Treaty on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters

About

In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly agreed to ‘elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters’ (PPED) based on the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, by the end of 2027. This decision reflects the concrete recognition by States of the central importance of the protection of persons affected by disasters in the global humanitarian landscape. 

A binding instrument based on the Draft Articles provides an opportunity to not only clarify and consolidate States’ and other assisting actors’ obligations with respect to the management of disasters and disaster risk, but save lives. A treaty on the protection of persons in disasters has the potential to:

  • Ensure all people are protected in disasters, especially those in vulnerable situations;
  • Enhance cooperation amongst States and between States and non-State actors in DRM;
  • Ensure disaster risk reduction (DRR) is prioritised across all sectors before, during and after disasters; and
  • Address the facilitation of fast, effective, and coordinated international humanitarian assistance to save lives after a disaster.

This space is dedicated to sharing resources relating to the upcoming PPED treaty, ahead of its negotiation.

This year, spearheaded by the Italian Red Cross, a Disaster Law Treaty Community of Practice has been established, allowing National Societies to share advocacy strategies, key engagement approaches, successes and lessons learned. Several tools have been developed to support National Society advocacy efforts, many of which can be found on this page or on the Community of Practice.

To follow the latest developments in New York relating to the PPED treaty, click here. Please also see our news and events page for regular updates regarding the treaty.

Key UN documents
Key IFRC documents
Publications
Our partners

IFRC Disaster Law is working with a network of academic experts from all around the world with specialized expertise on the ILC Draft Articles on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, international disaster law and public international law who have come together to foster further engagement by States in the diplomatic process relating to the PPED treaty and to raise awareness on the relevance of the treaty among humanitarian stakeholders, domestic authorities, academia, and civil society.

Giulio Bartolini, Full Professor of International Law, Roma Tre University (Italy)
Marie Aronsson-Storrier, Lecturer in Law, University College Cork (Ireland)
Kirsten Nakjavani Bookmiller, Professor of Government, Law and International Relations, Millersville University (USA)
Adjunct Professor of international law, Graduate Institute Geneva (Switzerland)
Hugo Cahueñas, Professor of Law, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador)
Dug Cubie, Senior Lecturer in Law, University College Cork (Ireland)
John Hopkins, Professor of Comparative Public Law and International Law, University of Canterbury (New Zealand)
Walter Kälin, Emeritus Professor of International and Constitutional Law, University of Bern (Switzerland)
Emmanuel Kasimbazi, Professor of Law, Makerere University (Uganda)
Rosemary Lyster, Professor of Climate and Environmental Law, University of Sydney Law School (Australia)
Jane McAdam AO, Scientia Professor of Law, UNSW Sydney (Australia)
Thérèse O’Donnell, Professor of Law, University of Strathclyde (Scotland)
Nilüfer Oral, Director of the Centre of International Law, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Ki-Gab Park, Professor Emeritus, School of Law, Korea University (South Korea)
Emanuele Sommario, Professor of International Law, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Italy)
Christy Shucksmith-Wesley, Associate Professor in Law, University of Nottingham (UK)
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