Identity area
Reference code
AC/23(CD)
Title
Date(s)
- 1952 - 1970 (Creation)
Level of description
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Extent and medium
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Administrative history
The AC/23(CD) chronological series contains the records of the Civil Protection Committee (hereinafter referred to as the CPC). The CPC was established and its terms of reference approved by the North Atlantic Council (Council) on 19 November 1952 as proposed by the Working Group of Civil Organization in Time of War (AC/23) (see C-R(52)29 and AC/23-D/25). The initial terms of reference were revised on 04/08/1966 (C-M(66)66), 07/11/1988 (AC/23-D/798) and 05/10/1994 (AC/23-D/818). Within its terms of reference, the CPC's tasks were defined by the MInisterial Guidance for Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) (for example, C-M(81)21), which was part of the Civil Emergency Planning and Review Cycle. The CPC was one of eight Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) planning boards and committees which were intended to ensure, in the event of an attack, the survival of populations, the support of military operations, the protection and use of vital resources, and the early recovery and rehabilitation of countries (see AC/12-D/357).The CPC dealt with the international coordination of planning in the area of civil protection at times of crisis or war (see AC/23-D/98). More specifically, it supervised the effectiveness of the NATO Refugee Agency (NRA), coordinated NRA participation in NATO exercises, drew up joint action plans in the event of attack and analysed the consequences (see AC/23-D/798 and C-M(66)66).The CPC did not deal with general policy issues in the area of civil protection. These were the responsibility of AC/23, which was the superior body (see AC/23(CD)-D/1). The CPC met at least once a year. Each member country could be represented, as well as the NATO Military Authorities. Its chairman was appointed for a three-year term. The chairmanship was preferably rotational (see AC/98-D/161). It reported to the Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) and, through the latter, to the Council (PO(2010)0074-REV2).The CPC was authorized to create bodies to assist it in specific tasks; in 1965 there were nine such subordinate bodies (see AC/23(CD)N/108).
Repository
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Content and structure area
Scope and content
Documents in the AC/23(CD) chronological series report on the work of the CPC and its relations with the CEPC, AC/23 and the sub-committees subordinate to it.
From the administrative point of view, the work involved mainly:
- reports on nations' state of preparedness
- examination of the questionnaire for the annual review issued by the CEP Coordinating Committee
- selection of candidates for the bodies subordinate to the CPC and NRA
- organization of meetings.
From the technical point of view, the work involved mainly:
- questionnaires sent to nations and the responses received by the CPC
- establishment of subordinate ad hoc working groups and regional groups
- expert reports on specific questions (such as radioactive rain)
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The documents are arranged by type - Document (D), Decision Sheet (DS), Note (N), Record/Summary Record (R) and Working Paper (WP).
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
NATO publicly disclosed information is available for research and education purposes. Any commercial use requires the written permission of NATO. Please credit the NATO Archives should any documents be used for publication. Guidelines for the proper citation of NATO publicly disclosed information can be found on the NATO Archives website (http://www.nato.int/archives).
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The records were circulated in NATO’s two official languages, English and French.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
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Notes area
Note
For further information, see the note on the Working Group of Civil Organization in Time of War (AC/23).
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NAO