This article is based on a report from the International Association for Earthquake Engineering (IAEE) on the establishment of a World Seismic Safety Initiative as part of the International Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction set up by the United Nations. After describing the organisation of the WSSI, the report goes on to outline some of the projects currently under way and describes two in greater detail. These are the Workshops held earlier this year in Bangkok and Okinawa. Future plans are also outlined.