Disasters caused by natural hazards represent one of the biggest threats to human safety and sustainable development today. In the last decade, disasters have caused approximately 75,000 deaths, affected almost 200 million people1 and cost an average of US$ 162.2 billion per year.Laws can be a powerful tool for reducing disaster risks, preventing new risks from arising and making communities safer. In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, for example, the adoption of legal and policy frameworks concerning structural works (such as dykes, drainage and safe shelters) combined with non-structural measures (such as awareness and education, timely evacuations and relocations informed by risk assessments) resulted in a decrease in the number of flood-related deaths over a 10-year period – from 600 to 60. Laws can establish mandates for disaster risk management (DRM) and development institutions, as well as recognize the roles and responsibilities of other relevant actors. In doing so, they can provide incentives for engaging in risk reduction and strengthen accountability for risk creation amongst public and private sector actors. They can also facilitate the participation of stakeholders (civil society, the private sector, communities and vulnerable groups) in decision-making for DRM. This can promote greater investment in risk reduction and deters risk creation by all members of society, ultimately protecting lives and livelihoods from the impact of natural hazards. The role of legal frameworks in contributing to an enabling environment for disaster risk reduction (DRR) was recognized by 168 UN member states when they adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action, Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters 2005 – 2015 (HFA) and was accorded further support a decade later in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (the Sendai Framework). The Sendai Framework lists “strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk” among its four “Priorities for Action”. A clear first step to promoting stronger governance for disaster risk reduction (DRR) is improving relevant laws and regulations as well as strengthening their implementation and enforcement.
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Publisher:
UNDP, EU
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(2015
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Type / Script:
Publication
in English
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Keywords:
EARTHQUAKES, NATURAL DISASTERS, NATURAL PHENOMENA, DISASTER PREVENTION, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, DISASTER PRONE AREAS, LAW, LEGISLATION,REGULATIONS, DISASTER MITIGATION, DISASTER REDUCTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, DISASTER INSURANCE, DISASTER RELIEF, LEGAL SERVICES, HUMAN RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, CIVIL SOCIETY, DISABILITY, LIABILITY, LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY, CIVIL LIABILITY, DECISION-MAKING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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Thematic Group:
UNDP
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Social and Institutional Developoment
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Thesaurus:
13.02.00
- Disaster Prevention, Preparedness And Relief
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Reference Link:
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