Legal preparedness for international disaster cooperation: Global Platform 2009

A special event on legal preparedness for international disaster cooperation in the context of climate change is planned to take place next week at the Global Platform.

Climate change is resulting in more major disasters striking more intensely and in regions not traditionally used to them. More than ever, governments need to be prepared to effectively use and manage the help that outside actors can provide when faced with overwhelming disasters. Experience shows that lack of preparedness leads to bureaucratic bottlenecks as well as to problems of quality, coordination and complementarity.

This event will look at positive experiences of government and civil society cooperation in finding solutions to these issues before a disaster strikes. It will also open a broader dialogue on how best to integrate legal preparedness into plans for climate change adaptation and efforts to implement the Hyogo Framework for Actions.

Co-chairs:

- Niels Scott, Chief, Disaster and Vulnerability Policy Section, OCHA
- David Fisher, Coordinator, International Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles Programme, IFRC

Speakers:

- Mr. Ross Sovann, Deputy Secretary-General, Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management
- Mr. Emmanuel Hindovei Tommy, Secretary-General, Sierra Leone Red Cross Society
- Mr. Dag Olav Høgvold, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning