Women have the skills and knowledge to contribute and lead in their communities. Advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, furthered under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, High Commissioner of Canada to Brunei Darussalam Ambra Dickie said.
She made these comments at a forum on the role of women in managing disasters, organised by the Canadian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam with the support of Brunei’s National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC).
“We are happy to work with the National Disaster Management Centre to increase the recognition of the significant role of women in managing natural disasters. Women and children are disproportionately affected by natural disasters so their inclusion in disaster mitigation and response is all the more important to ensure their perspectives and needs are well-understood and incorporated at every level,” added the high commissioner.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Safety and Welfare) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Nor Hamidah binti Haji Hamidon was the guest of honour at the forum held in celebration of International Women’s Day this year.
Seventy members of diplomatic corps, agencies involved in natural disasters management and students attended the forum. The event featured four expert panellists in natural disaster response in Brunei and the ASEAN region.
The expert panel included Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences lecturer Dr Maria Carinnes Alejandria, NDMC Director Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith Rashidi bin Haji Muhd Jamin, former executive director of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre) Adelina binti Kamal and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescents’ Societies senior officer in gender and inclusion (IFRC) Runjini Raman.
Dr Shariza Wahyuna binti Haji Shahrin from UBD moderated the forum, supported by the Brunei CAE Multi-Purpose Training Centre which provides first responder and disaster response training in the Sultanate. – James Kon
