IFRC Proposals on strengthening the draft articles on the protection of persons in the event of disasters

This document sets out the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) proposals to strengthen the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters (PPED), which the UN General Assembly aims to develop into a legally binding instrument by 2027. Based on more than two decades of research and practice in disaster law, the IFRC emphasizes the importance of addressing the full disaster risk management continuum—prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. Its recommendations include refining key definitions, reinforcing provisions on human rights and humanitarian principles, explicitly recognizing the right to humanitarian assistance, and ensuring stronger protection for people in vulnerable situations. The IFRC also underlines the urgent need for binding international obligations on disaster risk reduction, pointing out that existing global legal frameworks remain fragmented despite progress under the Sendai Framework.

The proposals also stress the value of enhancing cooperation among states, international and regional organizations, local actors, and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, recognizing their distinct auxiliary role to public authorities. They recommend measures to improve the facilitation and regulation of external assistance, including removing legal barriers, upholding quality standards, and extending support to anticipatory action and early recovery. To strengthen accountability, the IFRC further calls for consistency with international humanitarian law, the creation of monitoring and implementation mechanisms, and a formal role for the IFRC in supporting the treaty’s application. Collectively, these recommendations aim to promote global solidarity, ensure the central protection of people in disasters, and build a more coherent international legal framework for disaster risk management.