Gender in Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction

The Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance October 19-22, 2008 Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City Metro Manila, Philippines Climate change is the 21st century crisis. According to the United Nations Human Development Report, it is still a preventable crisis. Coping efforts must include: 1) disaster risk reduction; 2) adaptation and 3) mitigation. Women are most vulnerable to the bad effects of climate change and yet women are absent in the decision-making process, the discourse and the debate on climate change, a global mainstream issue that is affecting the entire world. Changing and influencing the course of climate change and preparedness thru disaster risk reduction are the two main strategies which women must understand and engage in. There is an urgent need for political leaders and legislators to commit to creating a gender responsive enabling environment for responding to climate change and preparedness through disaster risk reduction at national and international levels. It is in this spirit that the Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) in partnership with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN/ISDR) is organizing the Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance in October 19-22, 2008. The focus of the Congress is on gender in climate change and disaster risk reduction. Invited to the Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance are female and male parliamentarians, decision-makers in national government, environment organizations/agencies, youth leaders and media practitioners, funding/donor agencies and organizations. To provide a forum for leaders and decision-makers at all levels in formulating a gender responsive legislation and programs related to gender in climate change and disaster risk reduction. The participants are invited to share papers for distribution during the Congress. These papers should be e-mailed in advance so that they can be included in the CD of resource materials for distribution during the Congress. A knowledge fair/Exhibition on Gender and Climate Change will be organized at the venue of the Congress: The Dusit Hotel. Participating organizations are invited to exhibit their materials for display or for sale. Those who are interested should contact the Secretariat to make their booth reservations. There will be minimal charges for the rental of the booth. Congress Cost Per Participant with Twin Sharing Accommodation: One Thousand Five Hundred Fifty US Dollars (US$ 1,550) Congress Cost Per Participant with Single Room Accommodation: One Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty US Dollars (US$ 1,950) This fee, which does not include airfare and airport terminal fees, is non-refundable and must be paid in advance as soon as the reservation to the Congress is confirmed. Unfortunately, scholarships are not available from the organizers. You are encouraged to seek your own funding from various donor/funding agencies or your own institutions. All participants must confirm their attendance on or [b]before AUGUST 31, 2008[/b]. If we get fully booked before this date, you will be informed. This is the reason why you are all encouraged to book as early as possible. Payments upon arrival are not allowed. The Congress is scheduled on October 19-22, 2008. Participants are required to arrive one day before (October 18) the start of the Congress and leave the day after the last Congress day (October 23, 2008). English is the medium of instruction. No translation will be available. Visit the official site: http://www.capwip.org/3rdglobalcongress.htm