By Alash Yadav, AIDMI, India

Across the Asia-Pacific region, disasters repeatedly expose and intensify existing gender inequalities. Evidence from practitioners and regional dialogues shows that gender-based violence (GBV) increases during disasters because protection systems weaken, livelihoods collapse, and stress rises within households and communities. Preventing GBV, therefore, requires embedding protection into disaster governance rather than treating it as a secondary concern.

First, recognising GBV as a core disaster risk is essential. Disaster risk assessments, preparedness plans, and response frameworks must explicitly include violence prevention and protection measures.

Second, strengthening gender-sensitive data and monitoring systems can help make GBV visible in disaster contexts. Collecting sex-disaggregated data and documenting protection risks allows governments and agencies to design more effective policies.

Third, integrating protection into early warning and anticipatory action systems ensures that preparedness plans include safe evacuation routes, well-lit shelters, privacy, and accessible reporting mechanisms.

Fourth, supporting livelihood recovery as a protection strategy can reduce economic stress and household tensions that often drive violence after disasters.

Finally, ensuring the participation of women, survivors, and local organisations in disaster governance can help shape policies that reflect lived realities and strengthen accountability. Together, these actions can shift disaster management toward protection-centred governance that actively prevents violence rather than responding after harm occurs.