The Bahamas has a plan for a brighter future
The Government of The Bahamas is making notable efforts to ensure that women, people with disabilities, and minorities can participate fully and equally in all aspects of Bahamian life, particularly in terms of actions regarding disaster risk reduction and resilience. From 2014 to 2019, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) response team provided appropriate gender sensitivity training, while the Government of The Bahamas implemented Gender and Family Sensitive Shelters for victims of natural disasters. During Hurricane Irma, the government also evacuated all southern islands, considering that most of their population included older women. Social Media, town halls, public and school education campaigns are used to increase awareness and preparations for hurricanes. Currently, the family islands and cays are equipped with satellite phones to ensure continuity of communication during and after hurricanes. Additionally, in 2018, trainings in shelter management were conducted by NEMA, in conjunction with other agencies.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has always been committed to improving disaster risk resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a result of our years-long partnership, The Bahamas has a robust governance framework for disaster preparedness. The Disaster Preparedness and Response Act of 2006 establishes the formulation of a national disaster preparedness and response plan as well as a set of official protocols for emergencies and the testing of such protocols through drills and simulations.
But The Bahamas wants to consolidate its disaster risk management governance further. After an application of the Index of Governance and Public Policy for Disaster Risk Management (IGOPP), which identifies the existence of governance conditions that facilitate the implementation of effective public policies in disaster risk management, The Government of The Bahamas, accompanied by the Bank´s technical support, drafted legislation to enhance the effective implementation of the disaster risk management policy. Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance requested to the IDB a policy-based loan series to support this policy reform. One of the requirements of the new legislation is that it will ensure that the country formally adopts humanitarian standards that include gender and disability considerations. In this regard, the Bank supported the preparation and approval of an “Act to establish that the needs of persons who are vulnerable on account of their age, gender, disability, poverty, lack of resources or physical displacement must be considered in the disaster response provided by the government.” Said Act was enacted by the Parliament in December 2022 and then it was published in the Official Gazette.
Recognizing gender equality and diversity as an essential component for effective disaster risk management governance is critical for countries across the region to increase community resilience and prevent human loss in the face of growing climate threats. In this regard, other countries can learn from The Bahamas’ experience by incorporating the gender and diversity dimensions into national disaster risk management policies, with women and vulnerable groups participating throughout the entire decision-making process, as well as exercising leadership roles in their communities so that prevention, adaptation, response, and recovery from disasters can be attained more effectively.
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Index of Governance and Public Policy for Disaster Risk Management (IGOPP)
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