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INTERNATIONAL

International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO)

and Switzerland:

Together for a Safer World

The ICDO considers
In recent decades the world's devel- neva Zones" (Association des Lieux
opment has been characterised by a that it has a special de Genève) was founded in Paris by
significant increase in the economic the French surgeon-general Georges
and social damage caused by disas- responsibility to Saint-Paul. He was the first to pro-
ters and accidents. According to the pose the idea of creating safety areas,
2015 World Disasters Report, there prepare civil popula- or "neutralized zones' in countries
were 317 natural catastrophes world- involved in hostilities where civilians
wide in 2014 affecting 94 countries. tions to fight against - in particular women, children, the
Almost 107 million people suffered elderly and the infirm - could seek
from these disasters in 2014 and eco- disasters and to train refuge in times of war. He also ad-
nomic losses were estimated at USD vocated the protection of historical
99.2 billion. There is little doubt that civil protection monuments and cultural assets dur-
climate change will lead to further in- ing times of war or conflict.
crease in the frequency and severity personnel, as well as In 1937, the headquarters of the or-
of hazards and the number of people ganisation was transferred to Geneva
exposed to them. to introduce modern where it received a new name - the
The benefits of years of development International Association of Geneva
can be wiped out by a major catastro- information systems of Zones, a move that was supported by
phe. It is therefore necessary to con- the Swiss government. In 1949 a Dip-
sider natural and technological risks disaster prevention. lomatic Conference was convened
as a serious obstacle to sustainable during which the fourth Geneva Con-
development. In these circumstances, vention - focused on the protection
the protection of populations against the consequences of of civilians in times of war and envisaging safety zones
natural and man-made disasters in peacetime is becom- and localities for the civilian population - was adopted
ing of utmost importance. and signed.
In 1958, the International Association of Geneva Zones
Armed conflicts also represent a looming threat to sus- became the International Civil Defence Organization
tainable development. They have taken new forms and (ICDO) and was accorded the status of a non-govern-
have direct repercussions on civil populations. The recent mental organization.
crisis in Europe caused by the unprecedented influx of
refugees from war-torn areas is posing new challenges to Today, with its 55 Member States, 19 observer states and
the international community. According to a United Na- a constantly increasing number of affiliated members,
tions estimate, in 2015 more than 78 million people from ICDO has come a long way since its creation 85 years
22 countries were caught in the biggest humanitarian ago. Its main goal is to assist the development of national
crises of our times, calling for large-scale humanitarian civil defence organisations, to facilitate the exchange of
assistance. experience and to strengthen the coordination of efforts
Geneva hosts the International Civil Defence Organiza- in the area of disaster prevention, preparedness and in-
tion (ICDO), one of the oldest organisations in the world tervention. The ICDO considers that it has a special re-
that aims to ensure the development of institutions and sponsibility to prepare civil populations to fight against
the means of protecting civilian populations against the disasters and to train civil protection personnel, as well
consequences of natural and man-made disasters as well as to introduce modern information systems of disaster
as during humanitarian crises. prevention.
ICDO has been closely related to Switzerland from the Switzerland joined the ICDO as host country in Janu-
first day of its existence. In 1931, the 'Association of Ge- ary 1997 and ever since has actively participated in its

14 DIVA - INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT