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International Civil Defence Organization
The International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) is a humanitarian intergovernmental organization. Its Constitution of 17 October 1996 has been duly registered with the United Nations Secretariat in New York.
At the international level, responsibility for promoting protection and safety measures for persons and property against all kinds of disasters rests with ICDO. ICDO groups the national authorities in charge of implementing these measures. Playing a major role in society's response to all serious emergencies ICDO develops, strengthens and coordinates civil protection in different countries. ICDO collaborates with the member states of the Organization, with the United Nations and with other institutions to prevent, prepare for and respond to natural catastrophes, technological disasters and major accidents.
The supreme authority of ICDO is the General Assembly. It is composed of delegates representing member states and meets every two years. The executive body of the Organization is the Executive Council. It meets at least once a year. The Executive Council creates the technical commissions responsible for studying specific topics judged desirable for the Organization's goals. The Permanent Secretariat of the Organization is composed of the Secretary General and such technical and administrative staff as may be required for the work of the Organization.
The Organization is bound by international treaty and has close ties with the United Nations and its relevant specialized agencies, with national civil defence authorities and other bodies, both governmental and non-governmental, working in related fields. Progress towards better protection of populations also demands international cooperation in other fields in which ICDO actively participates. These fields are investigation of quality and efficiency standards for protection and disaster management, equipment standardizing accident management procedures as well as collecting and disseminating statistical information on physical property and population safety. ICDO works to promote security of the individual as a basic human right.
