International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

The International Day for Disaster Reduction - #DIRD is a day to celebrate the way people and communities are reducing their risk of disasters and increasing the awareness of the importance of disaster risk reduction (DRR). Also, this is a day to urge all citizens and governments to be a part of the efforts made to establish disaster resilient communities and nations.

Knowledge for Life: The theme of #DIRD15

The theme of the International Day for Disaster Reduction 2015 - # DIRD15 "Knowledge for Life" is part of the Step Up initiative (One step forward) that began in 2011 and each year focuses on a different group.

Under the slogan "Knowledge for Life" campaign we are looking to governments, local authorities and civil society organizations submit nominations for communities to be declared Champion of Disaster Risk Reduction for their efforts in this subject.

Thus, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) launched a search for communities that excel in the field of disaster risk management, in order to draw attention to the importance of knowledge, traditions, and local customs in the fight against extreme events, climate change, and earthquakes.

The communities that are designated as champions will be announced on the International Day for Disaster Reduction which will be held on Tuesday, October 13th. "

Nominate your community

Goal​: Use International Day for Disaster Reduction, on 13 October 2015 to:

1. Raise awareness of the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk management;

2. Highlight approaches for engaging local communities and indigenous peoples in implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction;

Find out more about how to nominate your community here

 

STEP UP Indigenous and Ancestral Communities

During the past four years, the UNISDR campaign called "One Step Forward" (Step Up) has focused on the challenge of including several major communities in disaster risk management. These communities have accumulated a lot of knowledge in topics such as vulnerability and exposure to disaster from their own unique perspectives: children (2011), women and girls (2012), the disabled (2013) and the elderly (2014). All these groups have community experience and wisdom, all of which can strengthen the processes of preparation and response to society in general. This series concludes with the International Day of this year, which will examine in detail how the knowledge possessed by these communities united by facing common threats of disasters makes use of the knowledge and perceptions that arise from the traditions and the experience

Find out more about StepUp here

¿What are the origins of the International day for Disaster Risk Reduction?

The celebration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction - #DIRD began in 1989. That year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its resolution, considering that the #DIRD represents a way to promote a global culture of risk reduction of disasters, including prevention, mitigation and preparedness. Originally, the #DIRD held the second Wednesday of October, but in 2009 the General Assembly decided to establish on October 13 of each year as the date on which the International Day for Disaster Reduction is celebrated - #DIRD.

 

Margareta Wahlström, head of UNISDR explained that in the 2015 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction “We want to identify and honour communities which exemplify the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk management.

Over 19 million people from communities across the globe were newly displaced by disasters last year and we need to improve our understanding of how local practices can contribute to better management of disaster risk.”

“Under the campaign slogan, KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE, we are seeking nominations from governments, local governments and civil society organizations for communities which should be declared Champions of Disaster Risk Reduction for their efforts.”