Inclusive and gender-sensitive emergency preparedness framework in Colombia

Colombia has been frequently affected by natural and human-induced disasters, such as floods, landslides and other geological hazards, that have disproportionate effects on women and girls. The COVID-19 pandemic offered further evidence of additional vulnerabilities caused to women and girls. To face these challenges, the national government has started to set up several disaster risk management mechanisms. This Chapter assesses the current legislative and strategic framework related to disaster risk management and gender equality in Colombia, highlighting existing challenges, as well as enablers and opportunities to integrate a gender perspective in the disaster risk management cycle. After providing a rationale for supporting gender-sensitive and inclusive disaster risk management systems, the Chapter provides a series of recommendations to support the Colombian government in developing a disaster risk management system that integrates a gender lens, helping to achieve its gender equality objectives.