Press Centre

The Global Platform is the main bi-annual forum on disaster risk reduction bringing together a wide cross-section of the worldwide disaster risk reduction community worldwide, including heads of state, senior ministers, UN agencies, NGOs, scientific and technical experts, and others. Under the slogan 'invest today for a safer tomorrow�, the event focuses on the linkages between climate change adaptation, poverty and disaster risk reduction.

Press Releases

Risk reduction conference ends with call to halve disaster related deaths by 2015
19 Jun 09 | UNDRR

English [PDF, 134kb]

Indonesian scientist Eko Teguh Paripurno wins 2009 UN Sasakawa Award for his outstanding achievements in disaster reduction
16 Jun 09 | UNDRR

English [PDF, 68kb]

Governments 'must invest today for safer tomorrow� - pivotal disaster risk reduction conference opens in Geneva.
16 Jun 09 | UNDRR

English [PDF, 158kb]

Where are the safest places on earth from sudden onset hazard?
15 Jun 09 | UNDRR

English [PDF, 144kb]

Media contacts

For further information, about the meeting�s content and participation please contact:

Brigitte Leoni, Head of Communications (Ag), UNDRR: 41.22.917.8897 or 79 444 52 62
Charles Evans, Communications Function, UNDRR: +41.22.917.8885
Mark Dalton, CISB-OCHA: 1.917.367.2422 or at 1.917.239.7538
Jonathan Abrahams, Health Action in Crises, WHO: 41.79.619.8528
Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Communications & Public Affairs, WMO: 41.22.730. 8315
Ga�lle S�venier, Press Officer, Communications & Public Affairs, WMO: 41.22.730. 8417 or at 41 788 177 883
Jemini Pandya, Spokesperson/Media and Public Information, IOM. Tel: + 41.22.717.9486 or 41.79.217.3374
Adam Rogers, Senior Strategic Communication Adviser, United Nations Development Program, Tel: 41.22.917.8541; Email: [email protected]

In the next media advisory, contact numbers of all communication officers involved in the Global Platform will be provided.

Launch Venue and Date

The Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction will take place at CICG, International Centre of Geneva, rue de Varembe 17, 1202 Geneva from 16 to 19 June 2009

Media are welcome to the Launch Ceremony on 16 June and are invited to attend all the events during the Global Platform

Registration/ accreditation

The UN Press Corps will be automatically accredited on presentation of their UN badge. Other journalists will need to register for the event with their ID. An equipped media centre for correspondents� exclusive use will be established on Level 1 CICG.

Working language

Meetings will be conducted in English. The opening ceremony will be in all UN official languages.

Press conferences

GP09 involves many UN organisations and related stakeholders, so a significant number of press conferences will be arranged directly by attending partners.

Already scheduled are:

15 June
11h30: Eve of Platform Press Conference: Where are the safest places on earth?
16 June
12h00: Opening Ceremony Press Conference
17h00: 'Market Place', Ground Floor - CICG
Photo-opportunity: John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
17 June
11h00: Clouds but little rain
14h00: Enabling Community Resilience through Early Warning and Risk Management
18 June
11h30: Weather Info for All
13h00: Safe hospitals and schools
19 June
14h00 Closing Ceremony Press Conference

Dates and times remain provisional to be firmed up with more detail on speakers etc in forthcoming media advisories ahead of GP09. > More

Interviews

Interviews can be arranged before and during the event upon request. For interviews call Brigitte Leoni, Head of Communications (Ag) UNDRR: 41.22.917.8897 or at 41.79 444 52 62

BBC World Debate

Tue 16 June (14:00 - 15:00) - Room 2 As the catalyst to a week of important disaster risk reduction initiatives, launches andinterventions, UNDRR is working with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to stage a one-hour pre-recorded World Debate on Disaster Risk Reduction which will be aired in English at various times across the globe over the weekend of 20/21 June 2009. The BBC World Debate is a brand that is broadcast solely on BBC World Service. The debate will reach an audience of up to 80 million people worldwide. It will comprise four or five Panelists/speakers, selected by the BBC, who will offer diverse viewpoints, positions and priorities from across the Disaster Risk Reduction spectrum.
Nik Gowing, a senior BBC World presenter, will anchor the event, calling for brief initial comments from the Panelists, with the intention of sparking some lively dialogue with the audience that will form the bulk of the programme. The broadcast will be aired through the BBC World Service on Saturday, 20 June and Sunday, 21 June at 07:00, 10:00, 13:00, 17:00, 01:00 local time.