Shri Kiren Rijiju to be designated as the Asia Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction tomorrow 16-November, 2015 .
Shri Kiren Rijiju to be designated as the Asia Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction tomorrow
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, will be designated as the Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), giving an impetus to Government of India’s efforts to facilitate regional support towards enabling community resilience in the Asia-Pacific region. Shri Rijiju will be conferred as the champion for Disaster Risk Reduction at a function here tomorrow by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the first regional champion after the Sendai Agreement.
Champions are key political figures who play active role and are committed to DRR. UNISDR recognizes individuals as DRR Champions for using their political influence to create awareness and lobby for DRR in their country, region and beyond. Their motivation often goes beyond professional interest, spurred by a passion for public service and an abiding commitment to build community resilience. This is a non-remunerated honorary position.
Only the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for DRR and Head of UNISDR may designate a DRR Champion by issuing a letter of designation. The former President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been earlier designated as the Global Champion, while the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva has been designated as Regional Champion.
The function on November 17, 2015 to confer the award will be attended by Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister and Ministers from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, South Korea and Thailand. Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for DRR, delegates from various countries and international organizations are attending the function.