to an increase in demand for a clear policy framework on disaster risk reduction that encompasses all components of comprehensive disaster management from relief to development and beyond. There is a growing belief and c o n v i c t i o n t h a t comprehensive disaster risk reduction measures should be taken up immediately by formulating necessary policies and should not be delayed at any cost.

ISDR Day is celebrated every year, to mark the series of events and efforts that led to formulat ion of the international strategy on disaster risk reduction (Hyogo Framework for Action on DRR) as well as to reiterate the commitment of communities at local, national and international l e v e l s , i n c l u d i n g governments, donors and other stakeholders to achieving the objects outlined in the HFA document. In Nepal too, ISDR day is celebrated with fervor and enthusiasm and is marked usually by a series of events like seminars, symposiums, awareness events and meetings. While the country is currently going through historic transition, there is

increasing levels of risks that are being observed over the past few years, putting severe challenge on the people and the government to address ground issues that threaten human security while paving way for a sound democratic republic. Humanitarian community is very active in Nepal. Their involvement and investment in disaster risk reduction is on the rise. This has clearly led

This year, some of the key stakeholders in DRR in Nepal including DIPECHO partners, have decided to join hands and have a unified plan and action to mark the 2009 ISDR Day by giving opportunity to the people from the grassroots, who are affected and impacted by disasters and who live under constant threat of disasters, to raise

their concerns directly with the policy makers in the country. Thus, the ISDR Day 2009 was

different than past years and

enabled people to raise their

voice and seek adequate

policy measures to address

their rights so as to reduce

vulnerabilities. It was done

through a series of people led

events to mark the day,

contributing to the ongoing

efforts to ensure rights of

disaster affected communities

through a sound and efficient

DRR policy framework in

Nepal.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

2-days events 2

The 9-points

declaration

3

Danish Red

Cross & Practical

Action

4

Mercy Corps &

CARE

5

Handicap Inter-

national

6

OXFAM & Mis-

sion East

7

Action Aid &

UNISDR

8

Achievement &

Lesson Learned

9

2009 ISDR Day in Nepal

Coordinated action, people led, for a risk resilient Nepal

Nepal O C T O B E R — N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 T H I R D E D I T I O N S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

ISDR people led

event in

Kathmandu for

the 2009 edition

Head of ISDR

honor the caravan

by her visit

9-points

declaration

handed over to

President of Nepal

DIPECHO

partners initiatives

at district level

DIPECHO Newsletter

P A G E 2

Ambitious Objectives Achieved!

The objective of the ISDR Day events was to seek and underline commitment to enactment of the DM policy by relevant policy makers in the country. This included a) Obtaining a commitment to institutionalization of Disaster Reduction in Nepal through country and sector wide approaches and b) To ensure that major donors and government recognizes that Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) framework is people centered and people led.

Symposium held on 13th of October

2 days for raising people’s voice through Kathmandu and culminate in Tundikhel, where stall of DIPECHO and other DRR organizations exposed their projects results.

This was the highlight of the ISDR Day event, where people in large numbers from the districts gathered in Dulikhel park and d e m a n d f o r i m m e d i a t e enactment of a

strong DRR/DM policy in Nepal. A documentary on voices and testimonies from the disaster affected people was shown. The caravan honored by the presence of Ms. Margareta W a h l s t r o m , S p e c i a l Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr Robert Piper, Resident Representative and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal and

by Mr Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, giving a strong momentum to the need for a policy framework on DRR.

In order to illustrate the declaration of the Convention, a stall was organized to give a snapshot of various DRR projects and initiatives from DIPECHO and other organizations. The stall was inaugurated by Mr Samuel Marie Fanon, DG ECHO representative based in Delhi and visiting Nepal for this special occasion.

On 13th of October 2009, a symposium was be held in Kathmandu to give opportunity to the representatives of affected communities to share their experiences. Speakers also i n c l u d e d parliamentarians, civil servants, DPNet, activists and government representat ives. A b o u t 1 5 0 participants came to the symposium, including large number of community l e a d e r s a n d representatives. The symposium led to a declaration on the need for an immediate policy framework on DRR and seeking measures to ensure rights of disaster affected and disaster vulnerable people. The declaration (see page 3) was signed by all the participants and handed over to the President of Nepal the following day.

On the morning of 14th October 2009, a rally with over 800 people moved

SYMPOSIUM

PEOPLES RALLY

Ms Margareta Wahlstrom, addressing peoples’ caravan

with encouraging words

People’s rally CONVENTION

Inauguration of the stall by Samuel Marie Fanon for DG

ECHO

EXHIBITION

VIPs watching

the video

documentary on

testimonies by

disaster affected

people

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

Dy. Prime Minister receiving the People’s Declaration from NDAC Chairman

P A G E 3

“We believe that a

dream of a New Nepal

cannot be realized

without addressing the

inherent risks posed by

disasters”

The 9 points declaration On 13th of October 2009, as a part of the People’s Caravan on DRR, Network of Disaster Affected Communities, Nepal (NDAC) organized a National People’s Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction at United World Trade Centre, Kathmandu. Over one hundred participants, representing a cross section of the civil society in Nepal including government, UN system, donors, Red Cross, International NGOs, national and local NGOs, DPNet, DIMANN, civil society and finally the affected people themselves assembled, addressed, discussed and debated on issues related to DRR policy framework in Nepal. The discussions and deliberations thus resulted in this declaration, unanimously adopted by the People’s Symposium on DRR Policy Framework, Nepal, henceforth to be known as ‘People’s Declaration on DRR, Nepal’.

People’s Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction, Nepal We, the people of Nepal who are under constant threat of disasters, who are affected by disasters and vulnerable to the growing incidences of calamities, hereby declare that:

1. Disaster Risk Reduction is people’s rights. It entails ensuring security to people who are affected by and vulnerable to disasters. We urge the government of Nepal to immediately take further measures for a comprehensive and inclusive disaster risk reduction policy that emphasizes addressing the special needs and concerns of differentially vulnerable people.

2. The rights of people can be protected only through appropriate legal and policy provisions. We seek immediate adoption of the Disaster Management Act 2063 (Revised and submitted to the government in February 2007) by the constituent assembly,

3. We believe that efficient governance and a prosperous nation cannot be achieved without including people in the decision making process. Community is the first impact receiver of any disaster and the first responder too. We urge the government to ensure that policy framework and government decisions should invariably include people’s participation at various and appropriate levels.

4. We recognize the important role played by international NGOs, civil society, local NGOs, donors and government in supporting disaster risk reduction initiatives. We believe that there is tremendous scope for us to build upon our achievements and scale up our initiatives at community level. We seek continued support of the key stakeholders who have been working with us to enhance our disaster resilience.

5. We believe that a culture of risk reduction has to be encouraged at all levels, from the grassroots people to the highest offices of the government. We urge the government to build capacities of its own systems to mainstream risk reduction at all levels and invest in building community capacity to better respond to and prepare themselves to disasters.

6. We believe that mainstreaming disaster risk reduction within the development process and addressing rights of disaster affected people needs priority investments. We urge the government, donors and international community to listen to the voices of people and extend their fullest support to our desire to build a risk free nation.

7. We understand the importance of working together. We declare our underlying commitment to the process of comprehensive disaster risk reduction in Nepal and assure our support to initiatives from government, donors, international community and other national stakeholders to build a Risk Free Nepal

8. We believe that a dream of a New Nepal cannot be realized without addressing the inherent risks posed by disasters. We believe that disaster risk reduction is not an option for this country, but an essential pre-requisite that defines its development process.

9. We once again reiterate our commitment to work with the government towards realizing our goal of risk free Nepal

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

Danish Red Cross, hand in hand with Nepal Red Cross Society for ISDR Day

P A G E 4 T H I R D E D I T I O N

Observing the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction day is a milestone in the Disaster Risk Reduction venture of Danish Red Cross in Nepal. Hand in hand with Nepal Red Cross Society, we vow to support the global risk reduction movement to reduce risk to disasters in Nepal through all existing and future programmes. While the overall objective of the ISDR system is to generate and support a global disaster risk reduction movement to reduce risk and to build a culture of prevention in society as part of sustainable development, Danish Red Cross comes forward as a small player in the whole gamut. In pursuit of this Danish Red Cross and Nepal Red Cross Societies, support and work with the most vulnerable communities for their capacity development so that they are able to reduce the impact of disaster. We also work with other stakeholders including the government, the national and international organizations and networks to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action through widened participation in the

ISDR; raising the profile of disaster reduction in the priorities, building a stronger, more systematic and coherent effort to support the national disaster reduction strategy. The ECHO supported SAFE- Safer Communities through Multi -Hazard Risk Reduction project is not a stand-alone project in isolation, rather it reiterates our commitment and brings opportunity to widen the disaster reduction approach in our diversified programme intervention through different District Chapters in various parts of the country. Hence, in the observance of ISDR, irrespective of our primary responsibilities at the organization / programmes

we are united in contributing to the rally, symposium, exhibition stalls, sharing IEC materials and all other small and big efforts together with other actors. 14th October, the ISDR day is of enormous importance to us at this critical juncture the nation is passing through due to the inadequate resources and capacities our communities have to withstand disasters. It is our felt need to ensure our active involvement, be pro-active in bringing positive changes by having proper policy and national strategy that truly benefits the larger communities. Time ahead to see how far we could achieve our common goal to make our country- Disaster Free.

Junior Red Cross

volunteers par-

ticipating in the

rally to mark the

ISDR day

“14th October,

the ISDR day is

of enormous

importance to

Red Cross

Movement”

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

Active on district level

With the objective of seeking commitment from relevant authority for enactment of a people centered Disaster Man-agement policy in the country, the flood affected communities from Banke and Bardiya had come out on the streets of Nepalgunj and Gularia on the ISDR day to send messages to their government through dis-trict administrations and au-thorities. Around 600 people from various Disaster Manage-ment Committees and Village

Development Committees of Banke had mobilized themselves and joined in a rally in Nepalgunj which started at 11:00 AM from Dhamboji Chowk and moved through B.P chowk, Tribhuwan chowk and ended in District Administration Office with the banner and placards with mes-sages on their rights for seeking appropriate policy framework in Nepal on DRR. A huge numbers of local people and the passerby had witnessed the event with lots of interest and attention. Few local media persons and journalists had also taken part in

the event. The entire event was to be con-sidered as an achieve-ment of DIPECHO as people of those communities were capacitated to identify and demands of their rights and could priorities the needs for long lasting solu-tions of their sufferings from disasters. Practical Action in association with its local partners CSDR and RKJS has been working with these communi-ties for establishing Community Based Early Warn-ing Systems through DIPECHO supported disaster preparedness project.

ENHACHING LOCAL INITIATIVES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

P A G E 5 T H I R D E D I T I O N

~~~~ D i s a s t e r r e d u c t i o n i s everybody’s business. All of us can do our part to raise awareness and reduce vulnerability to future hazards. The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Day is therefore an unique opportunity for everyone from the grass root level to the national government, from local organization to international organization, from the civil society to the private sector to join hands for a Risk Free Nepal, for greater investment in

disaster risk reduction, for initiatives to reduce vulnerability and for securing that disaster reduction acts, policies and strategic frameworks are in place and implemented. Mercy Corps is currently under the DIPECHO 5th Action Plan supporting implementation of community based DRR initiatives in 16 communities in 5 VDCs Kailali District in the Far West Tarai area. The said initiatives includes establishment of links between the grassroots level and the national policy level, support for implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster

Management at local levels, enhancing the capacity of the local people and institutions for their active involvement in DRR and for interaction especially with the local authorities for coordinated DRR planning and resource mobilization. Key actors in these initiatives are the community based disaster preparedness committees and VDC level disaster m a n a g e m e n t c o m m i t t e e s established with the support of the project. To mark the International Day of Disaster Reduction at the local level in Kailali Mercy Corps together with Care joined hands with a wide range of DRR stakeholders such as local and international organization, local government agencies, and UN agencies. Many of the rickshaws in the district capital were mobilized for a rickshaw rally around the town carrying DRR

related posters, ply cards and banners. The rally culminated with the Local Development Officer and secretary-member of the District Disaster Response Committee Mr. Gokarna Raj Sharma addressing a mass gathering. He pin pointed the impact of disaster preparedness initiatives in reducing loss of lives and properties with specific reference to the severe flooding in 2008 and this year. He further added by saying that policy, strategy and acts for Disaster Management is a must for the context of Nepal in order to reduce the risk of such natural disasters.

LDO addressing

the population

in Kailali district

“All of us can

do our part to

raise

awareness

and reduce

vulnerability

to future

hazards”

Rickshaw rally on the ISDR day

district stakeholders taking part in the rally

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

- working for disaster risk reduction inclusive approach

P A G E 6 T H I R D E D I T I O N

The goal of the symposium on the 13th was to lead to a Declaration, rationalizing on the need for an immediate policy framework on inclusive DRR and seeking measures to ensure the rights of all the people living in vulnerability situations and/or affected by disasters. Within the framework of the DIPECHO V Action Plan, calling for an inclusive disaster risk reduction that takes into account gender, age, disability and social issues, H a n d i c a p I n t e r n a t i o n a l facilitated disability to be on the agenda during all activities and a time slot was given during the symposium on this issue.

This guest speaker was Birendra

Raj, Chairperson of the National

Federation of the Disabled Nepal

(NFDN), a long-standing partner

of HI in Nepal, on the fronts of

rehabilitation, inclusion and

disaster preparedness. He spoke

about disability and DRR and his

presentation was of high quality

on both topics; the added value of

it was him speaking about men,

women, about younger and elder

persons with or without

disabilities, about a society that is

in essence made of people with

differences and of the importance

of including all of them in the

preparedness and response

stages; these differences mean

different capacities but also

different vulnerabilities.

Almost 20% of the participants were persons with an impairment (visual, hearing and speaking, intellectual or physical), almost half were women; it was the first event on Disaster Risk Reduction

in Nepal where you could see 2 sign language translators! The People’s Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction was approved and the first point states: Disaster Risk Reduction is people’s rights. It entails ensuring security to people who are affected by and vulnerable to disasters. We urge the government of Nepal to immediately take further measures for a comprehensive and inclusive disaster risk reduction policy that emphasizes addressing the special needs and concerns of differently vulnerable people.

The day after the

adoption of the

Declaration, a rally

h a d b e e n

organized in the

s t r e e t s o f

Kathmandu to alert

on the need to

work more and to invest on DRR in

Nepal. The rally was headed by

around seventy people living with

disabilities and, with their

presence, a strong voice was raise

to make DRR disability-inclusive.

There was also a massive presence

of women’s groups, of young

students and volunteers, of DRR

organizations and that made a

colorful, representative rally of

more than 800 people claiming for

a risk resilient Nepal.

“it was the

first event on

Disaster Risk

Reduction in

Nepal where

you could see

two sign

language

translators”

Men and women living with disabilities together on the ISDR Day

rally

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

Mr Birendra Raj, addressing the

Symposium

Advocacy on National and District level by OXFAM

P A G E 7 T H I R D E D I T I O N

Disaster Risk Reduction is a strategic priority for Oxfam in Nepal. Whilst targeting vulnerable communities with projects that integrate DRR, Oxfam also builds linkages between these communities and the Government of Nepal (GoN) and other stakeholders at the local, district and national level. This approach is reflected in the support that Oxfam provided to the GoN in 2007 with the drafting of a new Disaster Management Act that incorporates DRR. At the district level, Oxfam assisted with DIPECHO support, the districts of Kapilvasthu, Mahottari and Naw alp ar a s i wi t h t he preparation of a District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP). On the community side, a good example is the continuous support Oxfam gives to the Nepal Network of Disaster Affected Communities (N-NDAC). This network aims to organise and represent disaster affected people from all over the country and to ensure that their voices are heard by all stakeholders. UNISDR day 2009 was an important opportunity for all DIPECHO partners to assist N-

NDAC and other community based organisations in their endeavour to put pressure on the GoN to move ahead with the Act on disaster management and to renew the commitment to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people of Nepal. The joint event gave the opportunity to the people of Nepal to draw attention to their plight and to claim their rights to a life safe from disaster at the highest level. It also gave a boost to N-NDAC when they were received by the head of state and the chairperson was given the

opportunity to deliver a speech at the UN led event in the presence of the Prime Minister of Nepal.

East has decided to use the only media that can reach a large part of the isolated communities and create a two-ways dialogue between government and its citizen: FM Community Radios! Though too early to be ready with a strong program for 2009 ISDR Day, the event organised at National and District level by its DIPECHO colleagues has been a major inspiration for Mission East to devise a Community Radio Program for 2010 that will

U s i n g ISDR day

to highlight the concern of r e m o t e m o u n t a i n o u s communities of Nepal is one main goal of Mission East and its partner KIRDARC. But in Karnali, organising a rally in a unique venue, gathering people, producing banners, is simply, physically, logistically impossible given time and financial constraints! Looking for alternative solutions, Mission

ECHO representative, Samuel Marie Fanon, and N-NDAC

chairperson, opening exhibition during the Convention on 14th of

October 2009

Street drama in Nawalparasi

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

be concluded by a full day radio event in October 2010 at the next ISDR Day.

ISDR Day, keystone event to reach isolated communities

“the only media that

can reach a large part

of the isolated

communities : FM

Community Radios! ”

“Disaster Risk

Reduction is

a strategic

priority for

Oxfam in

Nepal ”

ISDR Day commemoration in districts by

P A G E 8 T H I R D E D I T I O N

In addition to contributing to national level initiatives to mark ISDR day, the DIPECHO project being implemented by ActionAid in Nepal held concurrent programs in the three project districts, i.e. Banke, Sunsari and Udayapur, with prominent involvement of people, partnership with various

stakeholders and reiterated commitment to contribute towards achieving a Risk Resi l ient Nepa l . After celebrating district level events; around 100 disaster affected community people also participated in national level event in Kathmandu.

More than 200 peoples participated in the mass rally that started in ward no. 5 Jyotitole of Trijuga Municipality and culminated in Laxmipur Higher Secondary School after crossing Baherba and Dhatitole.

The school management in collaboration with DMC and partner NGOs organized an essay competition for the students. Twelve senior secondary students, including three girls partook in the essay competition titled “Disasters: Reducing its Impacts”. Prizes were distributed

to best articles as well as all participants. Local FM Radio stations Amurta FM and Triyuga FM as well as vernacular daily Purba Nepal covered the

events.

On 11th October 2009, Chief D i s t r i c t O f f i c e r , L oc a l Development Officer, Head of F o r e s t d e p a r t m e n t , Representative from Army, Women Development Officer, Education Officer and Agriculture Officer joined the local disaster management committees and community people in an awareness to mark the World Disasters Day. The rally with around 190 people initiated from DDC Office Inaruwa Sunsari that culminated in Muncipal Hall in Inurwa for an open interaction program chaired by Mr. Krishna Hari Upadhya, Chief District

Officer, Sunsari. The Popular FM and local newspaper covered the program highlights.

An interaction program was organized on the occasion of ISDR day in Banke with 42 p a r t i c i p a n t s i n c l u d i n g government officials, I/NGOs, Nepal Red Cross Society, disaster affected and vulnerable communities. The objective of the meeting was to create a w a r e n e s s a m o ng t h e stakeholders for mainstreaming DRR into development works; to develop better coordination among the stakeholders and renew collective commitment to reduce disaster risks, highlighting the need to create an enabling policy environment for DRR sector.

Consortium comprised of ISDR, UNDP, OCHA, WB,ADB, IFRC and GoN. The initiative, called “Five Flagship Program” focuses on five main areas: school and hospital safety, emergency preparedness and response capacity, flood management, community-based disaster preparedness, and policy and institutional support. The flagship programmes

Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction visited Nepal on 13 and 14 October. Ms Wahlstrom launched an initiative to reduce risk in Nepal on 14 October in honour of the international day f o r D i s a s t e r R e d u c t i o n . Representing a Risk Reduction

People’s

Rally in

Udayapur

district

News from United Nations

Peoples Rally in

Sunsari district

Udayapur:

Fusion of Community Practice

and School Based Knowledge

Sunsari:

DDRC Joining hands with

community in ISDR Day Event

Banke:

Multi Stakeholder meeting &

Interaction program

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

evolved through a multi-stakeholder participatory process with the Government and civil society organizations in identifying short to medium term disaster risk reduction priorities. The Prime Minister and Home Minister were present and expressed their strong commitment to support the implantation of the flagship programmes.

“ISDR Day Rally

is not just about

seeking rights, it

is also about our

commitment and

solidarity to work

together on

DRR” (Jannat

Hussain, DMC

Secretary, Narsing Ward

No. 4, Sunsari district)

has greatly contribute to force the government to pay serious attention to Disaster context of the country and to approve the National DRM Strategy. Although we cannot deny that the ISDR flagship program has c e r ta in ly “ e nc ou ra g e” t h e government to make such move, this understanding should enable us to coordinate the advocacy more closely in the future!

It has been a challenge to mobilise district level groups of disaster vict ims from logist ic and organisational point of view but it has been first time that such mobilisation has occurred and this has encouraged people to continue their efforts to advocate for their right and gave them hope that their voice can be heard!

This thematic newsletter has been produced by DIPECHO projects in Nepal with support from European Commission under its Humanitarian Aid department. The contents and information has been provided by ActionAid; CARE Nepal; Danish Red Cross; Handicap International; Mercy Corps; Mission East Nepal; Oxfam GB and Practical Action. This issue is edited and circulated by Mission East on behalf of DIPECHO partners in Nepal. To know more about DIPECHO projects, please contact Luc Verna for DG ECHO/DIPECHO at hoo@echo-kathmandu.org and respective project managers at krishnan.pv@actionaid.org (ActionAid), rajesh@carenepal.org (CARE), drcdp@mos.com.np (Danish Red Cross), dppm@hi-nepal.org (Handicap International), udons@np.mercycorps.org (Mercy Corps), Christophe.belperron@miseast.org (Mission East-Nepal), svanleuffel@oxfam.org.uk (Oxfam) and deb.bej@practicalaction.org (Practical Action).

D I P E C H O N E W S L E T T E R

Key achievements Elaboration by over 129 participants largely representing disaster affected communities,

various Government stakeholders, UN agencies, civil societies and NGOs, of a nine-point People's Declaration committing to the enactment on the DM act and NSDRM strategy

Large participation at the Convention honoured by the visit of Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr Robert Piper , Resident Representative and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal and by Mr Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, giving a strong momentum to the need for a policy framework on DRR

Appraisal of the People's Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Nepal by Rt. Hon. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav

Honorable President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav met delegates of People's Caravan on Disaster Risk Reduction represented by National Network of Disaster Affected Communities and appraised the People's Declaration on DRR in Nepal.

“The appraisal by

President of Nepal

profoundly marks as

'a mile stones' in

Nepalese history ever

and probably also a

remarkable event in

ISDR Day celebration

history in the world”.

(Ram Chandra Neupane

Chairperson, ECO-Nepal)

Lesson learned Using the ISDR day not as a

standalone event but as a milestone event in a broader process of DRR advocacy has shown better efficiency and usefulness of such initiative.

The joint/coordinated approach and common understanding of all the DIPECHO partners on the objectives of this event has been a key for its success and a motivating factor for other groups to join the movement....

The decision to support the event in the name of people of Nepal, whereby individual organisations stay in the background to move Nepali actors and communities to

the forefront increased the credibility of the event and surely paid dividend. By allowing N-NDAC to take the lead, rather than an INGO, the event is perceived by both government and other actors (UN) as more credible and difficult to ignore. This has increased overall acceptance as well as put adequate notice on government and various stakeholders.

Even if the initial plan to have combined event with UN family was maybe too ambitious since UN organised ultimately a separate event, in the preparation stage, it became clear that both groups we're actually truly pursuing the same goal. Such parallel process aiming at the same objective, with on one hand grassroots initiatives and on the other hand the diplomatic efforts by UN,