World Conference on Disaster Reduction - 18-22 January 2005, Kobe Hyogo, Japan

World Conference on Disaster Reduction website

The World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005 was convened on direction of the U.N. General Assembly. The resolution that directed the conference specified that it be "at the senior-official level, designed to foster specialized discussions and produce concrete changes and results, with the following objectives:
(a) To conclude the review of the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, with a view to updating the guiding framework on disaster reduction for the twentyfirst century;
(b) To identify specific activities aimed at ensuring the implementation of relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (“Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”)6 on
vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management;
(c) To share best practices and lessons learned to further disaster reduction within the context of attaining sustainable development and identify gaps and challenges;
(d) To increase awareness of the importance of disaster reduction policies, thereby facilitating and promoting the implementation of those policies;
(e) To increase the reliability and availability of appropriate disaster-related information to the public and disaster management agencies in all regions, as set out in the relevant provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation."

UNESCO is organizing three sessions:
1. Education for sustainable development: towards effective disaster reduction and enhancing human security;
2. Cultural heritage risk management; and
3. Capacity-building through the International Programme on Landslides and Intl Flood Initiative.