World Civil Defence Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st March to honour the significance of Civil Defence and the personnel who have sacrificed their lives for it.
The theme of World Civil Defence Day 2022 is
“Civil defence and management of displaced populations in face of disasters and crises; role of volunteers and the fight against pandemics”.
Purpose of the Day:
To promote public awareness about civil defence, civil protection and emergency management in order to better prepare the civilian population to protect itself in the event of an emergency and to reduce the risk of disaster.
Background:
i.Civil Defence Day was officially inaugurated by the International Civil Defence Organisation in 2012
ii.March 1st was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the day on which the constitution of the International Civil Defence Organisation(ICDO) came into force.
ii.The Constitution of the ICDO was adopted on 17 October 1966, came into force on 1st March 1972. It attributes the status of intergovernmental organization to the ICDO (United Nations, Treaty Series, volume 985, registration No. 14376).
History of ICDO:
i.In 1931, Surgeon-General Georges Saint-Paul established the “Association des Lieux de Genève” in Paris, France.
ii.After numerous Name Change, in 1958 the organization was finally named as International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) and was given the new status as a non-governmental organisation and later in 1972 ICDO was given the status of an International Organisation (IO).
Objective:
- Contribute to the development by States of structures ensuring the protection and assistance of populations.
- Safe-guarding property and the environment in the face of natural and man-made disasters.
About International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO):
Secretary-General– Njoupouo YAP Mariatou
Members– Member States (60); Observer States (16); Affiliated Members (23)
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
