What's holding back change?

This research paper examines the obstacles to including people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identity/expression, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian policy. Based on two Asia-Pacific projects from 2018 and 2021, it concludes that while participatory forums generate recommendations, they are insufficient for transformative change without wider advocacy and solidarity.

• The paper analyzes the drivers and obstacles to the inclusion of SOGIESC individuals in DRR and humanitarian action, drawing on two consultative projects in the Asia-Pacific region conducted between 2018 and 2021: the Pride in the Humanitarian System consultation (2018) and the Platform for the Inclusion of Non-normative Genders and Sexualities in Climate Change Adaptation Policy and Action (2021).
• Despite the high levels of energy, hope, and the creation of extensive recommendations for SOGIESC inclusion resulting from the two consultative projects, the author notes that meaningful changes have not yet been achieved.
• The author argues that while consultative and participatory forums can facilitate incremental changes, a transformative agenda requires broader advocacy and solidarity with other activities.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). What's holding back change? https://www.sei.org/publications/whats-holding-back-change-sogiesc-drr/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. What's holding back change? 2025. https://www.sei.org/publications/whats-holding-back-change-sogiesc-drr/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=What's holding back change? |date=3 February 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/whats-holding-back-change-sogiesc-drr/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025whats, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{What's holding back change?}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/whats-holding-back-change-sogiesc-drr/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }