International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction

A/RES/50/117No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 96fInternational Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, published in 1996.

What else is in this group?

13 documents · 1988–1997

Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 1997).

1997A/RES/51/185International Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionCompare with earlier document
1996A/RES/50/117[B]International Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionCompare with earlier document
1996A/RES/50/117[A]International Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionCompare with earlier document
1996A/RES/50/117International Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionCompare with earlier document
1995A/RES/49/22BInternational Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionCompare with earlier document

This group bundles related documents that are not individually ordered.

Grouped automatically by matching titles within the same organ.

What subjects does this mandate have?

12 topics

Budget Contributions Capacity Building Coordination Within UN System Disaster Preparedness Disaster Prevention Early Warning Systems Information Exchange International Decades Least Developed Countries Programmes of Action Project Finance Trust Funds

What does this mandate say?

27 operative paragraphs

A

Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the specific measures for the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action, and requests the secretariat of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction to continue to promote and monitor their translation into concrete activities, in close cooperation with all bodies comprising the International Framework of Action for the Decade, so as to ensure timely and effective implementation;

Commends those developing and least developed countries that have mobilized domestic resources for disaster reduction activities and have facilitated the effective implementation of such activities, and encourages all developing countries concerned to continue in this direction;

Recommends that all countries, with appropriate support, continue to study conventional and non-conventional ways and means of financing disaster reduction measures, both at the national level and with respect to subregional, regional and international technical cooperation;

Calls upon Member States, relevant intergovernmental bodies and all others involved in the Decade to participate actively in the financial and technical support of Decade activities, in order to ensure the implementation of the International Framework of Action for the Decade, in particular with a view to translating the Yokohama Strategy and the Plan of Action contained therein into concrete disaster reduction programmes and activities;

Requests the Commission on Sustainable Development to pay appropriate attention at its fourth session to the issue of disaster reduction when considering the relevant chapters of Agenda 21 and of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;

Welcomes the measures proposed by the Secretary-General to bring the International Framework of Action for the Decade into line with the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, in order to provide disaster reduction activities worldwide and regionally with authoritative and effective programme guidance so as to ensure stronger cohesion of disaster reduction programmes and the joint participation of concerned sectors in their implementation;

Notes the initiative for an informal mechanism between the secretariat of the Decade and Member States, intended to facilitate and support the promotion of Decade activities and the regular exchange of information between Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other organizations;

Welcomes, in pursuance of its resolution 49/22 A, the restructuring of the Special High-Level Council and the Scientific and Technical Committee for the Decade so that for the second half of the Decade they will provide the necessary support to global, regional and national policy and strategy development, public awareness-building and resource mobilization, and at the same time provide links with the scientific community and support the national committees for the Decade and national authorities in their cooperative efforts to integrate disaster reduction programmes into national activities for sustainable development;

Endorses the decision of the Secretary-General to extend until the end of the Decade the mandate of the United Nations Steering Committee for the Decade, established in pursuance of General Assembly resolutions 42/169 of 11 December 1987 and 44/236;

Emphasizes that effective and efficient coordination and servicing of the above-mentioned components of the International Framework of Action for the Decade require a financially and structurally stable secretariat of the Decade, reporting to the Secretary-General through the Emergency Relief Coordinator;

Decides, in pursuance of its resolution 49/22 A, to convene a closing event of the Decade, through coordinated sectoral and cross-sectoral meetings at all levels, in order to facilitate the full integration of disaster reduction into the substantive efforts for sustainable development and environmental protection by the year 2000;

Decides also that the secretariat of the Decade will serve as the substantive secretariat for the preparation of the closing event of the Decade, working with the full support of relevant bodies of the United Nations Secretariat and drawing on the contributions of the organizations of the United Nations system concerned, other international organizations and Governments;

Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the availability of resources for the preparatory process, including the necessary enhancement of the capacity of the secretariat, and to appeal for additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the Decade;

Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session, through the Economic and Social Council, a report on the implementation of the International Framework of Action for the Decade;

Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session a report containing proposals on how the distinct programme and coordination capability of the secretariat of the Decade might be enhanced so as to enable it to coordinate effectively the activities of the Decade and the integration of natural disaster reduction into the sustainable development process;

Decides to consider the question of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction at its fifty-first session, as a separate sub-item under environmental questions related to the environment and sustainable development.

B

Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on early-warning capacities of the United Nations system with regard to natural disasters and similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment;

Commends the secretariat of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, as part of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, and all concerned agencies and organizations of the United Nations system for the constructive inter-agency approach they have applied, which has led to this initial overview and analysis of early-warning concepts, capacities and gaps and to proposals for improvements in coordination and capacity-building with regard to such disasters;

Requests the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Decade to continue, within the scope of its work on early-warning capabilities, to examine and study new scientific and experimental concepts and methodologies for accurate and timely short-term forecasting of earthquakes, other natural disasters and similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment, with a view to making recommendations on their applicability and development in the context of international cooperation to improve preparedness for and minimize the risks of such disasters;

Takes note of the conclusions and proposals made by the Secretary-General in his report with respect to the improvement of early-warning capabilities, better international coordination in their use, and more effective and beneficial exchange of knowledge and technology;

Invites the Secretary-General, in particular, to facilitate, within the existing International Framework of Action for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, an internationally concerted framework for improvements in early-warning capacities by developing a concrete proposal for an effective international mechanism on early warning, to include the transfer of technologies related to early warning to developing countries, under the auspices of the United Nations and as part of the implementation of the International Framework, the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action;

Also invites the Secretary-General to take the steps necessary to make the early-warning data gathered under the United Nations auspices readily available to the decision makers concerned at the international, national, regional and subregional levels;

Encourages all Governments to undertake, with the full support of the United Nations system, regular reviews of early-warning requirements and capabilities at national and community levels, within the framework of the development of national disaster reduction policies in order to enhance protection of their national populations and assets;

Calls on the secretariat of the Decade to continue to facilitate a concerted international approach to improvements in early-warning capacities for natural disasters and similar disasters with an adverse impact on the environment, within the process leading towards the closing event of the Decade;

Recommends that donor countries give greater priority to disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation in their assistance programmes and budgets, on either a bilateral or multilateral basis, including through increasing contributions to the Trust Fund for the Decade, and promote and facilitate the transfer of technologies related to early warning to developing countries within the framework of the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action;

Encourages improved efforts, in the context of international technical assistance and cooperation within the framework of the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, towards facilitating the availability of appropriate technology and reliable data, along with the corresponding training, and access to network systems related to early warning, particularly to developing countries;

Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.

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Who created this mandate?

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What does this mandate say?

A

B

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