Croatia National Platform

DETAILS ON THE NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

a)Name of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Croatia

Croatian Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

b)Contact information

Mr. Damir Cemerin, Deputy Commander of Civil Protection
National Protection and Rescue Directorate
Nehajska 5, 10000 Zagreb
Republic of Croatia
 
c)Composition of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
The National Platform is comprised of representatives of the following institutions:

- National Protection and Rescue Directorate,
- Ministry of Interior,
- Ministry of Defense,
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction,
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration,
- Ministry Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship,
- Ministry Health and Social Welfare,
- Ministry Science, Education and Sports,
- Ministry Sea, Transport and Infrastructure,
- Ministry of Culture,
- Ministry of Finance,
- Ministry Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management,
- Meteorological and Hydrological Service,
- Croatian Red Cross,
- Croatian Mountain Rescue Service,
- Croatian Firefighting Organization,
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts,
- Croatian Caritas.

d)The National Platform focal point and contact information

Ms. Arabela Vahtaric, Head of International Cooperation Department
National Protection and Rescue Directorate
Nehajska 5, 10000 Zagreb
Republic of Croatia


e)Functioning or status of the National Platform for DRR

The Republic of Croatia has established the Croatian Platform for disaster risk reduction as a permanent forum for the exchange and provision of opinions, proposals and achievements contributing to disaster risk reduction in all areas of human activities with a view to making the disaster risk reduction both a national priority and a priority of the local community with a strong institutional basics for its application, as defined in the Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Croatia of 10 March 2009. The date marked the beginning of the process establishing the Croatian Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

At the proposal of the National Protection and Rescue Directorate, in March 2009 the Government of the Republic of Croatia has brought forth a decision on holding a conference on Croatian Platform for disaster risk reduction which is to take place every year (in September) under the chairmanship of the Croatian Government’s representatives.

The Decision founded the Croatian Platform Committee under the chairmanship of the Croatian vice prime minister including members from all ministries and other state administration bodies and calling upon representatives of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, large economic entities, public companies non-governmental organizations that deal with protection and rescue, especially Croatian Red Cross, Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, Croatian Firefighting Organization, as well as representatives of religious communities registered in the Republic of Croatia. The National Protection and Rescue Directorate was tasked with the organization and activities between the conferences acting as a secretariat for Croatian Platform.

The Croatian Platform Committee was set up in May 2009 and it defined a program whose goal it is for the national platform to ensure the participation of all factors of the development of the society. Each factor in its own segment is to ensure raising public awareness on the existence of disaster risks, both natural and man-made, including the increase of those risks brought by the development they stand for. All participants were invited to prepare and submit their papers on the topic of disaster risk reduction for the first conference of the Croatian Platform. The media were also invited to cover the work of the Platform.

The aim is to reduce disaster risks already existing or those likely to emerge. The Republic of Croatia has been applying disaster risk reduction regulations for years by constructing seismic-resistant buildings and exercising responsible spatial planning nevertheless leaving plenty of room for further risk reduction in the future development.

The first conference of the Croatian Platform was held on 09 November 2009 with over 180 participants from the state authorities, large economic entities, scientific community (Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and several colleges and institutions), as well as citizens’ associations and religious communities.


NATIONAL PLATFORM FACT SHEET - CROATIA

1.Title in local language (with English translation)

Hrvatska platforma za smanjivanje rizika od katastrofa
Croatian Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

2.Date of creation

09 November 2009

3.Vision/ Mission

Permanent forum for the exchange and provision of opinions, proposals and achievements contributing to disaster risk reduction in all areas of human activities with a view to making the disaster risk reduction both a national priority and a priority of the local community with a strong institutional basics for its application, as defined in the Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Croatia of 10 March 2009. The date marked the beginning of the process establishing the Croatian Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

4.Focal point institution

National Protection and Rescue Directorate
Nehajska 5,
10000 Zagreb
Republic of Croatia

5.Structure/ Composition

The Platform Committee is a body established by the Government to coordinate all activities of the Croatian Platform.

Members of the Committee include:
- National Protection and Rescue Directorate (leading national agency for Croatian Platform)
- Ministry of Interior,
- Ministry of Defense,
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction,
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration,
- Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship,
- Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,
- Ministry of Science, Education and Sport,
- Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure,
- Ministry of Culture,
- Ministry of Finance,
- Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management,
- Meteorological and Hydrological Service,
- Croatian Red Cross,
- Croatian Mountain Rescue Service,
- Croatian Firefighting Organization,
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts,
- Croatian Caritas.
 
6.Operational Practices
The development of the early warning system by raising public awareness of disaster risks. Especially important are the educational systems and processes, starting with family, pre-school education and all through university. School curricula should incorporate topics explaining the need for disaster risk reduction and develop safe behavior and self-help culture while building solidarity for all threatened by disaster risks. In addition to educational institutions, the media should also play an important role in raising public awareness, which calls for an active cooperation with them.

In future risk assessments should be developed by applying state-of the-art science and technology, especially concerning early warning systems. A multi-sector approach would enable maximum use of domestic knowledge and capacities, primarily the most competent scientific and educational institutions in the Republic of Croatia.

7.Activities & Achievements (aligned by HFA Priority of Action)
A special emphasis has been placed on a better linkage and understanding of different scientific and social disciplines, thus enabling their connection in terms of developments and activities, including the division of responsibilities in disaster risk reduction. We should encourage the funding of projects aiming at disaster risk reduction and a continuous well-oriented development of the scientific capacities included. This is why the platform encourages the linking of scientific institutions with all actors included in activities related to disaster risk reduction and disaster response and the building of the early warning system.

Readiness of science, expert institutions, economic entities, state administration bodies, citizens’ associations and the media actively contributes to increasing safety in the Republic of Croatia through proactive behavior with a view to reduce disaster risks. This process is also marked by the development and strengthening of the public-private partnership which in turn strengthens the economic basis of the society while respecting local diversities and specifics of all regions, thus ensuring a uniform development and strengthening of rural areas and regions.

8. Challenges & Constraints
The aim is to reduce disaster risks already existing or those likely to emerge. The Republic of Croatia has been applying disaster risk reduction regulations for years by constructing seismic-resistant buildings and applying responsible spatial planning nevertheless leaving plenty of room for further risk reduction in the future development.

9. Future outlook/ Plans/ Issues
Participants in the Croatian Platform have recognized their task in the development of capacities for activities and management in disasters at political, technical and institutional levels. A future progress should be ensured by fostering dialog, establishing coordination and exchange of information between crisis managers and development sectors, as well as through regional and local approach to disaster response focusing on risk reduction.