When people think about ‘disaster prevention’, the actions of strong, rugged men often come to mind. However, on visiting the disaster areas in Tohoku, what struck me were the contributions of women. As teachers, childcare workers, and nurses, in their homes, in their local areas, and in their workplaces: they demonstrated continually the full extent of their experience and know-how.
4 years have passed since 3.11, and the hammering sound of repair works is all around us. However, it is unclear to what degree people’s lives have stabilized and local society has recovered. We are still only halfway there, and in the midst of all the upheaval young women leaders have been coming up with and implementing a wide-range of activities across the disaster areas.
The Academy represents a groundbreaking attempt to connect these young, dedicated women, creating a wave of alliances across regions. When young women learn together, debate a lifestyle appropriate to high-frequency disaster areas, and start putting their plans into action, the result can only be a ‘revolution’ for local society. I hope that the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will be a chance to transmit the lessons learned in Minamisanriku-chō worldwide, widening the circle of international cooperation.

The Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) aims to complete the 10-year assessment of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and adopt its successor framework for DRR. In the discussions toward the successor framework, it has been increasingly recognized that active participation and leadership by women are important in building resilient community and resilient society, and that women should not be regarded just as a vulnerable group of people in the society. For effective disaster risk reduction and response, multi-stakeholder approach is crucial, in which active community participation is especially crucial. UNISDR welcomes such movements to promote inclusiveness, including the initiatives at the grass-roots level such as the Grass Roots Academy, and expects that these initiatives will be long-term and sustainable efforts.