Invisible No More: Adolescent Girls, Disability, and Disasters

This side event shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked vulnerabilities of adolescent girls with disabilities in disaster contexts. The intersection of disability, gender, and age creates unique vulnerabilities that are often overlooked in disaster risk reduction (DRR) planning and implementation. This exclusion not only jeopardizes their safety and well-being but also undermines the effectiveness of DRR efforts as a whole. A truly resilient future requires centering their voices and experiences.

Disasters exacerbate existing inequalities, and adolescent girls with disabilities are often the most affected. They face increased risk of physical injury, displacement, and loss of assistive devices, which can severely impede their ability to survive and recover. They are more susceptible to gender-based violence, including sexual assault and exploitation, in the chaotic aftermath of a disaster. Access to essential services, such as healthcare, education, and sanitation, is often disrupted, further compounding their vulnerabilities. Limited access to information and communication channels can leave them isolated and unable to receive critical warnings or assistance.

The session offers a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the intersectional vulnerabilities, learn from lived experiences of the young advocates, discover practical, innovative, and inspirational solutions with grassroots and indigenous origins. This will also be an opportunity to affect meaningful change by contributing to the development of policy recommendations that will protect and empower adolescent girls with disabilities in disasters, as well as, allow a chance to network network with key stakeholders to ensure that the voices and needs of adolescent girls with disabilities are no longer overlooked in disaster preparedness and response efforts. Join us as we work towards a more inclusive and resilient future for all.

Session objectives

• To center the lived experiences of adolescent girls with disabilities in DRR. Through storytelling, including digital narratives, video testimonials, and direct engagement with young advocates, we will amplify their perspectives on the challenges they face and the solutions they propose. We will ensure their voices are not just heard, but actively shape the discussion and drive change.
• To highlight inspiring examples of inclusive DRR initiatives making a tangible difference in the lives of adolescent girls with disabilities, such as accessible evacuation plans, disability inclusive early warning systems, and targeted support services.
• The session will discuss actionable policy recommendations and practical steps needed to ensure that DRR policies and practices are truly inclusive and responsive to the needs of adolescent girls with disabilities, with an aim to generate concrete actions and commitments to create meaningful change.

Learn more

• DiDRR Learning
• Gender Mainstreaming & GBV in Disaster Settings in the Context of Pakistan
• National Policy Guidelines on Vulnerable Groups in Disasters

Organized by

• Gender & Child Cell, National Disaster Management Authority
• UN Women
• UNFPA
• UNICEF
• AKDN
• STEP
• Federation Handicap International

Location

Geneva Room
CCV