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The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed in 1948, asserts that "All individuals are entitled to a living standard that caters to their health and well-being, along with their family, which includes provisions for food, clothing, housing, medical care, and fundamental social services" (Article 25).

Safety within the built environment is therefore an inherent right. 

Global infrastructure is expected increase twofold in the forthcoming decades due to the surge in urbanization and population growth. This will entail challenges in terms of safety, accessibility, and resilience, along with increasing vulnerability to climate and disaster risks, dependent on the location and the construction standards of the buildings. This vulnerability is further intensified in unregulated and informal settlements where buildings are densely constructed in hazardous sites, using inferior building materials and in the absence of safe design and construction practices. 

As a result, the aim of ensuring universal access to the right to a safe built environment continues to be a long-term objective. 

Risk-informed policymaking lays the foundation for proactive and targeted measures to mitigate the impact of seismic events. By incorporating comprehensive seismic risk assessments into policy development, countries can strategically allocate resources, prioritize vulnerable areas, and establish and enforce safety standards for buildings. This approach not only enhances community resilience but also guides long-term planning, influencing factors such as land use and building design. 

Moreover, risk-informed policies contribute to public awareness and education, empowering communities to take preventive actions. Additionally, they facilitate the development of effective insurance and financial mechanisms for post-earthquake recovery. In an interconnected world, these policies also foster international collaboration, allowing for the exchange of best practices and the collective strengthening of global earthquake resilience efforts. Overall, risk-informed policymaking is indispensable for ensuring the safety, sustainability, and preparedness of earthquake-prone regions.

Initially, an extensive policy review was undertaken to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current regulatory framework in each of the five countries involved in this component. Subsequently, a questionnaire was meticulously curated and disseminated to the designated representative of each country. 

The responses to the questionnaire enabled a thorough examination of the entire legal structure pertaining to building regulations. This included elements such as the legal and administrative aspect (i.e., laws, decrees, involved stakeholders, forms and types of penalties), followed by codes and standards and building control measures (i.e., permits for buildings, inspections before, during, and post-construction). It also encompassed regulations on retrofitting, maintenance, and land planning. Valuable insights gathered from academic and media commentary were also incorporated. 

The preliminary recommendations, derived from the comprehensive analysis, were introduced in a roundtable discussion. This gathering united all the focal points from each country, promoting inclusive dialogue and yielding the final recommendation. 

• Building regulations: 
  The building regulation procedures are generally similar in all five countries, with some differences in Cuba, largely because its political system differs from the other four countries.
• Building permits: 
  All countries have a legal framework, including regulatory procedures for the building permits and completion inspection/occupancy permits. Nevertheless, all the countries expressed concerns about inadequate implementation/enforcement, leading to issues such as construction without permits.
• Subsequent modifications: 
  Another prevalent concern raised by numerous countries regarding permits is the modification of the building design after obtaining the necessary permits.
• Codes and standards: 
  The status of codes and standards is also comparable among the five countries. All countries consistently acknowledge challenges related to building regulations, including constructions non-compliant with codes, self-built/informal/non-engineered constructions, and the use of low-quality materials.
• Requirements and qualifications: 
  Most countries have strict regulations establishing the requirements and qualifications necessary for designers, inspectors, and contractors. Still, the countries indicated that owners often hire personnel without the required qualifications, jeopardizing safety and compliance with established standards. 

Four approaches were proposed to the main stakeholders involved in the construction process: owners, contractors, designers, supervisors, suppliers of materials and manufactures, and the regulatory authorities. 

Three of these approaches are based on a “willingness analysis”, and one is based on legal requirements:

• Own willingness: 
  Refers to the situation when the main stakeholders voluntarily and proactively comply with the building regulations without external pressure or enforcement.

• Promoting own willingness: 
  Refers to actively encouraging the main stakeholders to comply with the building regulations without pressure, leading to proactive adherence. For example, in several countries, complex, unclear, and time-consuming procedures often deter owners from applying for building permits. In such instances, simplifying and making the procedures more transparent could be instrumental to improve one’s own willingness.

• Pressure by other stakeholders to follow the regulations: 
  Refers to when external entities actively encourage or compel the main stakeholders involved in the construction process to follow the building regulation. For example, financial institutions or service providers, such as water or sewage managers, may request building permits from the owner before delivering their services.

• Regulation by authorities: 
  Refers to a set of rules, standards, or guidelines established by governing bodies or regulatory agencies. These regulations are designed to govern and ensure compliance with legal requirements. For example, regulatory authorities might enforce a requirement for owners to exhibit a copy of the building permit visibly at the construction site.