Islamabad: The Gender and Child Cell (GCC), in collaboration with UNWOMEN Pakistan, UNICEF Pakistan, Catholic Relief Services, Islamic Relief, HANDS, and Welthungerhilfe (WHH), hosted a “One-Day National Dialogue on the Role of Women and Girls in Disasters” at the Marriott. The event focused on the crucial but often overlooked contributions of women and girls to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and management, emphasizing their potential to enhance community resilience and recovery.
According to Press Information Department, the dialogue was attended by key figures including Chairman NDMA Lt General Inam Haider Malik and Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam. In his keynote address, Chairman NDMA highlighted the importance of proactive responsiveness and social resilience in disaster management. He stressed the need for adaptive measures to address climate-related challenges and acknowledged that disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, particularly women and girls, whose potential for resilience-building remains largely untapped within formal DRR frameworks.
The event brought together government officials, humanitarian organizations, civil society groups, and women leaders from disaster-prone communities to discuss the integration of women’s unique perspectives and capacities into disaster management strategies. Guest speaker Ms. Romina Khursheed, Chair of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, stated, “Women are not just victims of disasters; they are agents of change and resilience. Their unique perspectives and capacities must be integrated into our disaster management strategies to build a stronger, more inclusive Pakistan.”
The dialogue facilitated knowledge exchange on best practices, identified challenges and opportunities for enhancing women’s participation in disaster efforts, and developed actionable recommendations for gender-sensitive policies. This event marked a significant step towards empowering women in DRR, contributing to Pakistan’s overall disaster management capabilities. The event was funded by a consortium of national and international organizations including NDMA, UNWOMEN, UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services, Islamic Relief, WHH, Federation Handicap International, HANDS, and STEP.