"Women are not merely victims; they are vital actors and leaders in disaster management," stated the ministry's Deputy for Community Empowerment, Population, and Manpower, Maliki in a statement released Sunday.
The ministry also underscored the necessity of including people with disabilities in disaster management advocacy.
Gender-responsive disaster management is crucial, given National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) data indicating women are 14 times more likely to become disaster victims than men.
Maliki highlighted that women and people with disabilities face heightened vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks due to limited access and social exclusion, which erode their safety nets.
Ensuring inclusive access to preparedness services, including pre-disaster training, accessible infrastructure, and clear information, is essential for protecting these vulnerable groups.
BNPB's Deputy for Systems and Strategies Raditya Jati further acknowledged women's pivotal role during disasters, citing their involvement in social networks and their primary caregiving responsibilities.
He stressed the need to empower women as active agents of change, not just protect them. "Integrating a gender perspective into all disaster risk reduction policies and actions is vital to reduce women's vulnerability and ensure equitable capacity-building opportunities for both men and women," Jati concluded.
Translator: M Baqir, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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