United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters
By resolution 80/169 of 15 December 2025, the General Assembly decided to convene the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, to meet in Manila for three weeks from 25 January to 12 February 2027, and, if necessary, for a further two weeks in August 2027, to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, without prejudice to the legal effects of any particular provisions contained therein.
The General Assembly also decided to convene a Preparatory Committee for the Conference, to meet from 31 August to 4 September 2026 to refer the consolidated text including the draft articles and the proposals submitted by Governments, prepared at the resumed session of the Sixth Committee held in accordance with resolution 79/128, to the Conference.
The Preparatory Committee is set to decide on the question of the participation of stakeholders other than those referred to in paragraph 9, based on a list prepared by the Secretariat, with due regard to the principles of transparency and equitable geographical representation, and whose work is relevant to the Conference, and to discuss the organization and methods of work of the Conference, including the rules of procedure, with a view to making recommendations thereon to the Conference, taking into account the importance of promoting consensus in the Preparatory Committee and on the final results of the work of the Conference, and the Secretary-General was requested to prepare proposals and to bring the proposals and the list referred to above to the attention of Member States well in advance for their consideration and to the Preparatory Committee. The General Assembly further decided that, upon completion of its mandate, the Preparatory Committee shall report directly to the Conference.
The Assembly also decided that the Sixth Committee shall resume its session from 6 to 10 April 2026, within the framework of a working group of the Committee, in accordance with resolution 79/128.
The Assembly further decided, inter alia, that the Conference will be undertaken in an open and transparent manner, with a view to promoting universal adherence, and emphasized the need to ensure the widest possible and effective participation, including, in particular, of developing countries, in the Conference;
The Conference and the Preparatory Committee will be open to:
- all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies;
- observers having received a standing invitation to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly, on the understanding that they shall participate in the Conference in accordance with the rights and privileges conferred upon them by the Assembly;
- representatives of interested regional intergovernmental organizations and other interested international bodies attending as observers; and
- observers of relevant non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council in accordance with the provisions of Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996.
The participation of other stakeholders will be decided at the Preparatory Committee.