E/2012/27 E/CN.6/2012/16 Recalling the agreed conclusions of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women of 15 March 2002, 23 Commission on the Status of Women resolution 49/5 of 11 March 2005, as well as Commission resolution 55/1 of 4 March 2011 entitled “Mainstreaming gender equality and promoting empowerment of women in climate change policies and strategies”, the Hyogo Declaration 24 and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, 25 adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, which was held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, as well as all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, including its resolutions 66/9 of 11 November 2011 and 66/120 of 15 December 2011, Welcoming the response of the affected countries as well as the support and assistance given by the international community in the relief and recovery efforts for natural disasters in all parts of the world, including the devastating earthquake that struck eastern Japan on 11 March 2011, and other recent natural disasters, including those addressed in recent humanitarian appeals, while stressing the importance of further efforts in these responses, including in gender-responsive disaster management, Stressing the importance of taking equally into account the specific needs of women and vulnerable people within groups such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities in every phase of disaster risk reduction, response and recovery, ensuring equal opportunities for their participation in these processes, calling for a people-centred, holistic approach, in order to build an inclusive society, supported by a social bond among people through community-based approaches, which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women, strengthens the resilience of communities and reduces social vulnerabilities to disasters, Recognizes that women play a vital role in disaster risk reduction 1. (prevention, mitigation and preparedness), response and recovery, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, and the need to enhance women’s capacities to respond to disasters, in order, inter alia, to enhance gender equality and the empowerment of women; Urges Governments and, where appropriate, United Nations entities, civil 2. society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and other stakeholders to: (a) Review national policies, strategies and plans and take action to integrate a gender perspective into policies, planning and funding for disaster risk reduction, response and recovery, considering the different impacts that natural disasters have on women and men; (b) Ensure equal opportunities for the participation of women in decisionmaking, including with regard to the allocation of resources at all levels regarding disaster risk reduction, response and recovery; (c) Strengthen the capacities of relevant authorities and institutions at all levels to apply a gender-sensitive approach to disaster risk reduction (prevention, __________________ 23 24 25 10 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 7 (E/2002/27), chap. I, sect. A. A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. Ibid., resolution 2. 12-27405