National Policy Guidelines on Vulnerable Groups in Disasters, 2014 (Pakistan)

The National Policy Guidelines on Vulnerable Groups in Disasters is an effort towards developing a more focused mechanism to prioritize, integrate and address the needs and concerns of vulnerable groups. The main purpose for laying down the Guidelines is to meet the needs of vulnerable segments of the population in a more targeted manner, to ensure that all interventions are designed with needs of specific groups in mind, to safeguard equitable access, benefits and opportunities in all relief/response designs, to ascertain and encourage balanced and active participation of vulnerable groups in decision making processes that affect them. The Guidelines define vulnerability as the conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards. 

Citing the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, four segments are categorized as the most vulnerable groups, namely:

1. Women
2. Children
3. Older persons
4. Persons with disabilities

Before the specific guidelines are set out, there is a discussion of the issues and challenges of the vulnerable groups as highlighted during regional and provincial consultations. The substance of the Guidelines is then presented, including an overarching national policy, as well as specific guidelines on children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Finally, it presents major areas of action for implementation of the Guidelines.