The sixth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2019) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 17 May 2019, convened and organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and hosted by the Government of Switzerland.

The Global Platform is the main international forum dedicated to disaster risk reduction at the global level. The participation of key actors from all parts of the world, interested in various themes, in the Platform facilitates dialogue and the assessment of progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework. The Platform represented an important opportunity for the international community to advance the implementation of the objectives related to the Sendai Framework of the Programme of Action 2030, which includes the theme of "Inclusion in disaster risk reduction".

 Inclusion is key to resilience

One of ASB's most important areas of work globally is the inclusion of people with disabilities and older adults in risk management, so the knowledge and experience of our offices in Germany, Indonesia, Georgia and Latin America is essential to assist people with disabilities in achieving their participation and rights.

In the framework of this global event, ASB, an active member of the Inclusive Disaster and Disability Risk Management Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (RED GIRDD LAC) and the Inclusive Risk Management Network (DIDRRN - Asia Pacific), carried out a communication campaign with the aim of raising awareness among key stakeholders present about the need to include people with disabilities in Disaster Risk Reduction. The message "Inclusion is key to resilience" was chosen.

Stakeholder Group of persons with disabilities

People with disabilities are not inherently vulnerable; it is society that places them in vulnerable positions. The group of key disability actors consists of people with disabilities and their representative organizations for the most part, but also general development and disaster risk reduction organizations working on inclusion.

The life experiences of people with disabilities are critical to understanding how to identify and remove environmental barriers (attitudinal, informational, communicational and physical). The CRPD explicitly stipulates that States are obliged to ensure that all women, men, children, older persons and indigenous persons with disabilities, both those living in rural and urban areas, are not left behind in humanitarian emergencies and disasters.

The statement by the disability caucus presented on the last day of the Global Platform touches on this and other very important issues. To read the statement, available in English and Spanish, you can click here: http://bit.ly/SendaiGP2019

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