Geneva
Switzerland

Disaster Law at the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

Organizer(s) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Date
-

In December 2015 the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will take place in Geneva, bringing together States parties to the Geneva Conventions, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and partner organisations.

Ever since 2003, the International Conference has been a central international forum for assessing and advancing the state of disaster law worldwide. Previous resolutions on this topic can be found here. Background documents and decisions on disaster law at the 31st International Conference in 2011 can be found here.

In 2015, the Conference will address three themes related to disaster law:

  • accelerating progress in the facilitation and regulation of international disaster response;
  • strengthening laws for disaster risk reduction; and
  • providing supportive legal frameworks for saving lives through first aid.


Proposed elements for this year's resolution are available via the related links below.

In addition, a separate resolution on sexual violence in armed conflicts, internal disurbances and tensions and gender-based violence in disasters and other emergencies will also include some elements related to disaster law.

A model text for pledges related to strengthening legal frameworks fordisaster response, risk reduction and first aid can be found via the related links below.

Legal and normative frameworks can and should effectively make communities safer from disasters and emergencies. In this regard, the Conference will be invited to:

  • Decide on measures to speed progress in the development of laws and procedures for effectively managing international disaster response;
  • Adopt a new tool for fully understanding and strengthening the many parts of national legal frameworks that are critical for reducing disaster risks and building resilience; and
  • Promote laws that are supportive of first aid training and delivery.

Concerning regulation of international disaster response, the Conference will be asked to promote measures to speed progress in preparedness for the facilitation and regulation of international disaster response (known as IDRL). While much progress has been made the great majority of countries are still without the procedures necessary to ensure effective cooperation. As a result, operations have continued to be affected by bottlenecks in the entry of relief goods and personnel as well as gaps in competency, quality and coordination.

National Societies and their International Federation have provided technical assistance to authorities in over 40 countries, generating consensus approaches to strengthening national procedures.

To move from consensus to adoption of procedures has often been difficult to complete and in the run-up to the Conference, the International Federation will invite states, National Societies and partners to weigh alternatives for promoting a more rapid and comprehensive implementation of the Conference’s prior recommendations. The results of this consultation will be presented in the form of a resolution.

Concerning disaster risk reduction, the Conference will also be asked to advance the work it launched in 2011 on effective legislation for disaster risk reduction (DRR). The Conference acknowledged that gaps remain in the scope and implementation of laws critical to the safety and resilience of communities. The International Federation and UNDP have collaborated in study of legislation concerning DRR in 31 countries – the results include examples of good practice as well as illuminating the dynamics which lead to legal problems.

The post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction to be adopted at the World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015 underlines the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks. In support of this the International Federation and UNDP are completing a “Checklist for law and disaster risk reduction” as a practical tool. The Conference will be invited to adopt the Checklist.

Legislation for first aid training is essential to ensure that large parts of the population are properly trained and willing to provide assistance in an emergency. Unfortunately, many governments often do not see first aid as a political priority. School curricula are already overloaded. Driving licenses are costly enough. This point of view overlooks the fact that first aid and education is cost-effective as first aid can save not only lives but money, by reducing the cost of medical treatment.

Against this background, a number of initiatives have been suggested to promote first aid training in the up- coming Red Cross Red Crescent International Conference , i.a.

  1. Consider the adoption of mandatory training requirements for first aid training, in particular in the workplace, in schools, and for driver’s license applicants.
  2. Consider enhancing official national standards for the quality/content of first aid training programmes, and
  3. Consider granting at least partial legal protection from liability for lay persons (particularly volunteers) who have first aid training and have provided first aid assistance in emergencies.

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