Press Release
April 22, 2009

Loren hails Beijing Declaration on occasion of EARTH DAY

Beijing, China --- "The Beijing Agenda for Global Action on Gender-Sensitive Disaster Risk Reduction is a strong and clear manifestation of the firm conviction and commitment of delegates from around the world to mainstream gender into disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation policies and programs," said Senator Loren Legarda at the conclusion of the three-day International Conference on Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction held at Beijing, China.

Legarda expressed elation at this outcome, which she believes is a concrete response to the 21st century challenge of reducing disaster risks and adapting to changing global climate while protecting gender equality. She had earlier posed this challenge during her keynote address at the beginning of the conference. "We must adopt an innovative, out-of-the box approach... we need a more integrated, holistic, and proactive approach... we need new policies that are gender-sensitive and mindful of the needs of both men and women," she said.

She lauded the participants for coming to a consensus on nine achievable actions before 2015 to ensure that a gender perspective is integrated into policies and programs on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. "Just like the Manila Call for Action of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation which was also a consensus of the commitments of parliamentarians who attended a consultative meeting that I co-convened with the UNISDR in Manila, the Beijing Agenda for Global Action resembles a plan of action which I am confident will be carried through by all the participants from 50 countries, UN agencies and Civil Societies."

She further expressed hope that this Declaration would also be adopted by the governments of the conference delegates.

Among the nine actions, Loren strongly recommends specific focus on the collection of gender-specific data and statistics on impact of disasters; conduct of gender-sensitive vulnerability, risk and capacity assessments; and development of gender-sensitive indicators to monitor and measure progress. She explained that the success of the other actions largely depends on the performance of these activities.

"I believe that the Beijing Declaration has paved the way for gendering disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. I am honored to have been part of this process and strongly urge global support for this praise-worthy initiative."

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