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Mami Mizutori
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Head of UNDDR

Mami Mizutori is the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDDR).

On 31 January 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General announced the appointment of Mami Mizutori as Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. 

Prior to joining the UN, Ms. Mizutori was Executive Director of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, University of East Anglia, UK from 2011.

Ms. Mizutori served for twenty-seven years in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in various capacities, including: Budget Director; Director of the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) at the Embassy of Japan in London; Director of the National Security Policy Division, Director of the United Nations Policy Division; Director of the Status of US Forces Agreement Division; and Deputy Director of the Personnel Division.

Having graduated in law from Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo and obtained a Diploma in International Studies from the Diplomatic School of Spain, she has taught courses on governance in East Asia at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and international studies at Waseda University, Tokyo.

A Japanese national, Ms. Mizutori speaks fluent Japanese, English and Spanish. She is married to Barak Kushner and lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

SRSG Mami Mizutori

Recent statements

The 2011 Van earthquakes occurred in eastern Turkey near the city of Van.
Statements and messages

Statement on the Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria

Statement on the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria by Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
SRSG Mami Mizutori
Statements and messages

Statement on the establishment of a G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction

I congratulate India on assuming the Presidency of the G20 from Indonesia and commend India’s Presidency on the decision to establish the first G20 working group on Disaster Risk Reduction.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
SRSG Mami Mizutori
Statements and messages

Statement on the outcomes of COP27

Coming on the heels of a year that saw many climate-driven disasters, including the recent devastation in Pakistan, it is no wonder that addressing the impacts of these disasters was front and centre at COP27, which was dubbed the “implementation COP.”
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Head of UNDRR Mami Mizutori for IDDRR 2022
Statements and messages

Head of UNDRR's message on World Tsunami Awareness Day

On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, let us commit to closing these gaps by achieving Target G of the Sendai Framework to expand early warning and early action for everyone.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Video messages

Watch on Youtube

Articles and Op Eds

unite behind science
Op Eds

UNDRR ROAMC: “We need to achieve greater articulation between science and decision makers”

We need to apply scientific knowledge to Disaster Risk Management and promote the creation of risk science in view of the permanent and growing increases in hazards, vulnerabilities and greater exposure.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
Joe biden
Op Eds

New Year reckoning looms on climate and disaster action

By Mami Mizutori Climate-vulnerable nations know all too well that action on the climate emergency is just as important as a successful and affordable vaccine against COVID-19. This year’s U.N. climate talks may have been postponed, but no one can take
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
La importancia de preparación en las ciudades.
Op Eds

COVID-19 demonstrates urgent need for cities to prepare for pandemics

Some 95% of COVID-19 cases have come from urban areas. Pandemic preparedness in cities and towns is more urgent than ever for reducing disaster risk, particularly in challenging situations where disease outbreaks could coincide with an extreme weather
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Human Settlements Programme - Headquarters
People in Macau, queue up to acquire face masks in a pharmacy
Op Eds

From COVID-19 crisis comes opportunity to rethink risk

The health crisis stress-tests our ability to cooperate, learn and adapt in the face of deep uncertainties and rising risks. The new coronavirus, COVID-19, was declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction International Science Council
Our work - Mami Mizutori
Q&A with Mami Mizutori
"90 percent of disaster funding is spent only after disaster strikes. It goes on relief, the response and reconstruction. Only 10 percent is spent on prevention. But the gap is widening between the need for humanitarian aid and what the international community is able to provide."
Read the interview