Latest Date: Thursday, 13 October 2022, 33rd Anniversary
Sponsor: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Objectives:
The International Day for Disaster Reduction is annually observed to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction. It reminds people and communities around the world of reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. With celebration of the day, all citizens and governments are encouraged to take part in building more disaster-resilient communities and nations.
Inception:
The International Day for Disaster Reduction was established in 1989 and held every year since 1990.
On December 22, 1989, the United Nations General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October as the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, by a resolution (A/RES/236), to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction.
In 2009, the UN General Assembly decided to change the name to International Day for Disaster Reduction and designate October 13 as the official date for this day (A/64/200).
Annual theme in recent years:
Each year, the International Day for Disaster Reduction focuses on a specific theme suggested by the UN:
2022 theme: “Early warning and early action for all”. The theme is consistent with the Target G of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”
2021 theme: “International cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses.” It is the sixth of the Sendai Seven targets.
2020 theme: “Disaster risk governance”. It is closely linked with Target E of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020.” The theme conveys the message that many disasters can be avoided or prevented if there are disaster risk reduction strategies in place to manage and reduce existing levels of risk and to avoid the creation of new risk.
Official websites:
www.un.org/en/observances/disaster-reduction-day
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