On November 28, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) unveiled the pilot version of their "Model Act for the Facilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance" at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva.
The Model Act is meant to assist lawmakers interested in implementing the recommendations of the IDRL Guidelines into domestic legislation. Over the last two years, the project partners have been consulting with legal and disaster management experts to develop a strong text as well as a detailed commentary.
"We are well aware that no one model can fit all needs," notes David Fisher, Coordinator of the IFRC's International Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles Programme, "but this can serve as a convenient starting point as governments begin the complicated task of developing new laws."
In their resolution on disaster laws, the participants at the 31st International Conference "welcomed" the efforts of the project partners to develop the model act and invited them to continue to consult with states and other stakeholders in creating the a finalized version.