Presentation to:

Parliament of Vietnam, Hanoi 17 th November, 2012 By Saber Hossain Chowdhury

Member of Parliament, Bangladesh

Part - 1 Parliamentary Engagement in DRR

The importance of engaging Legislators in DRR

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Need to better understand the risk and the short and long term solutions Need for evidence ‐ based knowledge for policy and decision ‐ making.

Need to increase knowledge through research on droughts.

Need to educate people, transfer knowledge, and share information at the community level.

Need to make a stronger case for investing in DRR based on research on the economics of disasters.

Need to built on the HFA around the transboundary impacts and measuring success and lessons at national level.

Need to rebrand DRR in a more positive manner emphasis on gains rather than ‘issues’, Need to reinforce a multi ‐ stakeholder approach and work with the drivers and actors that produce change. Need to take advantage of international processes and agreements Need to continue build the links between climate change adaptation, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction Need to increase political momentum to have DRR embedded is development planning and strategies

Why Legislators?

   Legislators initiate policies, shape changes at the national level, and monitor implementation at the local level. Legislators are elected to give voice to people’s needs, concerns and aspirations at the national level.

Legislators sanction and oversee budget allocations for effective implementation of a policy decision or a law.  Therefore legislators need adequate knowledge on DRR and its related issues on reducing chance of the risk turning into disasters, and for achieving related national goals such as poverty reduction, the MDGs, food and water security and sustainable growth.

UNISDR Parliamentary Initiative:

Advisory Group of Parliamentarian on DRR (AGP)

    2008: To ensure an enabling environment for disaster, climate change and its related impacts In 2009, Making Disaster Risk Reduction a Tool for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) 2010-2011 : DRR: An Instrument for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals Establishment of Advisory Group of Parliamentarians for DRR, first tenure is July 2012 - 30th June 2014.

 Oct. 2012: Establishment and first meeting of the Asian Advisory Group of Parliamentarians for DRR (AAGP).

Functions of AAGP

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To provide guidance and insights on engaging parliaments and their members for creating social demand – and political leadership and pressure – for disaster resilient sustainable development through the following functions:

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To champion legislative action and reviews and advocate policy imperatives for disaster risk resilient development To monitor the implementation of laws and policies, including the appropriate resource allocations in the budgetary process to support DRR To function as UNISDR Ambassadors to promote increased investment in DRR for sustainable progress towards the MDGs To focus on its in-depth advocacy to promote policy change and increased investment to make schools and hospitals resilient to disasters To provide guidance on and support to UNISDR high-level advocacy

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AAGP’s Key Messages to Parliamentarians

Parliamentarians can hold the executive accountable for investing in DRR.

Parliamentarians need to understand policies to develop the right legislation Grand national plans need to be translated into local governments actions Historical disaster losses must be systematically accounted to know exactly what is lost and reduce the risk of future losses.

Parliaments must examine the business case for DRR through cost-benefit analysis and evidence, with concrete examples of local level return of investments DRR must be framed in sustainable development and linked to the Rio+20 goals.

DRR has to be integrated into development sectors’ planning and programmes.

DRR is not a just priority; it is a tool to make sustainable development goals achievable; DRR is not an add-on cost; it is about smart investment Action  Informed Members of Parliament (MPs) need to take action to advocate, sensitize and educate other MPs who are not familiar with the subject.

 Informed MPs should advocate for DRR not just within the iron countries but within each other’s countries.

Part - 2

Disaster Management Act 2012 (Bangladesh)

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Approved by the HonourablePresident on 24 September 2012

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06 Chapters

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60 Clauses

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BJECTIVES

    To reduce the risk of people to a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level To extend moral support for the disaster stricken community To conduct response and recovery programme in a more efficient manner To have a more coordinated, objective driven and strong disaster management system in place

APPROACH

   Endorses and promotes the all hazard all risk and all sector approach. It puts equal emphasis on DRR and emergency response management with greater emphasis on equitable and sustainable development.

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

       National DM Council Inter-Ministerial Committee on DM Parliamentary Standing Committee(s) National level Committees   National DM Advisory Committee National Platform on DRR    Earthquake Preparedness and Awareness Committee National Disaster Response Coordination Group Etc.

Sectoral Ministries, Departments, and Specialised Agencies Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief    Department of Disaster Management National Research and Training Institute National DM Volunteer Corps Local DM Committees  District Level, Sub-District Level, Union level

REGULATORY AND PLANNING INSTRUMENTS

   National Policy on DM (Draft) Standing Orders on Disasters (SOD) National Disaster Management Plan 2010 – 2015

DECLARATION OF DISASTER AREA AND THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT ACTORS

 Declaring State of Disaster Emergency    By the President To be expired in two months unless extended President may deploy the Armed Forces and other law enforcing agencies  Roles and responsibilities     Tasks of the local administration of the affected areas Involvement of the Non –State Organization/NGO Role of the Armed Forces Division Law Enforcing Agency’s participation  Management of relief    Requisition of facilities and equipment Humanitarian Assistance/Relief Accountability, Complain and Appeal

FUNDING :

   Government to establish National and district level disaster management fund, With open contribution from government, donors and any other legal sources Including personal contribution from concerned citizens.

FUND MANAGEMENT :

   Emergency Response Procedures Formation of DM Fund and Warehouse Purchase Committee for Emergency Response

P RIORITY G ROUP :

The primary target in protecting them with required safety net and risk reduction related assistance are

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The most vulnerable hardcore poor and disadvantaged

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Disaster affected people including women and children,

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The elderly and people with disabilities

I NTERNATIONAL C OOPERATION :

Government is authorised to sign agreements with foreign countries, international and regional agencies and government bodies

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on related research,

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exchange of information and

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use of relevant space-based technologies

OTHER PROVISIONS

  Criminal Offense and Punishment Penalty for misuse of resources    Rewards for individuals and organisations contributions Right to Information Government Officers Disciplinary Rules     Code of Criminal Procedure ( Act 1898 ) Mobile Court Law 2009 Compensation for Man-made Disaster Evidence Act 1872

T HANK Y OU !