FORUM: «A look from women to the design of the national PNGIR risk management policy»

Women organized in different areas of the country with the accompaniment of the organizations that make up the Permanent Table for Risk Management in El Salvador MPGR, we participated this day in the forum: «A LOOK FROM WOMEN TO THE DESIGN OF THE NATIONAL MANAGEMENT POLICY INTEGRAL OF RISKS PNGIR «. This activity aims to make women in rural and urban areas aware of the progress made by national authorities as they are incorporating the gender perspective into PNGIR, especially in the construction of the National Risk Management Policy, in order to make it inclusive and participatory.

Also contribute to the approval of a National Policy on Comprehensive Risk Management in El Salvador, which reduces disaster risks and strengthens the resilience of institutions and individuals to reduce the impact of disasters and cooperate in achieving the objectives of Sustainable development.

It is necessary to recognize that although Central America already has the Central American Comprehensive Risk Management Policy, PCGIR, signed by the Presidents of the Central American and Caribbean Integration System, SICA, El Salvador still does not have a National Policy on Integral Risk Management, despite being one of the signatory countries and in the most vulnerable conditions in the region.

The Permanent Bureau of Integrated Risk Management in El Salvador, MPGR, has been submitting proposals since 2009, and so far there is no Presidential Decree that approves this important Policy, which puts El Salvador at a disadvantage. become one of the Central American countries that lacks this legal framework.

It is known that consultations are being held to review and complement the proposals made by the National Directorate of Civil Protection, including the proposal submitted by the MPGR for the approval of a National Risk Management Policy. However, the times of the process are slowly moving and there is a fear in the membership of the MPGR that the situation is even more complicated, and once again the Policy is left without approval, even though it is an element that is found in the Plan. Five years of the current government.

Subsequently, in the years 2014-2015, a great joint effort was made between the MPGR and OXFAM to promote an improved version of a National Policy on Comprehensive Risk Management. The project called «Humanitarian Campaign Win», managed to strengthen links between government organizations, civil society and other key actors to generate interest of different officials of the State portfolios involved with the subject of risk management. One of the aspects that stood out most in this context was the visualization of the role of women in care before, during and after emergencies. This element is key to essential arguments in all the work of the MPGR and in the proposal of its policy, especially in the content to avoid having a sexist language, which gives priority to affirmative actions towards women. Of course, equity and gender equality in humanitarian work must face, as in any society, the prevalence of a patriarchal society, based on the dominance and interests of the male figure.

 For all the above, women demand:

The Executive will expedite the prompt discussion and approval of a National Policy on Comprehensive Risk Management.
Retake the eyes of women in the construction of the National Policy on Comprehensive Risk Management for being 53% of the population in the country, and in whom falls the responsibility of care and food security of the family.
For a National Policy on Comprehensive Risk Management that is inclusive, participatory and with a gender perspective.