A/RES/58/214 Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capability to cope with disaster risks, 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; Stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among 3. Governments, the United Nations system, other international organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, are considered essential to address effectively the impact of natural disasters; Recognizes the importance of linking disaster risk management to 4. regional frameworks, as appropriate, such as with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, 4 to address issues of poverty eradication and sustainable development; 5. Also recognizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective as well as of engaging women in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, particularly in the disaster reduction stage; Further recognizes the importance of early warning as an essential 6. element of disaster reduction, and recommends the implementation of the outcome of the Second International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 18 October 2003, which highlighted the importance of strengthened coordination and cooperation to integrate activities and expertise of the various sectors involved in the early warning process and has contributed to the review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action; 5 7. Decides to convene a World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005, at the senior-official level, designed to foster specialized discussions and produce concrete changes and results, with the following objectives: (a) To conclude the review of the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, with a view to updating the guiding framework on disaster reduction for the twentyfirst century; (b) To identify specific activities aimed at ensuring the implementation of relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on _______________ 3 A/58/277. A/57/304, annex. 5 A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. 4 2