The world’s first free online disaster law course, Law and Policies for the Protection of the Most Vulnerable, has been launched to increase knowledge of disaster law and how it can help save lives and keep communities safe in disasters.
The course known as a MOOC - a Massive Online Open Course, was developed by IFRC Disaster Law in partnership with the International Disaster, Emergency and Law Network (IDEAL) a global group of disaster law academics and experts, and with the support of the Italian Red Cross. Click here for more information.
When the impacts of a disaster overwhelm the capacity of local actors, there can be a role for international actors to supplement the local response. Yet, unless the local legal system is prepared for international assistance, legal barriers can prevent the right assistance from reaching people on time. This online training module provides an introduction to common legal problems faced during international disaster response operations and how they can be mitigated. This course is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Effective disaster preparedness and response is underpinned by robust laws, policies and plans. This online training module provides an introduction to the key elements of an effective legal and policy framework for disaster preparedness and response. It addresses institutional frameworks, funding, 'early warning early action', states of disaster/emergency, protection of vulnerable groups and legal facilities. This course is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Well-crafted laws and regulations can help to save lives and livelihoods from the impacts of disasters. This online training module explains what types of laws are effective for disaster risk reduction (DRR), using a fictional scenario to guide you through the key issues. This course is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
The International Disaster Law Course is held annually at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy. Jointly organised by humanitarian and academic institutions with expertise in international disaster law, the course seeks to offer a comprehensive overview of this rapidly evolving field.
This online training module provides an introduction to the auxiliary role and explains how it can be strengthened by laws, policies, plans and agreements. The module also provides an introduction to how to advocate to get new laws in place, or influence changes to existing ones. This module is based on the Guide to Strengthening the Auxiliary Role through Law and Policy. This course is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Advocacy is not as complicated as many people think — essentially, it means pushing for a change to law, policy or practice. However, there are a number of aspects of advocacy that must be done well for it to work effectively. This online training module is designed to provide members of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies with an introduction to how to develop and implement an advocacy strategy, while staying in line with the Fundamental Principles. This course is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.