Developments at Regional and National Levels By: Isabelle Granger, IDRL Coordinator for the Americas, International Disasters Response Laws, Rules and Principles Programme Washington DC, 09 December 2010
Need to act: regional signals Resolution of the OAS General Assembly (July 2009) “process of joint assessment of existing legislative and coordination mechanisms” Declaration of Florianopolis (September 2009): Investigate existing mechanisms Evaluate national legal frameworks for facilitating and regulating international relief using the IDRL Guidelines Declaration of Buenos Aires (June 2010) Request for a Model Regional Legal Compendium, based on the IDRL Guidelines Declaration de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia (November 2010) “to organize, within the OAS framework, a workshop to define a prompt and coordinated regional response mechanism to natural disasters.”
Regional Instruments CDEMA Convention establishing CDERA Development of Model Legislation for member states CEPREDENAC Regional Mechanism Regional Manual CAPRADE Regional Manual ACS Treaty on Disaster Response MERCOSUR- REHU Specialized Meeting
Gaps in regional regulatory framework Limited geographical reach State actors only Ratification and implementation needed to take effect (harmonization of national laws) Do not address all most common legal problems of international disaster assistance
Termination Military/Private assistance Country of Origin/ Transit Country Quality Coordination Entry/ Legal Facilities/ Registration Early warning/ Information/ Request for assistance Technical assistance project to strengthen legal preparedness for international disaster assistance at national levels Methodology: Legal Investigation: Analysis and review of legal framework Interviews with stakeholders Meetings of Working Group and National Workshops Recommendations and follow- up 2010/2011: Colombia, Haiti, Peru 2011/2012: Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Jamaica, El Salvador, Dominican Republic.
IDRL-Haiti Project Phase 1 (Sept to Dec. 2010): legal investigation and consultation process. Report will be launched early January Project Phase 2 (First quarter onward): IFRC and CRH will provide support to government of to strengthen the legal framework, taking into account the recommendations of the IDRL report.
IDRL-Peru and Colombia Phase I- First quarter 2011 Legal investigation and consultation process Reports will be launched in February and March 2011 Phase II-Second quarter onward Recommendations and follow- up actions
For more information IDRL website: – –