The States Parties to this Convention,
Recognizing that the magnitude, complexity, frequency and impact of disasters are
increasing at a dramatic rate, with particularly severe consequences in developing
countries,
Recalling that humanitarian relief and assistance agencies require reliable, flexible
telecommunication resources to perform their vital tasks,
Further recalling the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating
the safety of humanitarian relief and assistance personnel,
Further recalling the vital role of broadcasting in disseminating accurate disaster
information to at-risk populations,
Convinced that the effective, timely deployment of telecommunication resources and
that rapid, efficient, accurate and truthful information flows are essential to reducing
loss of life, human suffering and damage to property and the environment caused by
disasters,
Concerned about the impact of disasters on communication facilities and information
flows,
Aware of the special needs of the disaster-prone least developed countries for technical
assistance to develop telecommunication resources for disaster mitigation and relief
operations,
Reaffirming the absolute priority accorded to emergency life-saving communications
in more than fifty international regulatory instruments, including the Constitution
of the International Telecommunication Union,
Noting the history of international cooperation and coordination in disaster mitigation
and relief, including the demonstrated life-saving role played by the timely deployment
and use of telecommunication resources,
Further noting the Proceedings of the International Conference on Disaster Communications
(Geneva, 1990), addressing the power of telecommunication systems in disaster recovery
and response,
Further noting the urgent call found in the Tampere Declaration on Disaster Communications
(Tampere, 1991) for reliable telecommunication systems for disaster mitigation and
disaster relief operations, and for an international Convention on Disaster Communications
to facilitate such systems,
Further noting United Nations General Assembly resolution 44/236, designating 1990-2000
the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, and resolution 46/182, calling
for strengthened international coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance,
Further noting the prominent role given to communication resources in the Yokohama
Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World, adopted by the World Conference on
Natural Disaster Reduction (Yokohama, 1994),
Further noting resolution 7 of the World Telecommunication Development Conference
(Buenos Aires, 1994), endorsed by resolution 36 of the Plenipotentiary Conference
of the International Telecommunication Union (Kyoto, 1994), urging Governments to
take all practical steps for facilitating the rapid deployment and the effective use
of telecommunication equipment for disaster mitigation and relief operations by reducing
and, where possible, removing regulatory barriers and strengthening cooperation among
States,
Further noting resolution 644 of the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva,
1997), urging Governments to give their full support to the adoption of this Convention
and to its national implementation,
Further noting resolution 19 of the World Telecommunication Development Conference
(Valletta, 1998), urging Governments to continue their examination of this Convention
with a view to considering giving their full support to its adoption,
Further noting United Nations General Assembly resolution 51/94, encouraging the development
of a transparent and timely procedure for implementing effective disaster relief coordination
arrangements, and ofReliefWeb as the global information system for the dissemination
of reliable and timely information on emergencies and natural disasters,
With reference to the conclusions of the Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications
regarding the critical role of telecommunications in disaster mitigation and relief,
Supported by the work of many States, United Nations entities, governmental, intergovernmental,
and non-governmental organizations, humanitarian agencies, telecommunication equipment
and service providers, media, universities and communication- and disaster-related
organizations to improve and facilitate disaster-related communications,
Desiring to ensure the reliable, rapid availability of telecommunication resources
for disaster mitigation and relief operations, and
Further desiring to facilitate international cooperation to mitigate the impact of
disasters,
Have agreed as follows: