The side event will provide an opportunity for a technical exchange on the DRR dimensions of the Draft Articles. The discussion is intended to support reflection on key policy and legal issues that have arisen during the preparatory process, drawing on relevant international frameworks, State practice and expert perspectives.
The inclusion of disaster risk reduction (DRR) within the Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters reflects a broader evolution in international approaches to disaster governance. While international legal frameworks have traditionally focused on disaster response and assistance, growing recognition of the human, economic and environmental costs of disasters has reinforced the importance of prevention, preparedness and resilience-building as integral components of protecting persons from disaster impacts. This shift is reflected in the growing body of international policy and normative frameworks addressing disaster risk, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which places the prevention of new and reduction of existing disaster risk at the centre of sustainable development efforts. As disaster risks become increasingly complex and interconnected - including climate-related, biological, technological and cascading risks - the relationship between DRR, international cooperation and the protection of persons has attracted growing attention. Within the International Law Commission's Draft Articles, DRR is reflected most explicitly in Article 2 (Purpose) and Article 9 (Reduction of the Risk of Disasters), while provisions on international cooperation contained in Articles 7 and 8 also have relevance for risk reduction efforts.
