A/RES/59/231 Emphasizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Stressing the importance of advancing the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2 and its relevant provisions on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, Noting the ongoing work of all the working groups established by the InterAgency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, namely the Working Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, the Working Group on Disaster Reduction in Africa, the Working Group on Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster Impact Assessment and the Working Group on the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation 1. of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; 3 2. Invites Governments and relevant international organizations to consider disaster risk assessment as an integral component of development plans and poverty eradication programmes; Welcomes the work of the ongoing preparatory process for the World 3. Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005; Notes with appreciation the generous pledge made by the Government of 4. Japan to cover costs of the World Conference, and welcomes the voluntary contributions already made to facilitate the participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in that event, and invites those States that have not yet done so to make such voluntary contributions; Reiterates its invitation to Member States, all United Nations bodies and 5. the specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations, in particular the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to participate actively in the World Conference; Encourages major groups, as identified in Agenda 21, 4 to contribute 6. further to and actively participate in the World Conference, according to the rules of procedure agreed upon by its Preparatory Committee; Stresses the importance of close cooperation and coordination between 7. the relevant institutions, in particular within the United Nations system and with other relevant international organizations, in both the preparation of and follow-up to the World Conference, within their mandate and taking into account their comparative advantages and the need to avoid any duplication of work; Also stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among 8. Governments, the United Nations system, other organizations, regional organizations, _______________ 2 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August– 4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 3 A/59/228. 4 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. 2