Three topics of particular focus

www.ifrc.orgSaving lives, changing minds.

Disaster Laws

Disaster Laws

Overview of the disaster law topicsMale, Maldives, 11 October 2011

David Fisher,IFRC IDRL Programme Coordinator


Disaster Laws

Three topics of particular focus

Legal preparedness for international disaster response (IDRL)

Legislating enhanced disaster risk reduction, particularly at the community level

Regulatory barriers to emergency and transitional shelter for people affected by natural disasters


Disaster Laws

Why legal preparedness for international disaster response? (IDRL)

More frequent and larger natural disasters

More and different international responders

Absence of procedure to regulate the increasingly complex context


Disaster Laws

Research shows that the lack of legal preparedness hampers int’l relief

Research 27 legal case studies Global survey Regional forums

Findings Unnecessary delays and costs Unnecessary relief items, poor

coordination, lack of respect


Disaster Laws

A few anecdotes


Disaster Laws

Achievement of the 30th International Conference: the IDRL Guidelines

Adopted by consensus by the state parties to the Geneva Conventions in 2007

Compile existing international norms and best practice

Recommendations to governments on how to prepare domestic laws and procedures for international assistance


Disaster Laws

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

23 24

43

50

22

45

Reported follow-up on the IDRL Guidelines

States (2009) National Societies (2009) States (2011) National Societies (2011)

2009 Survey 2011 Survey

Progress on country-level implementation of the IDRL Guidelines

9 new laws/ procedures

11 pending

20 formal technical assistance projects


Disaster Laws

Progress on mainstreaming the IDRL Guidelines (some examples)

International UNDAC preparedness missions UNGA/ECOSOC resolutions WCO resolution ILC “draft articles” Commonwealth

Regional Americas/ASEAN questionnaires OAS GA Resolution AU Humanitarian Policy Framework EU Council Conclusions CAPRADE manual


Disaster Laws

Why disaster risk reduction at the community level?

Prevention is much better than cure Research shows that the

community level is consistently under-served

Communities are also under-used resources for their own protection


Disaster Laws

What can legislation accomplish when it comes to disaster risk reduction?

Legislation is an important tool to increase impact at the community level – it can:

empower communities to take an active role promote full implementation of incentives prioritize resources for community level work encourage accountability

How do we get to these positive results?

http://www.ifrc.org/photo/Myanmarcyclone0908/image2.asp


Disaster Laws

Why regulatory barriers to emergency and transitional shelter?

Shelter is critical to health, safety and recovery

Shelter professionals say that regulatory issues are among the biggest barriers they face

Many of these barriers have complex origins – but, as a first step, short-term answers must be found


Disaster Laws

Regulatory barriers to shelter – key questions

What can be done for persons who lack formal title?

How can we quickly obtain (temporary) use of land?

How can we avoid homelessness pending disputes over land ownership?

How do we ensure equitable shelter assistance?

Three topics of particular focus

Documents