IPU: Strongest political support needed for disaster risk reduction

MPs from across the world led by IPU President Saber Chowdhury have called for coherence among international agreements and action plans due to be adopted during the year on disaster risk reduction, sustainable development and climate change in order to make people and the planet more resilient.

Taking part in a parliamentary meeting ahead of the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan (14-18 March), the MPs took note of the progress that had been made since the 2005 Hyogo Framework for Action in reducing disaster risk, including the saving of lives in some types of disasters and a growth in national and regional legislation on the issue. They expressed support for the proposed focus of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction aimed at tackling the underlying causes of disaster risk. Without reducing risks and preventing new ones from arising and strengthening both human and environmental resilience, sustainable development would not be possible.

The MPs also called for laws to either be developed or amended to reflect these approaches to disaster management. In an agreed outcome of the meeting, jointly organized by IPU and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the MPs highlighted a range of measures aimed at strengthening governance of disaster management, including stronger parliamentary oversight of relevant laws, policies and programmes and better support for local government and communities in reducing risks. They also called for IPU and UNISDR to work to engage MPs and parliaments in the effective implementation of the post-2015 framework.