Transcript Slide 1

IDRL
Disaster Law
The Haiti Project
Panama, 19 September 2013
IFRC Disaster Law Programme
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.
The Disaster Law Programme

Created in 2001 by a resolution of
the RC RC Council of Delegates

The Disaster Law Programme
works in 3 areas:

Technical Assistance
 Capacity Building
 Advocacy, dissemination and research
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.
The IDRL Guidelines
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.

Adopted by consensus by the XXX
International Conference in 2007

Compile existing international standards and
best practices

Recommendations to governments on how to
prepare the national laws and procedures for
international assistance

Implementation - new laws in at least 10
countries; IDRL projects in more than 20
countries and Model Legislation
Project in Haiti
2010 Earthquake
2011 IDRL Report
2012 IDRL Consultant
2013 DL Delegate
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.
The IDRL Report in Haiti

Developed in 2010 and 2011 in
cooperation between CRH and IFRC and
in consultation with various governmental
actors, national and international

Analyses the international response to the
earthquake of 12 January 2010:

www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.

Problems encountered

Mechanisms put in place

National legislative framework
Makes recommendations to the Haitian
government in accordance with the IDRL
Guidelines
Achievements
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.

Comments provided to 2 Bills:
 Importation of Medicines during an Emergency
 Facilitation of Communications during an
Emergency

Establishment with DPC and PAM of an interministerial working group to work on Customs
Clearance of Humanitarian Goods during
Emergencies

Disaster Law workshop during the Association of
Caribbean States (ACS) Heads of States Summit

Pétion Ville Declaration adopted by the ACS Heads
of States, committing to legal preparedness on IDRL
issues
Shelter Law
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.

Desk-study report on the
Regulatory barriers to the
provision of emergency and
transitional shelter
 Lack of land registration
 Work needed on conflict
resolution and expropriation

An additional field-study report
has been prepared
 Practical implications of the
legal gaps: interviews with
stakeholders
Objectives for 2013
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.

Development of a National Action Plan on the
facilitation and regulation of international disaster
assistance by the DCP and other government
entities

Bi-national conference with Dominican Republic
to continue the dialogue on IDRL issues

Training of the HRC, government, and partner
IGOs and NGOs to improve their skills and
knowledge on Disaster Law

Additional technical assistance aiming at the
adoption of new laws, regulations and
procedures.
Scope for work in 2014
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.

Supporting the implementation of the
National Action Plan

Supporting the ongoing working group
on Customs clearance of humanitarian
goods during emergencies

Bilateral initiatives with Dominican
Republic

Addressing the regulatory barrier on
emergency and transitional shelter
Lessons Learned
Legal Operational

In a major international relief operation, legal risks and
challenges are inevitable.
 An IFRC legal delegate should be deployed for a
temporary period onsite in the early days of the
operation.
 Second wave deployment for recovery and
preparedness
Disaster Law




www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.
Advocacy and technical support on IDRL at the early
stages of the response operation
DL should be included in any HD Plan of Action
Disaster Law should be part of any recovery plan of
action
Many legal issues could be avoided through national
legal preparedness prior to a disaster.
Conclusion and ways forward

Pilot deployments of a legal delegate to support
large emergency operations (FACT/RIT)

Future deployments of a disaster law delegate
through the Shelter Cluster and other appropriate
mechanisms related to the overall relief effort
Direct advice to IFRC
operation

Integrate IDRL work as part of the IFRC’s standard
recovery work in disaster-affected countries
Deployed Legal
Delegate

Place special emphasis on IDRL advocacy in
disaster prone countries as a preparedness
measure
Coordination and
information sharing with
humanitarian partners
Liaison and negotiation with
relevant officials
Collaboration and support
to HNS and PNS on
common legal concerns
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON DISASTER LAW, PLEASE CONTACT:
In Geneva
David Fisher, Global Disaster Law Programme Coordinator
Email: [email protected]; phone: 141 22 730 4360
In Panama City
Isabelle Granger, Americas Disaster Law Programme Coordinator
Email: [email protected]; phone: +507 317 3050
In Haiti
Rocio Escauriaza, Disaster Law Delegate
Email: [email protected]; phone: +509 31705985
Addis Ababa
Ida Marstein, Africa Disaster Law Programme Coordinator
Email: [email protected]; phone: +251 11 551 4571
In Kuala Lumpur
Tessa Kelly, Asia-Pacific Disaster Law Programme Coordinator
Email: [email protected]; phone: + 60 3 9207 5764
In Suva
Finau Limuloa, Humanitarian Diplomacy Delegate for the Pacific
Email: [email protected]; phone: +679 331 1855