1. Claudia de Windt Senior Legal Specialist Department of Sustainable Development Strengthening Humanitarian Assistance and Prevention and Response Coordination System Joint Working Group of the Permanent Council and CEPCIDI on Existing Mechanisms for Disaster Prevention and Response and Humanitarian Assistance December 9, 2010

2. Regional Legal-Institutional Frameworks Regional Structures and Soft Law Principles – Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR) – Inter-American Strategic Plan for Policy on Vulnerability Reduction, Risk Management and Disaster Response (IASP) – Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM) – Inter-American Network for Disaster Mitigation (INDM) – Inter-American Committee on Hemispheric Security – OAS General Assembly Resolutions* – Declaration of Santa Cruz + 10 – Declaration of Santo Domingo para el Desarrollo Sostenible *Recent resolution approved by the OAS General Assembly on June 4, 2009: EXISTING MECHANISMS FOR DISASTER PREVENTION AND RESPONSE AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AMONG THE MEMBER STATES (AG/RES. 2492 (XXXIX-O/09)

3. Regional Legal Frameworks The Inter- American Convention to Facilitate Disaster Assistance, 1991 CountryDateRA/AC/ADDeposit Colombia10/08/92 Nicaragua04/21/9208/06/1009/27/10 RA Panamá11/17/9206/14/9509/15/95 RA Perú06/04/9608/26/9609/27/10 RA Dominican Republic 03/25/0907/17/09 AD Uruguay10/12/9901/14/00 AD

4. Regional Legal Frameworks The Inter-American Convention to Facilitate Disaster Assistance, 1991 – Requests for, and offers and acceptances of assistance – National Coordinating Mechanisms – Direction and control of assistance – Transport of vehicles, equipment and supplies – Access and transit routes – Personnel – Security – Protection of Assistance Personnel – Costs – Claims and Indemnity – Governmental and non-governmental organizations

5. Moving forward in the region Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks closely and enhance early warning. – Clear identification of stakeholders and their respective roles – Addressing issues related to preparation from a legal perspective, including early warning systems

6. Moving forward in the region Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels – Declaration of Santo Domingo for the Sustainable Development of the Americas – 36. To encourage and support member states in implementing the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, to comply with the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 guidelines, oriented to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthening the resilience of communities, especially by incorporating risk reduction in public investment, the strengthening of legal and institutional frameworks, and the creation, strengthening, and national enforcement of multiple hazards building codes when appropriate.

7. Moving forward in the region Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels – Declaration of Santo Domingo for the Sustainable Development of the Americas – 36ter.To encourage the work of the working group of OAS member states on the coordination of actions for disaster prevention, preparedness, response and rehabilitation, as well as facilitation of standards necessary to enable timely, effective, efficient and responsive delivery of humanitarian assistance and instruct the CIDS to collect and track the results of that working group. It is also proposed to strengthen the Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR).

8. Moving forward in the region Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels – Declaration of Santo Domingo for the Sustainable Development of the Americas – 38bis.To strengthen synergies, coordination, and cooperation among the regional, subregional, and international humanitarian assistance mechanisms and initiatives, in order to optimize resources and increase our disaster management and response capabilities.

9. Moving forward in the region Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels – Establishing dialogue on the Inter-American Convention – Following the guidelines of soft law principles in this area, including the IDRL principles – Continuing to support existing structures and mechanisms such as the INDM, IACNDR, FONDEM