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Paper short abstract:

Disasters have a disproportionate effect on women, exacerbating existing gender inequalities. The role of women's representation in policies that can either mitigate or worsen vulnerabilities faced by women. Thus integrating a gender perspective into disaster policy is essential.

Paper long abstract:

Disasters have a disproportionate effect on women, deteriorating existing gender inequalities and posing unique challenges to their safety and rights. The paper examines the connexion of women's rights, national policies, and disaster contexts, emphasizing the critical need for gender-sensitive disaster management frameworks. The review highlights how state policies can either mitigate or worsen vulnerabilities faced by women during and after disasters. The inadequate representation of women in disaster management leads to ineffective responses, while gender-sensitive approaches enhance resilience and recovery outcomes is the key finding of the paper. The paper also finds gaps in existing policies including pressing issues including insufficient training for disaster responders and the lack of gender-disaggregated data, which hinder effective implementation. It also underscores the importance of women's participation in decision-making processes to ensure their needs are prioritized. The paper suggests that integrating a gender perspective into disaster policy is essential for both equity and effective disaster management. Integration among governments, NGOs, and local communities, states can develop more inclusive and equitable disaster response strategies. The findings advocate for a transformative approach to disaster governance that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by women, ultimately contributing to more resilient communities.