A/HRC/27/66 strategies and principles are relevant to indigenous peoples. These include the “development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience to hazards”,8 the importance of taking into account “cultural diversity, age, and vulnerable groups” in disaster risk reduction,9 and the empowerment of communities and local authorities “to manage and reduce disaster risk by having access to the necessary information, resources and authority to implement actions for disaster risk reduction”.10 23. Although a number of human rights–relevant elements are already explicitly addressed (to varying degrees) in the HFA (e.g. gender, age, vulnerable groups, cultural diversity, livelihoods, and socioeconomic structures), others (such as discrimination and inequalities, economic and social rights in general, and the need for participation by affected communities) are missing. The HFA also does not address the situation of indigenous peoples explicitly. 24. The mandate of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), formerly the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, is to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for coordinating disaster risk reduction and ensuring synergies among disaster risk reduction activities. Through a system of global partnerships, the UNISDR system provides a vehicle for cooperation among governments, organizations and civil society actors, as well as indigenous peoples and their organizations, to implement the HFA. 25. Currently, UNISDR is coordinating the post-2015 successor mechanism: HFA2.11 The HFA2 framework is drawing its input from recommendations made at regional platform meetings, and particularly from the fourth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held in 2013. The report of the fourth Global Platform mentions several areas that should be duly noted by both States and indigenous peoples: “HFA2 needs to enable and encourage full participation of people disproportionately affected by disasters and should embody the principles of social inclusion and human rights. The perspectives of the most vulnerable should be included in both disaster risk reduction planning and implementation. Their representatives should also play a major role, including leadership, in national disaster risk reduction arrangements. In conjunction with this, the relationship between disaster risk reduction and human rights needs to be explored and practical measures taken to strengthen it.”12 In addition to ensuring the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, it is particularly crucial to seek and include the perspectives of indigenous women, children, and persons with disabilities, since multiple discrimination often means that their views are not taken into account. III. Why are indigenous peoples at particular risk? 26. Most policymakers and academics acknowledge that poor planning, poverty and a range of other underlying factors create vulnerability, resulting in insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential negative consequences of disaster risk. This vulnerability 8 9 10 11 12 Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015, para. 12. Ibid., para. 13. Ibid., para. 13. UNISDR, Proposed elements for consideration in the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. Available from www.preventionweb.net/files/35888_srsgelements.pdf (accessed 4 August 2014). UNISDR, Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA2): Report from 2013 Global Platform Consultations, p. 3. Available from www.unisdr.org/files/35070_hfa2consultationsgp 2013report.pdf (accessed 4 August 2014). 7