The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) through
its Secretariat invites you to an on-line dialogue from 15 June
to 15 July 2004 to discuss
priority areas for further action to implement disaster risk reduction
2005-2015.
Purpose of the on-line dialogue:
To provide a wide forum for inputs to the conclusions of a
review of current implementation of disaster risk reduction
and to identify
future priority action areas, including support mechanisms.
Target audience:
The on-line consultation will provide space for a global dialogue
between government representatives, experts and interested
stakeholders on reducing vulnerability to natural hazards. The
results of this dialogue will provide inputs to and impact
on the discussions and outcomes of the World
Conference on Disaster Reduction in
January 2005.
We invite participation
by experts in all development, sustainable development
and disaster
management sectors.
The
World Conference on Disaster Reduction, 18-22 January
2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan (WCDR), is a milestone event
to increase the profile of disaster risk reduction in
development planning and practice as well as in humanitarian
work and to provide guidance to reduce risk to natural
hazards.
The first Preparatory Committee session for the WCDR was held in Geneva, 6-7
May 2004, which brought together UN Member States, UN agencies, Inter-Governmental
Organizations and NGOs. One of the recommendations was for the ISDR Secretariat
to provide a list of elements for a strong action-oriented outcome document to
contribute to the inter-governmental negotiations on priorities to implement
disaster risk reduction in the coming ten years. |
|
Tentative agenda:
| 15
- 25 June Topic 1 |
Core
objectives and areas for action, stemming from preliminary
conclusions of the review of implementation of disaster
reduction |
| 26
June - 4 July: Topic 2 |
Implementation
mechanisms at local, national, regional and international
scales. Links with existing developmental mechanisms
and frameworks. Support to national and local implementation
and follow-up. |
| 5
- 11 July: Topic
3 |
Voluntary
partnerships to support implementation, at all levels.
Operational criteria and modalities. Links
with relevant WSSD partnerships and other existing ones. |
| 12-15
July: |
Wrap
up and summary |
|
How to participate:
Please register by clicking here or
send a message to isdrwebmaster@un.org
The discussion will take place English via email. The moderator
receives the messages and he will pass them on for circulation
to all as it fits the discussion. The messages will also be posted
on the website, but no inter-active discussion will take place
there.
You will find guidelines for the participants on the website address
indicated above. If needed, those who wish to contribute to the
discussion are welcome to contact the moderator for advice on the
form and content of their contributions
The moderator for the dialogue is John Twigg on behalf of the ISDR
Secretariat. All messages shall be directed to the moderator at
email address: WCDR-dialogue@un.org
John Twigg is an independent researcher/consultant and honorary
research fellow at the Benfield Hazard Research Centre, University
College London, specialising in the social and institutional aspects
of risk reduction. His recent projects include a study for the
ProVention Consortium on methodologies for assessing natural hazard
risks and the net benefits of mitigation, and a review of good
practice in disaster risk reduction (Disaster Risk Reduction: Mitigation
And Preparedness In Development And Emergency Programming. London:
overseas development institute, 2004)
UNDP is co-sponsoring the on-line conference and the Regional
Disaster Information Centre (CRID) in Costa Rica is providing technical
support.
Please circulate this invitation to your colleagues and other relevant
networks.
Background document for discussion:
Elements for programmatic action plan and mechanisms for implementation,
WCDR (31 May 2004), is the background document for the on-line
consultation, supported by the Progress report draft review of
the Yokohama Strategy.
Additional reference information:
Summary background
Starting point:
The Yokohama
Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World in the 21st Century, adopted in 1994 during the International Decade for
Natural Disaster Reduction, outlines the principles for disaster
reduction.
The on-going
review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action identifies gaps in its implementation and concludes on areas which
need further strengthening. It also provides a consolidated guiding
framework for disaster reduction, developed through the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) in collaboration with UNDP.
The preliminary conclusions of this review formed the basis for
a first draft of Elements
for Programmatic Outcome for the WCDR.
It was discussed at the ninth session of the Inter-Agency Task
Force on Disaster Reduction (4-5 May 2004) and made available to
Member States at the first session of the Preparatory Committee
for the WCDR (6-7 May 2004).
Expected result:
Definition of priority areas for further action to implement
disaster risk reduction 2005-2015 (to coincide with the review in 2014-2015
at the Commission for Sustainable Development on “Vulnerability
and disaster management” as defined by the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation, as well as with the Millennium Development Goals
to be achieved by 2015)
The WCDR is expected to launch a programmatic action plan for disaster
risk reduction, focusing on national needs - 2005-2015 - under
the lema of building disaster resilient communities and nations.
This plan should be based on priorities defined as objectives,
and areas for action, which can serve to define voluntary targets
at local, national and regional scales.
It should also agree on a mechanism for follow-up and implementation
with elements for local and national implementation, as well as
regional and international support to that implementation.
The thematic sessions at the WCDR will be based on these priority
areas, and will focus on discussing good-practices and ways forward
to ensure implementation.
The second session of the Preparatory Committee will meet 11-12
October 2004 where the WCDR outcomes will be negotiated. The ISDR
Secretariat has been asked to prepare an updated draft of the elements
for a programmatic document to implement disaster reduction for
the consideration of Member States, based on the recommendations
of the Task Force and the first Preparatory Committee session and
for further, wide consultation.
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