Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic stressed that natural disasters are a contemporary problem which should be combated by risk management, planning and keeping informed on the topic. In addition, women should be included both in the decision-making and reform process. Omerovic reminded that the National Assembly had made decisive steps toward addressing crisis situations via the adopted amendments and modifications to the Law on Emergency Situations and the National Strategy for Protection and Rescue in Emergency Situations.
UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia and UNDP Resident Representative William Infante reminded of the fact that the victims of natural disasters are mostly women and therefore we must reinforce our ability to respond to risks. An action plan needs to be adopted and protection should be boosted at all levels from the national to the level of local self-government, added Infante. He also stressed that the UN, via the SEESAC programme, will continue to work on improving sustainable development and disaster protection measures.
The Head of the Emergency Situation Sector at the Serbian Ministry of Interior, Predrag Maric, highlighted the increasing number of disasters in recent years, which is why the Sector’s goal in the upcoming period is to raise the nation’s awareness of risk reduction. The society needs to be better informed about the culture of natural disaster prevention, added Maric.
The Director of the Gender Equality Directorate at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, Natalija Micunovic, spoke of the progress Serbia achieved in the field of gender equality, and the UNDP Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor Sergej Anagnosti spoke of the projects and assistance realised by the UN Programme in Serbia.
The Committee members and roundtable participants were then briefed on the Study on Gender Equality in the Field of Disaster Risk Reduction in the Republic of Serbia drafted by UNDP and aimed at raising the protection capacities and providing useful advice on how to address these situations.
In the ensuing debate, the participants emphasised the importance of integrating women into all the stages of research in the field of disaster risk reduction.
The sitting was chaired by Meho Omerovic, Committee Chairman.