Existing gender and power inequalities and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are among the ‘invisible’ risks that increase during and after disasters. In addition to supporting and committing to international standards, the Red Cross Red Crescent has taken proactive steps to ensuring that dignity, access, participation and safety are at the forefront of disaster risk management.
Although most countries have reflected international commitments on equality and equity in National Constitutions or Bills of Rights, these obligations are often not translated into Disaster Risk Management (DRM) systems. Research has found that national disaster risk management laws and policies which do contain provisions on marginalised groups, including women, are often aspirational statements without specific implementation mechanisms.