The EU stresses the need for inclusive disaster risk management

The Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has highlighted the need for stronger measures to guarantee the inclusion of people with disabilities in disaster risk management activities across the 28 EU member states.

The EU stresses the need for inclusive disaster risk management
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The Council of the European Union is talking about disaster risk reduction.

The disaster risk reduction makes sure that people
are safe during a dangerous situation.

Examples of dangerous situations are an earthquake, a fire, or a building falling down.

People with disabilities are more likely to be in danger in these situations.

Latvia, a country in the European Union, wants to make it safer
for people with disabilities when disasters happen.

They say that stronger rules are needed in all of the countries of the European Union.

They will be talking about this with the United Nations in a world conference.

The United Nations organisation wants all of the countries in the world to work
together to make the world a better place.

The Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has highlighted the need for stronger measures to guarantee the inclusion of people with disabilities in disaster risk management activities across the 28 EU member states.

Studies on disaster risk management reveal that people with disabilities are often overlooked throughout both natural and human-­influenced disasters, even though they are generally more exposed during conflicts and misplacement. People with disabilities across the world stated in a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) global survey that they are rarely consulted about their needs, and only 20% could evacuate immediately without difficulty in an emergency situation.

Ms Evika Silina, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Interior of Latvia emphasized the importance of a European inclusive disaster risk management. She said: “In a world of a changing climate and increased natural and manmade hazards, investment in disaster risk management is critical. I hope that our discussions this week will provide further guidance to the EU on the topic in regards to persons with disabilities.”

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), in its articles 11 and 322, requires that persons with disabilities benefit from and participate in disaster relief, emergency response and disaster risk reduction strategies. The new proposals on inclusion will be put forward during the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March.

Our work brings the voice of people with intellectual disabilities and their families where decisions about their future are made.

This has always been incredibly important. It is even more so with the Covid pandemic drastic impact on their rights and lives.

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