Conference 2014

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Public Awareness as a Cornerstone for Disaster Risk Reduction

 

Information and communication for effective disaster risk reduction

Conference

3-4 December, 2014, Yerevan

State officials, international organizations, information responsible and journalists for resilient planet Earth

 

Date: 3-4 December, 2014

Agenda

Organisers: “Ministry of Emergency Situations, Republic of Armenia, Emergency Channel” Informative NGO 

Background

Review of the implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 and the outcomes of the global consultation process for the post-2015 Disaster Risk Reduction framework (HFA2) highlight the critical importance of information generation, dissemination and use in the planning processes for effective disaster risk reduction, response and recovery.

In December 2013, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia and “Emergency Channel” information NGO, within the framework of National Platform for DRR in Armenia, organized a 2-day International Conference on “Public Awareness as a Cornerstone for Disaster Risk Reduction” in Yerevan, Armenia. The conference, attended by experts and specialists in risk information management from a number of countries, representatives of governments of the region, line ministries, mass media organizations, and senior staff of emergency management organizations, discussed a wide range of issues and opportunities related to management of risk information. Key recommendations of the conference are as follows:

-          Usage of national risk atlas and database to inform communities and to take disaster prevention measures and to develop local emergency response planning;

-          Development of mechanisms for adapting international experience;

-          Sharing and dissemination of best experience in terms of communicating with population;

-          Developing  guidelines and  conducting training for media to cover emergencies and to focus more on DRR issues;

-          Identification of information technologies and means for talking “in one language”;

-          Involvement of NGOs in public awareness activities;

-          Involvement of information responsible in emergency management team;

-          Activate using new technologies and new solutions for early warning systems, use of mobile phone etc./;

-          Establishment of a committee/body which will come up with recommendations.

The regional consultation held in April 2014 in Almaty, Kazakhstan  with the governments,  development partners and stakeholders  in  Central Asia and South Caucasus identified 6 specific areas of focus under the topic of risk information, endorsing the recommendations made at the December 2013 Conference hosted by  Government of Armenia :  

-          Provide access to timely, reliable and objective information on risks and hazards ahead of disasters, as well as life-saving information during and after disasters

-          Create specialized programs for risk assessment and information management

-          Promote and ensure collection, analysis and dissemination of sex and age disaggregated data on disaster risks, occurrence, impact and losses at all levels (including in line with the new indicator system on disaster risk reduction)

-          Risk and vulnerability assessments to be gender-based and include gender analysis

-          Use modern technologies for hazard monitoring and early warning of population

-          Provide technical and financial support from the specialized agencies of the United Nations and from the developed countries in the field of remote sensing

-          Establish platforms for information generation and exchange between countries of the Central Asia and South Caucasus region

-          Promote and build partnership with academia and research institutions, to generate solid evidence on climate change and potential disasters and their socio-economic impact.

Conference

Considering that the 2013 conference and the Regional consultation for HFA2 in 2014 have clearly identified the priority actions to meet the needs of generation and communication of risk information, the conference will focus on the implementation of the recommendations.

Topics to be discussed:

  • Lessons learnt from disasters – from Spitak to Sendai
  • Emergency and civil protection information policy of states; effective information management,
  • Emergency and crisis information management guidelines of inter-governmental and international organizations;
  • Experience of UN agencies, European Union, Council of Europe, NATO, Red Cross and Red Crescent, etc;
  • Public awareness new creative solutions and tools;
  • DRR public awareness and social networks, DRR public awareness and new information technologies;
  • Safety culture and kids: kids as main target group;
  • Hyogo Framework of actions and prior, midterm and long-term issues of public awareness;
  • Public awareness indicators (results of pilot program implemented in 5 countries);
  • Preparing and summarizing of final package of public awareness suggestions for DRR World Conference in Sendai 2015, Japan;
  • Setting up of international working group/committee/body  for development of information policy, as well as creation a depository of DRR information management, public relations and public awareness best practice.

The objectives of the conference on Information and communication for effective disaster risk reduction are:  

-          Propose main elements for a Road Map for information generation and communication for effective disaster management in the CASC region (in the medium and long term), with specific focus on:

  •  effective use of telecommunication   for early warning  and response
  • strengthening the role of mass media (print, electronic, social media)  for  public awareness
  • strengthening automated systems of  hazard monitoring and early warning
  • revelation of public awareness new creative solutions and tools;
  • DRR public awareness and social networks,
  • DRR public awareness and new information technologies;

-          Identifing  mechanisms for the preparation and roll out of the Road Map in the post- 2015 disaster risk reduction context .

-          Identifing specific recommendations   for  HFA2 and  for the deliberations of the 3 rd World Conference on DRR  to be held in March 2015 in  Sendai , from the region on disaster information.

Expected outcomes

-          An outline/main elements of the Road Map for risk information generation and communication identified

-          Implementation mechanisms and main actors/responsibilities identified

-          Development of public awareness indicators

-          Working out of final recommendations package for  HFA2 and  for the deliberations of the 3 rd World Conference on DRR  to be held in March 2015 in  Sendai

-          Setting up of international working group/committee/body  for development of information policy, as well as creation a depository of DRR information management, public relations and public awareness best practice.

Main Participants:

-          Government Ministries and departments (MES, Ministries and departments of Census and Statistics, Information and Communications, etc.) in the countries of Central Asia and South Caucasus, CIS, Europe, etc.

-          Scientific and research institutions (GIS, Meteorology, communication)

-          UN agencies working in the area of disaster management (UNOCHA, UNISDR, UNDP, UNFPA, etc.)

-          Media and journalist organizations and networks

-          Monitoring and early warning and related organizations

-          Non-government organizations, community groups and their representatives

Conference working languages: Armenian, English and Russian.

Experts and speakers need to cover their travel and accommodation expenses.

More details are available at www.emergency.am/conferences/ and  www.mes.am.

   

Additional information