International Cooperation

NWEC Global Seminar

Event Report

FY2011 NWEC International Symposium

Date:October 29, 2011


On October 29 (Saturday), the National Women’s Education Center of Japan (NWEC) held the “2011 NWEC International Symposium” with the theme of “Disaster Restoration and Gender” under the auspices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

 The symposium was co-hosted by NWEC and the Organization Committee for the International Symposium on “Disaster Restoration and Gender” under the auspices of JICA. The “International Symposium” consisted of two parts; in part one, the keynote addresses were made by two lecturers. Ms. Akiko Domoto, Representative of the Japan Network for Women and Health lectured on disaster restoration based on gender perspectives, and Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Chair of APWW (Asia Pacific Women’s Watch) presented on key issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific Region regarding gender mainstreaming within disaster management policies.

1. Keynote Address by Ms. Akiko Domoto1. Keynote Address by Ms. Akiko Domoto

2. Keynote Address by Dr. Sepali Kottegoda2. Keynote Address by Dr. Sepali Kottegoda

During the time between part one and two, a poster session on disaster prevention and disaster mitigation efforts, as well as gender in each country, was held by 11 trainees attending the “2011 Seminar for Gender Equality Officer and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region,” which was conducted by NWEC prior to the International Symposium. Lively discussions were held on the government policies in each country and the efforts made in the area of gender equality. Thus, the session provided a valuable opportunity for specialists and researchers in Japan and the trainees to interact with each other.

alt 3. Poster Session held during intermission

In part two, Ms. Asako Osaki was invited from the Gender Action Platform as a facilitator, and a panel discussion titled “Post-Disaster Community Reconstruction and Gender” was held. Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan, Founder of the Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society in Thailand, reported on the importance of gender perspectives in the period of restoration after a natural disaster, while citing as an example a tsunami in the southern part of Thailand. Dr. Shantana R. Halder, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist in the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) reported on gender and social aspects in terms of disasters from the perspective of Bangladesh. Ms. Keiko Hiraga, Chair of Sankaku Planning Iwate introduced the case example of a delivery care project based on the needs of the female victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Lastly, Ms. Cui Xuebo, one of the trainees attending the “2011 Seminar for Gender Equality Officer and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region” reported on the results of the training on behalf of all the trainees.

4. Panel Discussion (Left: Ms. Asako Osaki, Right: Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan)4. Panel Discussion (Left: Ms. Asako Osaki, Right: Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan)

5. Panel Discussion (Left: Dr. Shantana R. Halder, Right: Ms. Keiko Hiraga)5. Panel Discussion (Left: Dr. Shantana R. Halder, Right: Ms. Keiko Hiraga)

In an atmosphere where questions were coming one after another from the floor about the disaster prevention and disaster mitigation efforts in each country, and where the question and answer sessions was active, the “International Symposium” came to a close.

alt 6. Lecturers of the Symposium and the trainees attending the Seminar for Women Leaders

International Cooperation