Supporting Women Environmental Defenders for Transformative Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines

This briefing highlights the critical but overlooked role of women environmental defenders in the Philippines in advancing 'transformative' disaster risk reduction (DRR). It argues that while gender and social inequalities increase the vulnerability of women and Indigenous peoples, these groups use traditional knowledge and grassroots mobilization to combat environmental destruction and structural inequality. The document provides recommendations for decision-makers to support these defenders through human rights compliance, accountability for developers, and expanded educational opportunities.

• Women environmental defenders are essential but often ignored contributors to disaster risk reduction (DRR). Their activities include mobilizing against environmentally harmful practices to prevent hazards and leading initiatives that seek structural changes for environmental and social justice, which the document describes as 'transformative DRR' because it addresses the root causes of disasters.
• In the Philippines, structural inequalities—including limited access to education, formal employment, secure land tenure, and decision-making representation—increase the vulnerability of women, Indigenous peoples, and rural communities to disasters. These gaps mean their specific needs and rights are often ignored in DRR policies.
• Marginalized groups possess critical empirical knowledge and traditional roles that support societal resilience. Women often serve as primary caregivers and essential respondents after disasters, while Indigenous peoples and resource-dependent communities use sustainable practices to mitigate disasters and adapt to environmental changes.
• Women environmental defenders in the Philippines have a history of successful community-based mobilizations to reduce disaster risk by stopping projects that threaten ecosystems. Examples include stopping the Chico River dam project, closing open-mining sites in Ucab, Itogon, and resisting Oceana Gold mining activities in Nueva Vizcaya.
• Transformative DRR is enabled by a strong history of grassroots political mobilization and intersectional cooperation among marginalized groups. For instance, the National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan) has collaborated with Indigenous women on land issues, and the Liyang Network has included non-Indigenous peasants in land tenure rights work.
• Civil society organizations provide critical capacity building that empowers marginalized groups to challenge their vulnerability. This includes the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC) educating communities on rights to prevent land disputes, the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC) providing paralegal training, and IPMSDL offering leadership and crisis organization training.

APA

Pross, C., Kim, D., & Vigil, S. (2022). Supporting Women Environmental Defenders for Transformative Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/brief-wed-philippines-09.09.2022.pdf

Chicago

Pross, Camille, Dayoon Kim, and Sara Vigil. Supporting Women Environmental Defenders for Transformative Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/brief-wed-philippines-09.09.2022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pross |first1=Camille |last2=Kim |first2=Dayoon |last3=Vigil |first3=Sara |title=Supporting Women Environmental Defenders for Transformative Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/brief-wed-philippines-09.09.2022.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pross2022supporting, author = {Pross, Camille and Kim, Dayoon and Vigil, Sara}, title = {{Supporting Women Environmental Defenders for Transformative Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/brief-wed-philippines-09.09.2022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }