Declaración de Antigua Antigua, Guatemala,

Antigua Declaration

Antigua, Guatemala, June 5, 2003.

First Part

In the city of Antigua, in the Republic of Guatemala, eighty five participants from nineteen nations of the hemisphere, including experts in early warning, public authorities, sub-regional, regional, and international organizations, NGOs, community leaders, and media met to discuss diverse aspects related to Early Warning Systems and multiple hazards which manifest themselves in all regions of the hemisphere. The Hemispheric Consultation in Early Warning was the first major event at the hemispheric level dedicated to the topic of integrating Early Warning Systems into public policy

The consultation was promoted by the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction of the United Nations (ISDR-UN), supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Technical Cooperation Agency, GTZ, by the Association of Caribbean States, (ACS), and benefited from the support provided by the United National Development Program, UNDP. The consultation was planned by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives of ACS, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, CDERA, the Coordination Center For Natural Disasters Prevention in Central America, CEPREDENAC, National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala, CONRED, GTZ, UNDP, and UN-ISDR.

This Consultation has been a part of the preparatory process leading to the Second International Conference on Early Warning Systems (EWCII), to be held in Bonn, 16-18 October, 2003.

The main objectives of the consultation have been the identification of early warning blueprints for Latin America and the Caribbean, including best practices, gaps and shortfalls in early warning applications and effectiveness, make regional recommendations on strategies for dissemination of early warning knowledge, as well as technical recommendations to be presented at the EWCII. The Hemispheric Consultation provided an opportunity for enhanced dialogue among regional, national, and local stakeholders, and among different sectors, effectively strengthening the coordination and cooperation amongst the various groups involved in the early warning process. The participant to this Hemispheric Consultation, considering:

Ø The First International Conference on Early Warning which took place in Potsdam, Germany, in 1998.

Ø The Summit of Presidents held in Quebec, Canada in 2001 within the Strategic Platform for disaster and vulnerability reduction.

Has concluded that Early Warning has a strategic relevance of inter-sectorial and inter-institutional character, and it must span all levels of organization from the hemispheric to the local levels; additionally, Early Warning is a process which must involve Civil Protection or Civil Defense Institutions in all nations, and should be inserted within the context of risk management, including public policies with the goal of contributing to the reduction of disasters and fatalities, as well as sustainable development.

In relation to what has been exposed above, the participants manifest:

I. That all over the world the frequency and severity of natural disasters have increased in recent years, , and these trends are expected to continue in the future. Hurricanes George and Mitch, disasters provoked by the El Niño event which took place in 1997-98, massive landslides in Venezuela in 1999, forest fires in the Amazon basin in Brazil in 1998, massive eruptions in Montserrat in 1997, as well as earthquakes of El Salvador and Arequipa in 2001 are the most recent reminders of the devastation caused by natural hazards. These and many other tragic events have demonstrated the cost of inadequate Early Warning Systems. By contrast, the successful application of forecast information, local preparedness activities, and coordination at all levels, can save lives and property, as demonstrated by the example of hurricane Michelle which hit Cuba and Honduras in 2001.

II. That the Hemispheric Consultation identified the major strengths and weaknesses in Early Warning capacities throughout the Americas. Participants emphasized the multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial character of the Early Warning process. Although based on science and technology, Early Warning must be tailored to serve communities needs, their environments, their resources and their culture. Traditional knowledge emanating from communities should also be taken into account.

III. That Early Warning is effective only to the extent that policy makers at the national and local levels of authority have the will, and make sustained commitment of both financial and human resources.

Second Part

Recommendations

1. During recent years there has been increased interest expressed by national leaders throughout the hemisphere to strengthen ties among and between each other. Economic and political stability, both affected by vulnerabilities to natural hazards. The Hemispheric Consultation considers important to ensure that each country takes the best advantage of market opportunities. Therefore, attention should be given to developing a strong argument, backed by sound research and specific examples, that investment in development and implementation of adequate EW, along with other Disaster Management Systems reduces economic loss, fosters economic security and supports short and long-term economic development. Hence, the Hemispheric Consultation promotes the development of instruments which display the Cost / benefit relationship of Early Warning Systems.

2. Considering the successes gathered through the implementation of Early Warning Systems, the Hemispheric Consultation recommends that these issues be promoted as priority topics on agendas of preparatory processes and initiatives focusing on Disaster Reduction. Therefore, cross cutting commitments for incorporation of EW support within global dialogue (Yokohama, SIDS + 10, World Summit on Sustainable development, Millennium Declaration) should be promoted in all regions and policy sectors. In a parallel fashion, it reiterates the need of supporting processes associated with the compilation and dissemination of all aspects linked with Early Warning and respective systems.

3. As global or regional frameworks are developed to promote and support Early Warning research and applications, the Hemispheric Consultation recommends that liaisons be identified amongst professional organizations that can contribute to Early Warning. These include the World Meteorological Organization, International Union of Geology and Geophysics, the International Association of Hydrological Science, the Global Fire Monitoring Center, the International Tsunami Information Center, the International Global Observing Strategy, etc.

4. Often, industrialized countries have been the driving force behind research and application of science and technology with the goal of improving Early Warning in relation to natural hazards. Frequently, funding and technical support has been made available by these countries to share experience with other nations as well as international organizations and professional associations on a global or regional basis. the Hemispheric Consultation recommends that such support should be increased and sustained -- and not be dependent on the vagaries of politics or short-term economic climate -- particularly because of its importance to many countries currently unable to fully sustain adequate technical and human infrastructure to provide life and property-saving warnings.

5. Recognizing the fact that there are many types of hazards which generate disasters throughout the hemisphere, the Hemispheric Consultation recommends that all countries should participate in, and contribute to developing and implementing a rationale for common and constant funding strategy whereby support for Early Warning research and applications can be administered through regional and national coordinating mechanisms.

6. The definition of terminology, common acceptance, and usage of terms and concepts related to Early Warning needs to be improved and encouraged so that Early Warning will be better understood in its own context and as it relates to other phases of risk management and disaster preparedness.

7. Many advances in Early Warning have been made possible by the exchange of information and experiences. Thus, the Hemispheric Consultation deems important to support mechanisms for Inter and Intra-Regional exchange of technical/scientific and social information, experiences and technology applications, as well as interactions among scientific/technical and social actors involved in the design and operation of Early Warning Systems.

8. Considering the successes gathered via the insertion of local communities into the framework of Early Warning Systems in some countries, the Hemispheric Consultation suggests that it is important to stimulate educational processes oriented towards the construction of a common vision of Disaster Management, which encompasses Early Warning as an essential element of risk management to promote a more sustainable development.

9. Early Warning is based on the knowledge of the various components of risk, therefore the Hemispheric Consultation considers useful supporting programs for hazard mapping and vulnerability assessment as a basis for Early Warning Systems, strengthen national and local capacities to allow for broader citizen participation, and promote the active participation of the media in Early Warning Systems.

10. Early Warning Systems rely on the precise forecast of events which can provoke disasters. Therefore, the Hemispheric Consultation recommends strengthening technical/scientific institutions which play a role in Early Warning Systems via the promotion of relations with academic research centers to understand the dynamical nature of the hazards, and equip such institutions with similar or same equipment networks related to monitoring of such hazards in the sub-regions of the hemisphere.

11. The Hemispheric Consultation recommends that Early Warning Systems should be inserted within the national systems responsible of planning, coordination, risk management, and disaster preparedness. However, Early Warning Systems must also be conceived to involve many institutions, sectors, and representatives of the communities. Therefore, the Hemispheric Consultation promotes a clear definition of responsibilities through an adequate legal framework which recognizes existing capacities and limitations must be established as a means to promote ample and inter-institutional participation.