BASIC DOCUMENTS

The basic documents outlining the Committee's rules are detailed in its core strategic planning documents. Below is the current status of the Committee.

For a complete set of the Committee's basic documents, please download them here.

The Terms of Reference for the Working Groups (WGs) can be found on the respective WG pages.

STATUS OF THE COMMITTEE

Establishment

Article 1.
The Typhoon Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) is established by the Government of regional ECAFE member countries affected by typhoons (hereinafter referred to as the participating Governments) under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and Far East (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization with a view to promoting and co-coordinating efforts to minimize typhoon damages in the ECAFE region.

Membership, Composition and Organization

Article 2.
The Committee shall be composed of a representative from each of the participating Governments desiring to participate in co-operative efforts to minimize typhoon damage in the ECAFE region. The Executive Secretary of ECAFE and the Secretary-General of WMO or their representatives shall be ex-officio members of the Committee.

Article 3.
The Committee shall have a technical secretary and a secretariat which will serve as its executive body. The functions and duties of the Typhoon Committee Secretariat shall be determined by the Committee.

Article 4.
The Committee shall be assisted, when necessary, by an Advisory Group consisting of qualified experts from within and outside the region.

Cooperation with the Secretariats of the Commission (ECAFE) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Article 5.
The Secretariat of the Commission and the Secretariat of the World Meteorological Organization shall cooperate with the Committee in the performance of the latter's functions.

Functions

Article 6.
The functions of the Committee are to promote and to coordinate the planning and implementation of measures required for minimizing typhoon damage in the ECAFE region. It shall, to this end:

a) Review regularly the progress made in the various fields of typhoon damage prevention;
b) Recommend to the participating Governments concerned plans and measures for the improvement of meteorological and hydrological facilities needed for typhoon damage prevention;
c) Recommend to the participating Governments concerned plans and measures for the improvement of community preparedness and disaster prevention;

d) Promote the establishment of programs and facilities for training personnel from countries of the region in typhoon forecasting and warning, hydrology and flood control within the region and arrange for training outside the region, as necessary;
e) Promote, prepare and submit to participating Governments and other interested organizations plans for coordination of research programmes and activities concerning typhoons;
f) Consider, upon request, possible sources of financial and technical support for such plans and programmes;
g) Prepare and submit, at the request and on behalf of the participating Governments, request for technical, financial and other assistance offered under the United Nations Development Programme and by other organizations and contributors.In carrying out these functions, the Committee will ensure that the plans adopted by the appropriate bodies of WMO including the implementation programme established by WMO as part of the World Weather Watch Plan, are fully respected at all times.

General Provisions

Article 7.
The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 8.
The Committee shall not take action in respect of any country without the agreement of the Government of that country.

Article 9.
The Committee shall have authority, subject to established United Nations procedures and practice, to invite representatives of Governments, the United Nations specialized agencies, other United Nations bodies and recognized governmental and non-governmental organizations to attend specific meetings of the Committee in the capacity of observers or in a consultative capacity.

Article 10.
The Committee shall submit annual reports to participating Governments, the Commission and the World Meteorological Organization. Such reports, or summaries thereof, may be made available to other Governments, the United Nations specialized agencies, other United Nations bodies and recognized governmental and non-governmental organizations on the recommendation of the Committee.

Article 11.
Amendments to the present statute which may be proposed by any participating Government shall be examined by the Committee and shall take effect when approved by all participating Governments.