Aware that the effect of natural disasters can be comparable with wartime and post conflict disaster situations in the wide-spread devastation which can result,
Aware, too, that the world has recently seen a number of natural disasters of almost unprecedented magnitude, bringing destruction, loss of life, and acute poverty to whole areas and communities,
Noting the extraordinary vulnerability of women and children both at the time when the disaster strikes, and in its aftermath,
Recognising that natural disasters, including the damage to supplies of clean water, are estimated to be among the main causes of poverty among women, and
Conscious that international aid organisations are often hampered by lack of communications with the affected areas,
The International Council of Women:
Calls upon all member National Councils, with the assistance of the ICW Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, to urge their Governments to support the establishment of mechanisms, within the framework of the United Nations, to assist in overcoming these problems. These mechanisms to be similar, in effect, to the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which relates to problems encountered by women in war and post-conflict situations.
—
Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — General Assembly, Kiev, 2006. Resolution No. 7.
