18 November 2011: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has recognized the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as the first UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) global champion of disaster risk reduction (DRR). This appointment was officially made at the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which convened in Bali, Indonesia, from 17-19 November 2011.

According to the UN/ISDR, President Yudhoyono was recognized for making DRR a national priority following the Asian tsunami. UN/ISDR Chief, Margareta Wahlstrom, said President Yudhoyono has transformed “risk management in Indonesia through a series of far-reaching measures.” UN/ISDR also noted that President Yudhoyono also led Indonesia as the first country to convert the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 – Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities in Disasters, into a national plan. This then resulted in the instituting of a Disaster Risk Reduction law in 2007. In his new role President Yudhoyono will continue to advocate and promote the importance of DRR particularly in the areas of school and hospital safety. [UN Press Release] [UN/ISDR Press Release]