E/2002/27 E/CN.6/2002/13 degradation and disasters affect all human lives and often have a more direct impact on women and that it was recommended that the role of women and the environment be further investigated. The twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000) identified natural disasters as a current challenge affecting the full implementation of the Platform for Action and emphasized the need to incorporate a gender perspective in the development and implementation of disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery strategies. The Commission also recalls the resolve in the United Nations Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution 55/2) to intensify cooperation to reduce the number and effects of natural and man-made disasters, as well as General Assembly resolution 46/182, which contained the guiding principles on humanitarian assistance. 2. Deeply convinced that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the framework for our efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all people. 3. The Commission reiterates the strategic objectives and actions adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, and in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, held in New York in 2000, entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”.27 4. The Commission recognizes that women play a vital role in disaster reduction (prevention, mitigation and preparedness), response and recovery and in natural resources management, that disaster situations aggravate vulnerable conditions and that some women face particular vulnerabilities in this context. 5. The Commission also recognizes that women’s strengths in dealing with disasters and supporting their families and communities should be built upon following disasters to rebuild and restore their communities and mitigate against future disasters. 6. The Commission recognizes the need to enhance women’s capacities and institutional mechanisms to respond to disasters in order to enhance gender equality and the empowerment of women. 7. The Commission urges Governments and, as appropriate, also urges the relevant funds and programmes, organizations and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, civil society, including the private sector and NGOs, and other stakeholders, to take the following actions to accelerate implementation of these strategic objectives to address the needs of all women: (a) Pursue gender equality and gender-sensitive environmental management and disaster reduction, response and recovery as an integral part of sustainable development; (b) Take measures to integrate a gender perspective in the design and implementation of, among other things, environmentally sound and sustainable resource and disaster management mechanisms and establish mechanisms to review such efforts; (c) Ensure the full participation of women in sustainable development decision-making and disaster reduction management at all levels; 13