Working groups on Civil Protection
19-20 October 2020. Following the proposed recommendations of the Third Meeting of Civil Protection Directors-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, a two-day preparatory meeting will gather online to discuss the two working groups, namely:
– Public awareness in Civil Protection and disaster risk management
– Volunteers in Civil Protection.
The discussion will also take into consideration the COVID-19 outbreak elements in relation to the two working groups. The main objective of these preparatory meetings is to formulate technical elements and propose concrete actions, based on a draft discussion document. Civil Protection focal points of the Union for the Mediterranean together with other partner countries will be involved in the working groups which are jointly organised with the Directorate- General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
The Civil Protection experts will deliberate on identifying best practices and initiatives for public awareness in disaster risk management at international, regional, national and cross-border levels. Risk communication to citizens becomes an effective tool to raise their awareness on prevention, preparedness and response measures in case of disasters or public health emergency during pandemics.
Given the fact that the general public plays an important role in risk prevention and preparedness for emergencies, and considering that the citizens are usually the first responders to disasters, mobilising volunteers during disasters or pandemics plays an important factor and an added value in disaster risk management.
The working groups will discuss the common challenges and the concrete actions needed to support efficient development and sustainability in civil protection and disaster risk management.
