Legislative advocacy means pushing for a change to law or policy. The Legislative Advocacy Toolkit is designed to be used by the IFRC and National Societies to strengthen their legislative advocacy knowledge and skills. It is a comprehensive training package comprising a Facilitators' Handbook, a Participants' Guide and a set of handouts, templates and reference documents. The Toolkit is a useful resource to support a range of advocacy initiatives by National Societies, not only those relating to disaster law.
To be effective, disaster laws need to be understood and implemented by local authorities, communities and National Society branches. The Know Your 3Rs dissemination module aims to strengthen local actors' understanding of their rights, roles and responsibilities in disaster risk management. The 3Rs Facilitator Guide offers a step-by-step approach to delivering the 3Rs module.
The Disaster Law Simulation Exercise (DL SIMEX) is designed to test the readiness of a country's national laws, policies and procedures for common legal issues relating to disaster risk management. The DL SIMEX is designed primarily for senior government officials with responsibility for disaster risk management and key non-governmental stakeholders, including Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies. It should be run over 2 to 3 days by a facilitator who is highly experienced in disaster law.
Restrictions introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have, in some cases, jeopardised humanitarian access for Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies. IFRC Disaster Law has prepared key messages for National Societies facing access challenges, and a template letter addressed to public authorities. In addition to humanitarian access, these resources address the legal facilities that National Societies need to respond effectively to the pandemic, such as priority customs clearance and duty exemption.