A Preparatory Committee of the WCDR was established to review the organizational and substantive preparations for the WCDR, approve its programme of work and propose rules of procedure for the Conference. In particular, the Preparatory Committee was charged with the preparation of two outcome documents for adoption at the WCDR: a political declaration with a strategic vision to reduce risk and vulnerability to natural and technological hazards in the period 2005-2015, and a programme document containing elements for policy measures to implement the strategic vision set out in the declaration, entitled the "Draft programme outcome document: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters: [Hyogo] Framework for action 2005–2015” (referred to also as the “programme of action.”) An ongoing review of the implementation of the 1994 Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action intended to provide the context for these documents. 

Two meetings of a Preparatory Committee of the WCDR were held in 2004. The preparatory process of the WCDR was supported by the ISDR Secretariat, which is also designated as the Conference Secretariat.

PREPCOM I: The first session of the Preparatory Committee of the WCDR met in Geneva from 6-7 May 2004. The meeting addressed procedural issues, including the adoption of the provisional rules of procedure of the WCDR, organization of work and suggested arrangements for accreditation and participation in the preparatory process and the WCDR. Delegates also heard a progress report on the preparatory process of the WCDR, and discussed the draft annotated outline of the review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action and the proposed elements for the programme outcome of the WCDR. The second session of the Preparatory Committee was tasked with continuing to address these issues and preparing for the WCDR. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s summary report of PrepCom I can be found at: http://www.iisd.ca/isdr/wcdr/prepcom1/.

PREPCOM II: The second session of the Preparatory Committee of the WCDR met in Geneva from 11-12 October 2004. Delegates considered a new version of the draft programme of action. Discussion on the political declaration was expected to begin once further progress on the programme of action had been achieved. In addition, delegates addressed: the accreditation of NGOs and other major groups to the preparatory process and the WCDR; the provisional rules of procedure for the preparatory process and the WCDR; the proposed format and draft agenda of the WCDR; and the proposed “partnerships mechanism.” Delegates also heard a progress report on the preparatory process of the WCDR and discussed the draft review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and its Plan of Action.

At the conclusion of the second session, participants agreed to establish an open-ended drafting committee to continue working on the draft programme of action, which met regularly in Geneva until Friday, 14 January 2005. The drafting group also considered the draft political declaration. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s summary report of PrepCom II can be found at: http://www.iisd.ca/isdr/wcdr/prepcom2/.

Please return on 18 January for complete ENB coverage of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction