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SAFER WORLD IN THE 21st CENTURY
Disaster
and Risk Reduction ISDR genral guideline
INTRODUCTION
- While hazards are inevitable, and the elimination of all risk is impossible,
there are many technical measures, traditional practices, and public experience
that can reduce the extent or severity of economic and social disasters.
Hazards and emergency requirements are a part of living with nature, but
human behaviour can be changed. In the words of the Secretary General,
"We must, above all, shift from a culture of reaction to a culture of
prevention. Prevention is not only more humane than cure; it is also much
cheaper... Above all, let us not forget that disaster prevention is a
moral imperative, no less than reducing the risks of war".
VISION - To
enable all communities to become resilient to the effects of natural,
technological and environmental hazards, reducing the compound risks they
pose to social and economic vulnerabilities within modern societies. To
proceed from protection against hazards to the management of risk through
the integration of risk prevention into sustainable development.
GOALS : I.
Increase public awareness of the risks that natural, technological and
environmental hazards pose to modern societies. II. Obtain commitment
by public authorities to reduce risks to people, their livelihoods, social
and economic infrastructure, and environmental resources. III.
Engage public participation at all levels of implementation to create
disaster-resistant communities through increased partnership and expanded
risk reduction networks at all levels. IV. Reduce the economic
and social losses of disasters as measured, for example, by Gross Domestic
Product.
OBJECTIVES
: 1. Stimulate research and application, provide knowledge, convey
experience, build capabilities and allocate necessary resources for reducing
or preventing severe and recurrent impacts of hazards, for those people
most vulnerable. 2. Increase opportunities for organizations and
multi-disciplinary relationships to foster more scientific and technical
contributions to the public decision-making process in matters of hazard,
risk and disaster prevention. 3. Develop a more proactive interface
between management of natural resources and risk reduction practices.
4. Form a global community dedicated to making risk and disaster
prevention a public value. 5. Link risk prevention and economic
competitiveness issues to enhance opportunities for greater economic partnerships.
6. Complete comprehensive risk assessments and integrate them within
development plans. 7. Develop and apply risk reduction strategies
and mitigation measures with supporting arrangements and resources for
disaster prevention at all levels of activity 8. Identify and engage
designated authorities, professionals drawn from the widest possible range
of expertise, and community leaders to develop increased partnership activities.
9. Establish risk monitoring capabilities, and early warning systems
as integrated processes, with particular attention being given to emerging
hazards with global implications such as those related to climate variation
and change, at all levels of responsibility. 10. Develop sustained
programmes of public information and institutionalized educational components
pertaining to hazards and their effects, risk management practices and
disaster prevention activities, for all ages. 11. Establish internationally
and professionally agreed standards / methodologies for the analysis and
expression of the socio-economic impacts of disasters on societies. 12.
Seek innovative funding mechanisms dedicated to sustained risk and disaster
prevention activities.
IMPLEMENTATION
- Conduct a national audit or assessment process of existing functions
necessary for a comprehensive and integrated national strategy of hazard,
risk and disaster prevention, projected over 5-10 and 20 year time periods.
Conduct dynamic risk analysis with specific consideration of demographics,
urban growth, and the interaction or compound relationships between natural,
technological and environmental factors. Build, or where existing, strengthen
regional/sub-regional, national and international approaches, and collaborative
organizational arrangements that can increase hazard, risk and disaster
prevention capabilities and activities. Establish coordination mechanisms
for greater coherence and improved effectiveness of combined hazard, risk
and disaster prevention strategies at all levels of responsibility. Promote
and encourage know-how transfer through partnership and among countries
with particular attention given in the transfer of experience amongst
those countries most exposed to risks. Establish national, regional/sub-regional,
and global information exchanges, facilities, or websites dedicated to
hazard, risk and disaster prevention, linked by agreed communication standards
and protocols to facilitate interchange. Link efforts of hazard, risk
and disaster prevention more closely with the Agenda 21 implementation
process for enhanced synergy with environmental and sustainable development
issues. Focus multi-year risk reduction strategies on urban concentration
and mega-city environments. Institute comprehensive application of land-use
planning and programmes in hazard prone-environments. Develop and apply
standard forms of statistical recording of risk factors, disaster occurrences
and their consequences to enable more consistent comparisons. Undertake
periodic reviews of accomplishments in hazard, risk and disaster reduction
efforts at all levels of engagement and responsibility. Study feasibility
of specific alternative funding and resource allocation modalities that
can ensure continued commitment to sustained risk and disaster prevention
strategies.
RESPONSIBLE PARTIES
- Governments have the primary responsibility for protecting citizens
from risks and disaster, however, local communities and elements of civil
society most threatened by hazards emerge as key initiators of important
risk and disaster prevention actions. They must work through partnership,
and together, receive necessary encouragement and support to realize the
vision of disaster resilience. Regional/sub-regional and international
collaboration is essential, especially with regard to the dissemination
of experience and information, scientific and technical applications,
continual advocacy and the coordination of strategies to assist in the
development of national capabilities. The United Nations system has a
special leadership role in global risk and disaster reduction by its universal
character, inter-disciplinary and multi-sectoral scope, and role as a
forum for global dialogue. It should address global risk issues, ensure
coherence among humanitarian aid, disaster prevention and development,
and promote collaboration among countries.
REVIEW - The
strategy, A Safer World in the 21st Century: Risk and Disaster Reduction,
should be closely monitored by the risk and disaster reduction community,
and a global review of progress and accomplishments should be undertaken
by all concerned parties within a period of five years.
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