- Statements
First of all, from the Government of Colombia headed by our President, Mr. Iván Duque Márquez, we would like to thank the kind invitation to this important body that will allow us to make a detailed review of the status of implementation of the Sendai Framework to Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030, 7 years after its signing, as well as promoting an enriching exchange of experiences, lessons learned, and challenges in the development of this important Global agenda that allows us to face Disasters.
This Platform means a unique opportunity for Colombia to highlight the importance of integration at the multilateral level in the context of Disaster Risk Management, in accordance with the provisions of goal F of the Sendai Framework, in an effort to "improve sustainably international cooperation for developing countries through adequate and sustainable support, which complements the measures adopted at the national level for the implementation of this Framework by 2030”. This is one of the preponderant reasons that brings us together and on which we must continue to build greater capacities.
In this sense, it is urgent to reaffirm our commitment as countries to accelerate progress towards Disaster Risk Reduction, adaptation to Climate Change and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs, with a prospective approach.
Colombia, since the establishment of our regulatory framework for Disaster Risk Management, our Law 1523 of 2012, has aligned its public policy with each of the priorities of the Sendai Framework, allowing us greater sectoral, territorial and community appropriation of our thematic, in a decentralized and universal manner, as a State policy and not a Government policy, understanding the implications that this may have on the country's development.
We want to state that having a Disaster Risk Management policy under the mandate of a Law allows it to be more demanding and effective, as well as guaranteeing greater development and application of Disaster Risk Reduction measures.
It is by virtue of the foregoing that our National Plan for Disaster Risk Management 2015-2030 has elements that today are a support for planning and decision-making in our country at the level of Sustainable Development, this as a transversal way. to the objectives of the National Development Plan 2018 – 2022.
In turn, it is important to mention the efforts that the Colombian National Disaster Risk Management System (SNGRD) made to deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic and provide complementary support to our Government under Presidential guidelines, particularly in the development of the humanitarian, logistical and execution of the National Vaccination Plan.
On the other hand, Colombia, given its particular conditions, has not been immune to the onslaught of phenomena associated with climate variability, such as the case of Hurricane Iota that devastated our Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in November 2020
The foregoing highlights the importance of being able to articulate measures for Adaptation to Climate Change, Loss and Damage in our countries as established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which has been accepted by our Government, in an integral manner with the priorities of the Sendai Agenda on DRR.
Finally, we would like to exhort this Platform to assume Institutional Strengthening with great conviction and responsibility, landing from complementarity at local and regional levels, making the territorial administrations understand that Risk Governance is not a matter of endorsement of responsibilities, but of social participation as subjects of a process that must change the paradigms of dependency and institutional welfare.
Before you, Colombia reaffirms its commitment to continue working hard to reduce the vulnerabilities of our planet, with a preventive approach and with clear indicators, such as the reduction in the number of victims, especially people who died and those affected by Disasters, as well as the reduction of economic and social losses due to risks, promoting greater sustainable development.
We are a country that decided to recognize the lessons and lessons learned, to implement a National Risk Management Policy with high social impact, which meets modern concepts, international standards, with large investments, installed capacity, dynamic and stronger structures in all levels, under the premise that Prevention is Everyone's responsibility!
Thank you
Fernando Carvajal Calderón
Director General (E)