Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12679 | 30 June 2011

Europe and integrated risk management

Signatories: Sir Alan MEALE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Gagik BAGHDASARYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Ms Oksana BILOZIR, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Ms Olena BONDARENKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Jim DOBBIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Joseph FALZON, Malta, EPP/CD ; Mr Valeriy FEDOROV, Russian Federation, EDG ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Jean HUSS, Luxembourg, SOC ; Ms Francine JOHN-CALAME, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Giorgi KANDELAKI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Ms Christine MARIN, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard MARQUET, Monaco, ALDE ; Mr Grigore PETRENCO, Republic of Moldova, UEL ; Mr Oleksiy PLOTNIKOV, Ukraine, SOC ; Ms Maria STAVROSITU, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Valeriy SUDARENKOV, Russian Federation, SOC ; Mr Latchezar TOSHEV, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Recent humanitarian crises caused by disaster situations have raised new challenges, in particular in relation to the protection of the basic human rights of disaster affected populations and victims at times of disasters.

Whilst the concept of human rights protection is widely acknowledged as a crucial element of humanitarian strategies at times of emergency and disaster situations, the longer-term aspects linked to the promotion and definition of a human rights-based approach in disaster prevention and reduction are not properly taken into account.

The Parliamentary Assembly refers to the "Hyogo Declaration" and the "Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters" adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Japan in January 2005, which are an essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Disaster risk reduction is our first line of defense against climate change and an effective strategy for promoting climate change adaptation at the international, national and local levels.

Such an all-hazard approach demands a high-level of co-ordination across government, political and private sector bodies.

Therefore, the Assembly calls on member states to:

adopt a national strategy and put in place the requisite institutional frameworks and arrangements that mainstream disaster risk reduction into governmental policy;

enhance political commitment to disaster risk reduction and translate this into development investments and resource sharing at the regional level;

introduce disaster risk reduction in the basic education systems, local government programs, and national and local youth programs;

encourage private sector and civil society organisations to contribute their expertise in risk management to support national level.