Long-term data and recent events of natural hazards reveal a significant
increase in the number of disasters, in their devastating impact on populations,
and in their destruction of economic and social assets. The implementation
of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience
of Nations and Communities to Disasters, adopted by 168 member States
at the January 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction, is to achieve
a substantial reduction of disaster losses, with the assistance of the
ISDR secretariat. The ISDR system is supporting Governments in their
development of disaster risk reduction strategies together with regional
bodies, UN agencies and civil society organizations. Efforts to reduce
disaster risks must be integrated into programmes and policies for sustainable
development, poverty reduction, and supported through bilateral regional
and international cooperation.
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, adopted in 2000,
has been reinforced by the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action.
Over the last year, a series of consultations led by the USG for Humanitarian
Affairs and the ISDR secretariat, involving the Inter-Agency Task Force
on Disaster Reduction and other stakeholders, has advanced the strengthening
of the ISDR system (A/60/180 and A/RES/60/195) for the implementation
of disaster risk reduction and the Hyogo Framework.
2. Objective of the meeting
Two side events relating to the ISDR will be held during ECOSOC 2006.
The first briefing will take place on 13 July. It will provide an update
on the strengthening the ISDR system, while the briefing on 19 July will
focus on the progress in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for
Action.
3. Modalities
