Human resource training program with sponsorship by Qatar
Friendship Fund

Report of the human resource training program(Fukushima) regarding DRR＆Gender Equality

Foundation for Fukushima prefecture youth developmentand gender equality promotion organization ,Fukushima Gender Equality Centre
30 June 2015

Ⅰ An outline of the human resource training program (Fukushima) regarding
DRR＆Gender Equality
１ Purpose
Since 2012, the Fukushima Gender Equality Centre has operated to verify thehuman resource training business in regards to DRR & Gender Equality, andto consider new programs as well as implementing model projects in order toGender Mainstreaming in disaster areas in Fukushima and to promote theparticipation of women in disaster risk reduction activities.

２ Operating organization
Foundation for Fukushima prefecture youth development and gender equality
promotion organization
Fukushima Gender Equality Centre
３ Operation period
1 December 2014 ~ 30 June 2015
４ Program content（１）Conferences held by the program review committee
6 committee members (organizations involved within the prefecture)
2 advisors (Training Center for Gender & Disaster Risk Reduction)
First session 29 January 2015
Second session 18 February 2015
Third session 26 May 2015（２）Operation of the training programNumber of times Once
Date and time 24 April 2015 10:00~15:00
Targets local government officials, social welfare council staff, firedepartment officials, women’s organizations, etc.
（３）Participation and exhibits to the Third UN World Conference on Disaster RiskReduction
・Date 14~18 March 2015
・ Content Thematic Pavilion:Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction
WCDRR Public Forum① Creation and exhibition of an introduction panel of the efforts of theour centre② Participation in each symposium（４）Creating a report※Details regarding the reports for (1) and (2) are described below1

Ⅱ A report of the human resource training program (Fukushima) regarding DRR &Gender Equality

１ Purpose
This report is aimed to verify the tasks and outcomes of the previous
human resource training program operations onDRR & Gender Equalityof the Fukushima Gender Equality Centre in order to consider more
effective training programs.

２ Dates
First sessionof the review committee

Thursday, 29January

201513:25~15:15
Second session of the review committee Wednesday, 18 February
201513:30~15:30
Third session of the review committee Tuesday, 26 May 201513:30~16:00

３ Committee member roster (order of the Japanese syllabary titles omitted)
Name
1 Emi Itou

Affiliation

Official posts

Gender Equality Division,
Fukushima Prefectural Government
Social Welfare Corporation

2 Nao Saitou

Fukushima Prefecture Council on
Social Welfare

Desk chief
Community
Welfare andServices
Division chief

Disaster Prevention Division,Risk
3 Tsutomu ShiinaManagement
Department,Fukushima Prefectural

Desk chief

Government
4Sura Nakata

Fukushima University Faculty of(session chair)

Human Development and Culture

Professor

YoshihisaHiruta
5(H26.12~H27.3)
Hiromi Furuichi

Iwaki City Gender Equality Center

Deputy director(H27.4~H27.6)
Institute of Koriyama Medical
6 Hatsue Munakata

Association Koriyama Medical Care
Hospital
2Nursing director

４ Consultation overview（１）First session of the review committee＜About the challenges＞
・In order to resolve the difficulty of securing participants, conditions such as
theme, target persons, and time should match those of potentialparticipants.
・After completing the course, it is a challenge for participants to put theteachings to practice.
・ It is difficult to see the relevance between gender equality andreconstruction and disaster prevention. It is important to carefully explainthe need for a gender equality perspective within reconstruction anddisaster prevention.
＜About the Fukushima’s original perspective＞
・Fukushima’s original perspective is its take on the nuclear disaster problem.
Because the current support for nuclear disasters centers on mothers andchildren, we must not forget about the women who do not fit into thesecategories.
・It is in Fukushima’s nature to raise awareness of gender issues resulting
from the nuclear disaster and to call for such programs.
・In order for women (mothers) to continue their work as supporters in theevent of a disaster, the understanding of their husbands and malecoworkers is crucial, and therefore, I want more men to attend thisprogram.
・Gender issues women face in times of disaster include domestic violenceand other forms of sexual abuse, in addition to the problem of being
constrained within gender roles. Nuclear disasters are not an exception.
Under such severe circumstances, women’s rights are not protected, andtherefore, there is a necessity for a safety network.
（２）Second session of the review committee＜About the targets of the training program＞
・It is necessary for the person in charge of operating the shelter to have agender euality perspective.
・Although they are not subjects to primary care and support, senior citizens
should also be considered. Men require assistance as well.
・Personnel from Regional Comprehensive Support Centers (welfare related)3and others should be included.
・In order to prevent secondary damage of DV victims, I want town chairmen
and others to attend this program.
・Municipality staffs who issue evacuation orders and operate shelters aretargets as well.
・Since there is a possibility that schools and community centers will become
shelters, its staffs are also subjects of this program.
・Because evacuation was prolonged in Fukushima, sexual violence in theshelters became a problem. When considering the targets for this program,
it is necessary to consider how to solve this problem.
<About Fukushima’s original perspective and content of the training program>・ Fukushima is characterized by the size, distance, and duration ofevacuation of nuclear disaster and the evacuations to areas wherecommunities are not yet formed. From these features, it is necessary toextract problems regarding gender.
・There seems to be an increase in DV due to the lengthened life in refuge.
・There were children left as orphans in the shelters. The longer their life inrefuge, the more severe their life will become. There is a need for a
program to educate them of basic knowledge about nuclear power plants
and radioactivity.
・Because the nuclear disaster exposed gender discrimination and othergender problems, there needs to be a deeper understanding of genderissues among those involved in disaster prevention.
・In order to raise awareness about “the need for gender equality and gender
perspective in the event of a disaster including nuclear disasters”, perhaps
it would be effective to introduce the example of the recent nuclear
disaster.
・Cooperation is a key characteristic necessary in a leader when overcoming
nuclear disasters.
（３）Third session of the review committee＜About the evaluation of the training program＞
・Important characteristics of this training program include the possibility ofnew, diverse networks forming after participants return to their regionswith gender equality perspectives and the realization of the need to expand
networks.
4・New networks can be created through the invitation of a variety oforganizations and the sharing of each person’s disaster experience.
・There was an increase in participation due to the addition of the crisis
management department manager to the gender equality department
manager on the guidance document and the clarity of the targets andpurpose of the program.
・On the assumption that the participants will voluntarily continue to study
after the course, it is important to provide them with the necessary
information (such as workbooks and other materials).
・It is difficult for attendants to put the teachings to practice after only one
session.
＜About future development＞
・The Gender Equality Centre will visit regions to exchange information withthe participants.
・Because disaster prevention is a human rights issue, it is important tocreate programs that cater towards senior citizens, sexual minorities, andforeigners.
・We must be able to provide the next generation with a disaster prevention
system that mutually protects human rights. This program helped to do soby emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse viewpoints.
・ Although it is crucial for municipality personnel to be conscious ofdefending human rights in the gender perspective, it is difficult for it totake root because when responsibilities change, they must relearn genderequality.
・It is the role of the Centre to pass on the gathered knowledge andinformation to the municipalities.
・It is important to appeal to the disaster prevention sector the necessity tocooperate with related organizations, systemize the program, and tackle
theDRR & Gender Equality issue as a social issue.
・The Centre for the prefecture should implement programs that confirm thenecessity of a female leader and train instructors.
・There should be a system for the participants to become lecturers.
・I wonder whether it is right to end the program without addressing theproblem of disaster prevention for nuclear power plants.
・We have regarded the nuclear disaster problem as “large-scaled, divided,and prolonged”. There is no immediate solution to this problem nor does5

humanity have an answer. The trial and error process of this program insearching for an answer can be praised.
・What influence has the nuclear disaster had on the people? It is obviousthat each gender was influenced differently, but no data exists that showssuch differences. As the Gender Equality Centre, we can provide detailed
individual support through the training programs.

Ⅲ Implementation reports on the training programs
１ Outline of the program（１）Purpose
From the lessons we have learned fromthe Great East Japan Earthquake andnuclear accident, we strive to reduce risks,
prepare for any upcoming disasters, andhelp build reconstruction strength inregions, organizations, and people bytraining female leaders to actively engage in disaster prevention andreconstruction activities.
（２）Date and time Friday, 24 April 2015 10:00~15:30（３）Venue Fukushima Gender Equality Centre Training Room 2（ ４ ） Lecturers

Training Center for Gender & Disaster Risk Reduction joint
representatives Ms. Sachiko Asano, Ms. Keiko Ikeda（５）Content
disaster risk reduction for women”○Program ※The planning of this project was done
through cooperation with the lecturers.
①10:00 – Opening of meeting②10:10 – Organizing and sharing of the training
points (basics for disaster prevention and disastersituationdifferences

dependingon

positiondifferences) (40 minutes)③10:50 – Reflecting back on and sharing of each
person’s disaster experience (20 minutes)④11:10 – Understanding the international trends andchallenges based on the results of The UN World
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (40 minutes)
6⑤11:50 – Mingling while eating emergency provisions (45 minutes)⑥12:35 – Learning specific techniques and materials to help your workand activities (125 minutes)⑦14:40 – Confirmation of regional resources and methods for organizing
and solving the challenges Fukushima faced due to the earthquake andnuclear accident (40 minutes)⑧15:20 – Reflections, closing of meeting (10 minutes)

２ Overview of the participants（１）Number of participants 27 (of which 4 were men)（２）Age group 20s ~ 70s（３）Occupation and affiliation
14 local government officials (from departments related to genderequality in municipalities, crisis management, and social education), 5
social welfare council staff, 7 members from women’s associations, 1 fire
department personnel（４）Regions Ken-poku, Ken-chu, Ken-nan, Aizu, Iwaki, Sousou

３ Evaluation by participants (27 attendants, 25 returns, 93% return rate)（１）Degree of achievement of objectives and targets
24% “successfully achieved”, 64% “nearly achieved”,
8% “not quite achieved”, 4% “could not be achieved”（２）Thoughts and impressions
・I want to actually do busy by utilizing the workbook.
・In governmental conferences, I would like to use these documents to
support the active roles women can play in disaster prevention
organizations.
・There was no existing cooperation with the gender equality department,
volunteer center, or the crisis management department, but I would like towork together with them in the future.
・The exchange of opinions from a variety of regions and positions wasvaluable.
・It is necessary to widely inform others at disaster prevention gatherings ofwhat I have learned today. I want to also learn about the correspondencewith sexual minorities.
・I thought it was necessary for training programs and training opportunities7

for female leaders.
・Municipalities and disaster prevention fields are still male-dominated, andthe participation of women is low. It is difficult for women to enter into a
male-centric society. I felt the need for a reform in gender awareness forboth men and women.
（３）Evaluation for each training contents
a: very helpful, b: helpful, c: not quite helpful, d: no answer①Organizing and sharing of the training points (basics for disasterprevention and disaster situation differences depending on positiondifferences)b. 10 people

a. 15 people②Reflecting and sharing of each person’s disaster experienceb. 13 people

a. 12 people③ Understanding the international trends and challenges based on theresults of The UN World Conference on Disaster Riska. 11 people

b. 11 peoplec. 1 persond,2d. 2 people④Mingling while eating emergency provisions & preparation for the
next section
b. 14 people

a. 11 people⑤Learning specific techniques and materials to help your work andactivities
b. 13 people

a. 12 people⑥Confirmation of regional resources and methods for organizing andsolving the challenges Fukushima faced due to the earthquake andnuclear accident
b. 17 people

a. 5 people8c. 2 persond. 1 peopleⅣ Achievements and challenges
Immediately following the earthquake, the Centre has worked to createawareness for gender equality in disaster prevention fields, and from2012 to this day, we have been working on projects related to disasterand gender. This program organized the challenges that it had faced,established a review committee to consider new training programs, andimplemented a training program that reflected the content of themeetings. The resulting achievements and challenges are as follows.

１ Achievements（１）Review committee members’ and training program participants’ awareness ofgender perspective
Because the training program was conducted with the review committee,
each participant was made aware of or reconfirmed the importance ofgender perspective in the field of disaster prevention. As a result, it canbe expected that each participant will bring back this awareness to hisor her respective organizations.
（２）Organization of Fukushima’s regional characteristic
The review committee has discussed the major point about how to define
Fukushima’s regional characteristic that has been shaped by the nuclear
disaster in addition to the earthquake and tsunami. In conclusion, thecommittee has decided to define it as “problems and challenges
regarding gender that have surfaced due to the divisions between
citizens and the lengthy, large-scale evacuation due to the nucleardisaster”. Although we are still searching for a way to incorporate this
into the training program, we were able to obtain a clue to reflecting thisin future operations.
（３）The creation of networks and understandings among participants
Because the participants came from a variety of different residencies,affiliations, age groups, occupations, and situations at the time of thedisaster, they were able to deepen their understanding of different
positions and create a network amongst themselves. Factors that
contributed to this are: ① the clarity of the intent and purpose of thisprogram when recruiting participants from organizations that will needto cooperate in the event of a disaster, ② the content of the programthat allowed the participants to mingle and work together, ③ the9consideration to diversify the groups to create a feeling of diversity
among the participants.
（４）The participants’ independent studies and promotion of activities in theirrespective regions and organizations
As a result of putting emphasis on “methods and teaching materials
useful for the workplace” (which ranked highest in demand), theparticipants expressed that they want to implement projects that utilize
the teaching materials, want to put into practice what they have learnedin their region and organization, and that they require more training.
Because the program was able to deliver specific techniques andmaterials useful for independent study, the participants’ satisfaction andmotivation increased.
（５）Possibility of a new network and collaboration
Because the training program invited fire department staff and received
inquiries from fire department staff from other regions about the detailsof the program and plans for the future, the Gender Equality Centre wasable to establish a possibility of new networks and collaboration with thepreviously disassociated fire department staff.
（６）Opportunity to receive external evaluation
Because the review committee received external evaluation about theprogram’s achievements and challenges, the Centre was also given achance to think about its role and significance.

２ Challenges（１）Follow-up for the participants
In order to continue to Gender Mainstreaming and develop female
human resources in disaster prevention fields, a key person needs to beestablished in each region. For this reason, the participants of thisprogram need to become the key person by putting their knowledge into
practice, providing a place to establish networks between participants,
and continuing to create a support system. In addition, the disasterprevention field has a deep-rooted male-centric perspective, whichmakes participation of women very difficult, and therefore, the supportof the participants of this program is crucial.
（２）Training of local instructors
As the Centre established by the prefecture, we must bring public
10

awareness and establish training programs throughout the prefectureby training local instructors. Local instructors will play an importantrole in implementing and developing the program based on Fukushima’s
originality of “the necessity for gender perspectives in times of disasters
including nuclear disasters”.
（ ３ ） Network strengthening with the disaster control and crisis management
department
In order to establish a gender equality perspective in disaster prevention
fields, cooperation is necessary between the Gender Equality Centre andthe disaster control and crisis management departments and between
the department managers as well. It is necessary to further strengthen
the networks established through the planning and implementation ofthis program.
（４）System maintenanceIn order to implement the training program more effectively andsteadily and to promote gender equality in Fukushima’s disasterprevention fields, the Centre is currently organizing and reviewing
individual projects which have been conducted for the purpose ofbringing

publicawarenessanddeveloping

humanresources.

Additionally, it is necessary to organize the experience, knowledge, andchallenges each organization faced in times of disaster, and to reflect
them in the projects by enhancing research and information projects.
Thus, it is necessary to overcome challenges such as budget acquisitionand skill development of staff.

11Ⅴ Future development
In the future, in terms of developing the business, the clarification of the Centre’srole and establishment of a system for implementing projects will become an
important key. (Figure 1) One of the major roles as the Centre established by theprefecture is to support local municipalities and to train and network humanresources at the prefectural level. By reflecting the achievements and challenges
obtained through the review committee and training program, the Centre willorganize projects that ① support local municipalities (bring public awareness andprovide information for staff), ② support and train human resources, ③ create andsupport networks between parties. (Figure 2) By having the local municipalities,related organizations, and the Centre collaborate on these efforts, disaster prevention
fields of the Fukushima prefecture can further Gender Mainstreaming and prepare

Figure 1

Interactive cycle of the human resource training program regarding

Figure 2

Fukushima Gender Equality Centre’s system for the human resource training program regarding DRR & Gender Equality

12DRR & Gender Equality