The week of 27 April to 1 May was a week of intensive disaster law discussion and thinking in Sanremo, Italy. The International Disaster Law Project, the International Institute for Humanitarian Law and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies together hosted the 2015 “International Disaster Law Course,” bringing together 22 participants from around the world to learn about key issues and developments in international disaster law.
Featuring lectures from key experts in the field, including Professor Walter Kälin and Dr. Eduardo Valencia-Ospina, the course covered topics such as the protection of persons displaced by disasters, common legal issues in disaster management, and international law related to health emergencies, technological disasters and nuclear incidents. Participants travelled to Sanremo from a wide variety of countries and institutions, including government, military, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, NGOs, and universities.
Directly following the public course, the International Disaster Law Project together with Italian Red Cross (IRC) delivered their third annual course on international disaster law specifically targeted to Italian Red Cross volunteers, who gathered from around the country for a practical overview of the key legal issues to consider in preparing for and responding to disasters.
IRC volunteers have already started dissemination activities on IDRL, including with government officials and firefighters. According to Fabio Strinati, Head of the International Humanitarian Law Office for IRC, “this pioneering dissemination experience could and should be duplicated by other National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies as it focuses on fundamental activities for the Movement”.