PH Leads Adoption of UN Resolution on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters

Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Kira Christianne D. Azucena delivers the statement introducing the UN Economic and Social Council Resolution on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters. (New York PM photo)

NEW YORK 09 July 2018 – The United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) has adopted the resolution entitled “Strategic Framework on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters” tabled by the Philippines and Jamaica.

The resolution endorses the Strategic Framework on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters, which aims to guide all stakeholders and partners in the management of geospatial information and services in all phases of disaster risk management through five Priorities for Action: Governance and Policies, Awareness Raising and Capacity Building, Data Management, Common Infrastructure and Services, and Resource Mobilization.

In introducing the resolution, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Kira Christianne D. Azucena said the use of geospatial information and services will help reduce and significantly minimize the social, economic, and environmental risks and impacts of disasters. 

“We believe that the collective and coordinated work of all governments and stakeholders, and quality geospatial information and services that are accurate, available, and accessible in a timely and coordinated fashion are critical to developing successful disaster risk reduction and management plans and building safer, adaptive, and resilient communities,” Deputy Permanent Representative Azucena explained.

The resolution was adopted by consensus, and was co-sponsored by Thailand, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Ireland, Senegal, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Strategic Framework was adopted by the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management at its Seventh Session in August 2017, and presented to the UN ECOSOC in April this year. 

It draws from the principles in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN General Assembly resolution on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, and other relevant instruments. 

The resolution likewise invites member states, their relevant government bodies, the United Nations System, international organizations, donors, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations with responsibility for disaster risk reduction and management, in accordance with their mandates, to adopt the Strategic Framework.

The UN ECOSOC is the principal body tasked for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue, and recommendations on economic, social, and environmental issues, as well as implementation of the internationally agreed development goals.  It is working on an integrated and coordinated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, among others.

The Philippines was elected to serve in the UN ECOSOC for the term 2018 to 2020.  It tabled the resolution on behalf of the Working Group on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters, which it co-chairs with Jamaica. END

For more information, visit www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph / www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/