IOM Colombia has hosted the country’s Fourth International
Conference on Gender and Disasters.

The event, attended by government officials, academics and
representatives of international agencies and civil society,
focused on a gender approach to disaster risk management and
reviewed the challenges in Latin America and the
Caribbean. 

Delegates acknowledged the role of women in protecting the
rights of children, elderly persons and people with disabilities
and the limitations this situation poses to their response capacity
and the possibility to migrate in search of work after an
emergency. 

The Action Plan for the Americas on Gender and Disaster Risk
Management, drawn up in 2010, was also presented. It includes
specific activities to be implemented by institutions across the
entire continent with the aim of strengthening the capacities of
governments in implementing public policies on risk management with
a gender perspective and measures to reduce the gap between men and
women regarding access to basic services, participation and
decision-making processes. 

"Women are one of the most affected population groups in
disaster situations. Consequently IOM promotes international and
regional discussion forums that make it possible to share lessons
learned and encourage governments to promote the inclusion of a
gender approach in prevention and emergency assistance efforts,"
says IOM  Colombia Deputy Chief of Mission Alejandro
Guidi. 

The event was organized by IOM Colombia with support from the
National Disaster Risk Management Unit, the High Presidential
Commissioner's Office for Women's Equality and the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Office of
Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).  

For more information, please contact: 

Natalia Vargas

IOM Bogota

Email: "mailto:nvargas@iom.int">nvargas@iom.int

Tel. +571.6397777 Ext. 1733