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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Accelerating progress in the facilitation and regulation of international disaster assistance David Fisher, Coordinator IFRC Disaster Law Programme

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law The lack of legal preparedness for international assistance results in... Barriers initiation, visas, customs, taxes, specialized equipment, professional qualifications, registration, transport, liability Oversight gaps inappropriate items, disregard for standards, poor coordination, corruption Bottom line aid is slower, more expensive, less effective, and sometimes counter-productive

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Tools for strengthening domestic regulation

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Projects and legislation 40+ projects led by National Societies 19 countries with new laws or procedures 17 countries with bills pending drawing on the IDRL Guidelines

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Remaining gaps at country level The vast majority of countries still lack clear and comprehensive procedures Very hard to move from interest to adoption Tendency to postpone details to later instruments

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Regional solutions: promising but piecemeal Summits ACS, SICA, PIF New agreements, policies SICA, AU, EAC, EU... Models, guides, exercises ASEAN, CAPRADE, CIS...

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law International Law Commission Draft articles on protection of persons in the event of disasters First reading completed in 2014 Comments requested by 2016 Likely to be presented as a draft treaty IFRCs comments to date available at www.ifrc.org/dl Special Rapporteur Eduardo Valencia- Ospina

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Dedicated (mostly regional) consultations Africa Gabon, FebAddis, JunAddis, Oct Americas Toluca, Nov 14Bogot, Jan Asia Manila, OctBangkok, JunCamberra, JulSouth Asia, TBC Europe Istanbul, FebGeneva, MarGeneva, JunGeneva, SepBudapest, Sep MENA Kuwait, Jun

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www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds. Disaster law Findings thus far Agreement on the need to accelerate progress Important added value of regional arrangements Strong interest in further advancement of the global legal framework, with notes of caution 2nd edition in 2015

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: http://www.ifrc.org/idrl OR CONTACT: idrl@ifrc.org INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES P.O. BOX 372 CH-1211 GENEVA 19 SWITZERLAND TEL.: +41 22 730 42 22 FAX.: +41 22 733 03 95