E/2005/27 E/CN.6/2005/11 and 59/279 of 19 January 2005, as well as the agreed conclusions of the Commission in 2002 on environmental management and the mitigation of natural disasters,40 Recalling also the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, which recognized that a gender perspective should be integrated into all disaster risk management policies, plans and decision-making processes, including those related to risk assessment, early warning, information management and education and training, Reaffirming the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action41 and the commitment to design, implement and monitor, with the full participation of women, effective, efficient and mutually reinforcing gender-sensitive policies and programmes at all levels that will foster the empowerment and advancement of women, Recalling the commitments regarding women and girls affected by natural disasters and other such emergencies in the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,42 Recalling also its resolution 48/4 and Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/4 of 7 July 2004 on mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system, Conscious of the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, particularly in developing countries, including the tsunami disaster that struck the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian regions on 26 December 2004, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and over a million displaced and homeless persons, Expressing concern that women and children account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by natural disasters and their aftermath, including the recent tsunami disaster, and that those living in poverty are most affected, Noting that women have multiple and varied roles, including caring for survivors and maintaining family and community in disaster situations, Concerned that women and girls are more vulnerable to violence, including sexual abuse and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence in many emergency situations, including in the aftermath of natural disasters, Welcoming the response, support and assistance by the affected countries and the international community in the relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, which reflect the spirit of national as well as international solidarity and cooperation in addressing the recent tsunami disaster and other disasters, Concerned that existing post-disaster relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, including in the recent tsunami disaster, have not sufficiently addressed the gender dimensions of the situation, __________________ 40 41 42 20 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 1 (E/2002/99), resolution 2002/5, sect. B. Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. General Assembly resolutions S-23/2, annex, and S-23/3, annex.