Gender-inclusive legislative framework and laws to strengthen women’s resilience to climate change and disasters

This report provides guidance on how to integrate gender equality in laws and policies on climate change and disaster management in Asian Development Bank's developing member countries. Globally, women are disproportionately impacted by climate change and disasters due to gender inequalities and limited opportunities to participate in decision-making processes. The report provides a conceptual framework and good practice guide to improve gender equality in this space based on international norms and examples of national laws. It also demonstrates how gender-responsive laws and policies can contribute to women’s resilience to climate change and disasters. The report was developed for the use of governments, policy-makers, organizations, and individuals engaged in gender-responsive legislative reforms.

This report finds that laws and policies on climate change and disasters often fail to include women, and when they do, they are described as a vulnerable group or recognized only in relation to women’s reproductive role such as childbearing. While it is essential to meet women’s sexual and reproductive health needs in disasters and prevent and respond to gender-based violence in disaster-affected, climate-stressed, and displaced communities, there is an overarching need to address underlying gender inequalities and the need for women’s empowerment.