Brunei Darussalam has expressed support for a United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, scheduled to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, early next year.
The position was delivered by Attorney General’s Chambers Counsel Nur Filzaty Najihah Abdul Rahman, who represented Brunei at the Sixth Committee of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on October 13.
Speaking on Agenda Item 88, concerning the proposed UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, Brunei highlighted the impact of disasters on economic stability, human security and sustainable development.
The country stressed the importance of international cooperation to ensure comprehensive, coordinated and effective disaster responses, noting that disasters could affect every nation.
Brunei also outlined its national and regional efforts to strengthen disaster resilience, including a disaster management framework under the Disaster Management Act (Chapter 293), which provides for the establishment of the National Disaster Council and the National Disaster Management Centre.
The country’s Disaster Management Strategic Policy Framework further guides its approach to disaster risk management and aligns national action with global best practices.
At the international level, Brunei welcomed progress made through the United Nations and encouraged continued engagement on the proposed instrument. It said negotiations should be grounded in the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
The statement was delivered during the Sixth Committee’s 14th plenary meeting at the UN headquarters in New York.