Legislator Calls for Gender-Responsive Disaster Policies to Protect Women and Youth
Acting Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Local Government, Public Works, Housing and Social Amenities who is also Makoni South legislator, Albert Nyakuedzwa challenged fellow legislators to advocate for gender-responsive disaster management policies for women and young people.
Speaking during a consultative meeting on the implementation of the Gender and Disaster Action Plan at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden recently.
“Let us advocate for gender-responsive disaster risk management policies that recognize and address the distinct needs of women and girls during climate and health crises. Let us continue to work in partnership as government, civil society, and communities towards strengthening the resilience of all people, especially the most vulnerable, in the face of increasingly frequent and severe disasters.
“We are at a critical moment in the fight against climate change and its compounded effects on health and well-being. The challenges are significant, but so is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference,” he said.
“By working together and by ensuring that gender equality is at the heart of our policies and actions, we can build more resilient societies, where disaster preparedness and response efforts are truly inclusive and effective,” added Nyakuedzwa.
The meeting was facilitated by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and African Risk Capacity.
The objective was to establish working relations with Members of Parliament and find ways in which women and other vulnerable groups can be best assisted to avoid risk, during risk and post risk and have a cadre of well-trained local trainers who will act as gender champions, advocates and trainers on gender-responsive Disaster Risk Management in their constituencies and provinces.
