News and events

Celebrating 20 years of Disaster Law
|Global|News
This year, we celebrate a remarkable milestone: 20 years of IFRC Disaster Law. What began as a pioneering effort to address international disaster response law has become the global leader of comprehensive disaster risk governance.
Conference attendees
|Asia Pacific|News
Professor John Hopkins had a bit of a moment when he walked into a lecture theatre repurposed into a conference room.
9th International Disaster Law Course
18 - 27 November, 2024|Global|Event
Disasters are among the largest threats to human security and development the world is facing today. Is international law stepping up? Are humanitarian actors, institutions and scholars ready to face challenges raised by disasters caused by natural hazards or human activities?
EWS Madagascar
|Africa|News
Keeping communities informed before disasters hit can help prevent or reduce their potential impacts. Therefore, it is crucial that adequate early warning systems are integrated into disaster risk management (DRM) frameworks.
Town Hall: Legal Frameworks for EWEA
6 August, 2024|Global|Event
On 6 August 2024 at 11h00-12h00 EAT IFRC Disaster Law will host a webinar on Disaster Law as an enabler for Early Warning Early Action (EWEA).
2023 Annual report
|Global|News
The IFRC Disaster Law Annual Report 2023 captures a year of dynamic achievements, strategic partnerships, and tireless advocacy in strengthening legal frameworks for disaster risk reduction and response
Webinar panelists
|Asia Pacific|Video
A panel of experts on disaster law came together to discuss the Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters and the prospect of the first global treaty for disasters.
DA webinar text
12 July, 2024|Asia Pacific|Event
Did you know that discussions are underway on a global treaty to protect people in disasters?
Caribbean webinar
|Caribbean|News
Throughout October, IFRC Disaster Law in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is holding webinars to present in detail the proposed new model provisions on international humanitarian assistance and how they should be interpreted and operationalized within a Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) regulatory framework.
Nepal EQ
|Asia Pacific|Press release
The role of domestic and international law in reducing disaster risk in Asia Pacific will be discussed at a conference at the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha this week.
MENA
25 June, 2024|Middle East and North Africa|Event
The workshop will introduce IFRC Disaster Law to the Middle East and North Africa, its scope of work, objectives, tools, and the support it can offer the National Societies.
2004 tsunami
|Global|News
As IFRC marks 20 years of disaster law this year, we are witnessing a historic moment as states renew interest in international disaster law, and seriously consider and discuss the need for a global treaty on the protection of persons in the event of disaster.
SIDS4 Flyer
30 May, 2024|Antigua and Barbuda |Event
Official side-event for the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States

Co-organizers: The Core Group of States for the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters (Colombia, Croatia, Italy, Jamaica, Nigeria, and Thailand) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Thursday, 30 May | 10:00am | Room 1
Legislative review process
|Global|Blogpost
The development of effective legal and policy frameworks to manage disaster risks requires comprehensive and inclusive legal review processes, which harness the knowledge and experience of a broad range of actors and stakeholders.
Resilient Islands Project
|Caribbean|News
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have successfully prepared over 3,000 people in the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Jamaica to adapt to the climate crisis. Leveraging coastal habitats to reduce risk, this initiative merges cutting-edge conservation science with disaster preparedness.
UNGA
|Europe and Central Asia|News
IFRC Disaster Law held a High-Level Regional Webinar to highlight and discuss the ongoing diplomatic efforts on the prospect of developing the global framework for the protection of persons in the event of disasters.
AP DL conference
25 - 27 June, 2024|Asia Pacific|Event
Strengthening disaster law through advocacy in Mexico and Colombia
|Americas|News
As part of its work to strengthen disaster law globally, IFRC Disaster Law has been working with National Societies to strengthen advocacy capacity through legislative advocacy workshops.
MOOC
|Global|News
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.
Blogpost photo
|Global|Blogpost
While states continue to make significant progress in strengthening their laws, policies and plans for managing disaster and climate risks, more needs to be done.

As the international community converges on critical humanitarian issues at the 34th International Conference in October, a proposed resolution on Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance through Comprehensive Laws, Policies and Plans aims to catalyse concerted efforts toward enhancing legal frameworks to foster resilience and enhance the safety of all, especially for groups in vulnerable situations and those most at risk of being disproportionately impacted by disasters.
IDRL Caribbean conference
|Caribbean|News
The Second Caribbean IDRL Workshop, held from November 7-8, 2023, aimed to enhance regional frameworks for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. Organized by IFRC Disaster Law in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the French Red Cross, the event gathered more than 100 participants, including government representatives, civil society, and Red Cross National Societies from the Caribbean.
Madagascar PDA
|Madagascar|News
A historic pre-disaster agreement to strengthen disaster preparedness and response in Madagascar has been signed by the National Bureau of Disaster and Risk Management, the Malagasy Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Nepal floods
|Global|News
IFRC supports the development of a new treaty based on the Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters to help save lives and keep communities safe by strengthening the management of disasters and disaster risk.
EWEA
|Global|News
As world leaders gather for COP 28, IFRC Disaster Law is calling for governments to legally mandate and allocate roles and responsibilities for early warning early action (EWEA) to help keep communities safe and save lives
Sanremo
|Global|News
Practitioners and academics from across the humanitarian and legal sectors came together for a course on law for the prevention and management of disasters as the world experiences more frequent and intense disasters.
Pilot Disaster Risk Governance Guidelines
|Global|News
IFRC has consolidated its 20 years of research and recommendations on disaster law in a new guidance document, the Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance. A pilot version of the Guidelines has been released for consultation.
Recovery in Mozambique
|Global|News
A new report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has found that disaster recovery is often overlooked in domestic disaster laws, policies and plans.
Inter American conference
Americas|News
Between June 5-7 2023, National Red Cross and Red Cross Societies in the Americas came together in Nassau, Bahamas for the XXII Red Cross Inter-American Conference with aimed to foster cooperation and networking among National Societies to address common humanitarian challenges and demonstrate their added value as an auxiliary to governments.
Portugal training
Portugal|News
The Portuguese Red Cross is working to strengthen its capabilities in legal preparedness for disaster with trainings led by IFRC’s Disaster Law Focal Point for Europe Tommaso Natoli, based at the Italian Red Cross.
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AP DL conference
25 - 27 June, 2024|Event
Asia Pacific
Pacific DL meeting
18 - 19 March, 2024|Event
Pacific
Aux role
5 June - 5 August, 2024|Event
Asia Pacific
Virtual Exhibition
|News
Caribbean
Nepal floods
|News
Global