ADN Special Sessions | Avoidable Deaths Network

The ADN’s First Special Session, Let’s Talk About Avoidable Deaths: Views from Multiple Perspectives was launched at the ‘International Conference on Geographical Science for Resilient Communities, Ecosystems and Livelihoods under Global Environmental Change’ (G.O.R.I.L.L.A) on 4 December 2020 in collaboration with Makerere University, Uganda. Please click here for more information and to listen to the recording of this Special Session.

Througout the year, the ADN will organise several Special Sessions all around the world (please see the upcoming and past Special Sessions below). If you would like to see who were our past speakers for previous Special Sessions, please click here.

The aims of these Special Sessions are:

1. 1. 1. To raise awareness on the concept of avoidable deaths by engaging with multi-disciplinary experts and researchers;
    2. To explore the multi-disciplinary appeal and application of avoidable deaths caused by the natural world (e.g. snake bites) and human-made systems (e.g. premature deaths and maternal deaths during disasters);
    3. To raise awareness on the first two global targets of the UN’s ‘Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’, which are geared towards reducing disaster deaths and the number of people affected by disasters by 2030;
    4. To identify the challenges and opportunities of reducing disaster deaths through the concept of avoidable deaths; and
    5. To promote state and non-state collaborations through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation to advance the agenda of avoidable deaths in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially for Targets 1.5, 3.8, 11.5 and 13.1.

ADN’s Upcoming Special Sessions

Special Session Webinar Series – Women’s Stories of Survival, Innovation, Resilience and Development

The Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN) and the Institute for Environmental Futures in collaboration with Auckland University of Technology’s Bringing Research into International Development and Global Equity (BRIDGE) Network, South Asia Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (SAADRI) – Sri Lanka Chapter led by the University of Colombo, University of Leicester’s School of Business and Women Inspiration Network and the New Vision University are organizing four webinars to capture women’s stories of survival, innovation, resilience and sustainability in exceptional circumstances such as political crisis, climate-related disasters, human-induced resource scarcity (among others).

8 March 2023
Between Hope and Fear: Afghan Women and Girls in Political Transition

This Special Session is facilitated by Dr. Ayse Yildiz (School of Business, University of Leicester) and Dr. Inshah Malik (New Vision University and ADN-Regional Coordinator, Afghanistan).

For more information and to register, please click here.

31 May 2023
South Asian Women’s Stories of Resource Scarcity, Conservation and Sustainability: Sri Lanka, Nepal and India

This Special Session is organised by Professor Deepthi Wickramasinghe (SAADRI – Sri Lanka Chapter, University of Colombo).

7 July 2023
Gender Responsive Budgeting and GDP: Where is the Voice of Women?.

This Special Session is organized by Dr. Sari Andajani and Dr. Eilidh Thorburn (BRIDGE Network, Auckland University of Technology).

13 October 2023
Women’s Stories of Enterprise, Empowerment and Sustainability.

This Special Session is organized by Dr. Lucy Ferdous (Women Inspiration Network, University of Leicester).

For more information, please click here.

ADN’s Past Special Sessions:

07 December 2022 – Special Session on Neglected Areas of Disaster Loss and Damage at the 2nd International Conference on Geographical Science for Resilient Communities, Ecosystems and Livelihoods under Global Environmental Change

The Special Session on Neglected Areas of Disaster Loss and Damage took place on Wednesday 07 December 2022 at 11:30 – 13:30 GMT (UK) which equated to 14:30 – 16:30 EAT (Uganda).

This highly topical and timely Special Session at the 2^nd International Conference on ‘Geographical Science for Resilient Communities, Ecosystems and Livelihoods under Global Environmental Change (GORILLA)’ in Kampala, Uganda addressed the neglected areas of Loss and Damage.

For more information, please click here.

14 November 2022 – Closed Special Session on Raising Awareness on Intercultural Understanding of the Environment

Facilitated by ADN Regional Coordinator UK, Dr. Christian Morgner (University of Sheffield), this workshop addressed how we can raise awareness on approaching global environmental concerns from the perspective of diversity and inclusion.

For more information please click here.

17 October 2022– Hybrid Emergency Special Session on Building Climate Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure: Post Disaster Scenario in Pakistan

A hybrid webinar on “Building Climate Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure- Post Disasters Scenario in Pakistan” took place at Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) in collaboration with the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS, Sindh Chapter), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) and Sindh Innovation Research, and Education Network (SIREN).

For more information please click here.

13 October 2022– Special Session on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

The ADN celebrated International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), an event promoted by the United Nations General Assembly to encourage a global culture of disaster risk reduction. The theme this year was ‘greater investment in expanding early warning and early action for all’, aligning with Target G of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.” (UNDRR, 2022).

For more information please click here.

30 September 2022– Special Session on International Snakebite Awareness Day

The ADN India Hub is held a Special Session in Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India, facilitated by the Orissa State Volunteers Social Worker’s Association (OSVSWA). The Special Session was delivered in a hybrid format via Zoom and in person in Bhubaneswar.

The Special Session focused on the burden of snakebites, prevention measures to avoid snakebite deaths, and the future of snakes and avoidable snakebite deaths in the context of climate change and climate-related natural hazards in India. For more information click here.

25 July 2022– Special Session on World Drowning Prevention Day: The Future of Drowning Risk in the Context of COVID-19 and Climate Change

The global webinar, titled: ‘The Future of Drowning Risk in the Context of COVID-19 and Climate Change’ was held virtually on Monday 25 July at 13:00 – 14:45 BST (UK) to mark the Wold Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Drowning Prevention Day.

The session Chairs were Dr. Nibedita Ray-Bennett (University of Leicester/ ADN) and Dr. Hideyuki Shiroshita (Kansai University/ ADN). Speakers included Dr. Olive Kobusingye (Makerere University), Dr. Aminur Rahman (CIPRB), Dr. Colleen Saunders (University of Cape Town), Ms. Judy Omasete et al. (University of East Anglia and ADN), and Tom Mecrow (Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)). The Future Leaders were Ms. Racheal Nantume (University of Leicester/ ADN) and Arkoneil Ghosh (ADN Junior Champion).

For more information, please click here.

4 May 2022– ADN’s Virtual Session on Avoidable Deaths: Anticipatory Framework to Reduce Disaster Deaths at the UNOCHA’s Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW)

This Side Event brought world-class experts, academics and practitioners from the UK, Germany and India to ‘show and tell’ anticipatory actions around the three components of ADF, and their contribution to reducing disaster deaths.

To find out more, click here.

25 March 2022– ADN’s Special Session on Exclusion and Avoidable Disaster Deaths

The second Special Session of 2022 focused on Exclusion and Avoidable Disaster Deaths.

The Avoidable Deaths Network presented this session in association with our Regional Coordinators for the Caribbean. For more information, please click here.

28 January 2022 – ADN’s Special Session on Reducing Avoidable Disaster Deaths through Effective Mitigation and Response

The first Special Session of 2022 focused on Reducing Avoidable Disaster Deaths through Effective Mitigation and Response.

The Avoidable Deaths Network presented this session in association with the University of Tehran’s School of Environment.

For more information, please click here.

16 June 2021: Reducing Deaths and Injuries from Residential Fire through Human Perspectives. This Session was held at 11 AM – 1 PM GMT. The speakers were Dr Christian Morgner, Mrs Gill Kernick and Mr Phil Murphy. This was an open session facilitated by Shared Aim. For more information and see the video recording of the session, please click here. To see the results surveys, please click here.

7 May 2021: Let’s Talk About Silent Deaths. This Session was held at 11 AM GMT. The speakers were Dr Ritu Mahendru, Mr Hari Krishna, Mr Ashis Biswas and Mr Kumar Shubham. This was an open session. To download the flyer for this event, please click here. For more information on this session, please click here. To see the results surveys, please click here.

4 March 2021: Disaster Risk Management – Discourses from Asia and Latin America. This Session was held at 9.30 AM GMT. The speakers are Dr Hideyuki Shiroshita, Dr Holmes Páez and Dr Richard Kotter. This was a closed Session facilitated by the University of Management and Technology, Pakistan for the Center for Disaster Management. To download the flyer for this event, please click here.

During this Special Session, two poll surveys were held; one at the start of the session and one towards the end in order to analyse the immediate impact of this Special Session. Additionally, after the Special Session took place, all participants were requested to provide feedback through an online survey. To see the results and analysis of these surveys, please click here.

5 February 2021: Responding to Domestic Fires and Coastal Flooding: Lessons from UK, India and Cambodia. This Session was held at 11 AM GMT. The speakers were Dr Nibedita Ray-Bennett, Mr David Wales, Dr Amaka Adekoya and Mrs Denise Corsel. This was a closed Session facilitated by Disaster Alert for the Nigeria Red Cross, the Nigerian Fire Service and the National Emergency Management Agency. To download the flyer for this event, please click here. To watch the recording of this session, please click here.