Start Date : 9 Jul 04   End Date : 9 Sept 04 Location: Madrid, Spain

A second World Conference on Disaster Reduction, following the first one held in Yokohama in 1994, is planned to be held in Kobe-Hyogo, Japan, in January 2005. Several thematic and regional consultations to review achievements and good practices, gaps and critical areas that need to be further addressed in relation to reducing risk to natural hazards will take place during 2003 and 2004.

As part of this preparatory process UN-ISDR has requested UN-HABITAT to take the lead in organizing an international consultation in the form of a meeting to review urban risk management practices and policies. The aim of the meeting will be to bring together international, regional and local initiatives and programmes in this area to draw lessons and discuss targets and needed action for the future.

The Expert Group Meeting on Risk and Human Settlements will take place in Madrid during the second week of September 2004, one week prior to the UN-HABITAT’s second session of the World Urban Forum that takes place from 13-17 September in Barcelona. The EGM will, therefore, act also as a lead up towards the WUFII as it is anticipated that selected participants from the Madrid Conference will take part in the WUFII events.