The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) is organizing, in collaboration with the Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on "Environmental management and the mitigation of natural disasters: a gender perspective", which will take place in Ankara, Turkey from 6 to 9 November 2001. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) selected this topic as a priority theme in its multi-year programme of work for 2002-2006. The meeting will analyze "women as part of the solution" rather than women's vulnerabilities to disaster, focusing on positive aspects, experiences and characteristics that reduce women's vulnerability, promote gender equality and provide concrete solutions to global problems. The role of women as key environmental managers and key actors in natural disaster management are primary issues which will be explored. Findings and conclusions will be considered by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (New York, March 2002), and become a possible contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, Summer 2002).