From 10-11 June, 2015, over 60 representatives gathered in Bangkok at the Regional Disaster Law Forum for Southeast Asia. These included National Society leaders and technical staff, National Disaster Management Agencies (NDMOs), ministries of foreign affairs, parliamentarians, United Nations organizations, NGOs and the ASEAN secretariat.
This event provided a platform on which to discuss disaster law developments at the national, regional and international levels. This included a stocktaking of national disaster law developments (including where states and national societies have worked together to develop or review disaster management laws and regulations); enhancing engagement with ASEAN and preparation for the post-2015 AADMER work programme and; discussion of key disaster law themes and pledges coming before the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross Red Crescent in December 2015.
The outcomes of the Forum demonstrated how the region is providing leadership in developing national disaster laws, and the important role National Societies have to play as the bridge between the community/local level and national level law and policy making processes. Here are what some of the participants had to say about the role and importance of disaster laws.
U Maung Maung Khin
Director of Disaster Management, Myanmar Red Cross Society
“According to the long-standing experience of Myanmar Red Cross in disaster management, we need to mainstream risk reduction in all activities, including response, recovery and development. We also need to be prepared before disasters, to make sure we provide an effective and timely response. It is important to develop disaster laws in all of these areas. During this Forum, parliamentary members, government ministries, ASEAN officials and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society staff were able to participate actively and openly, and discuss disaster law on all levels. This made it a very effective and fruitful forum for our region.”
Steve Ray
Head of International Emergencies, Australian Red Cross
“The IFRC Southeast Asia Regional Disaster Law Forum successfully raised awareness of the importance of, and need for, continued and increased investment in disaster law. This is necessary if meaningful progress is going to be made in reducing disaster risks, and facilitating more effective and efficient humanitarian response. Disaster Law is critical in helping to create the right legislative environment within which disaster risk reduction strategies and activities can become effective. The need for legislation that is binding and enforceable is highlighted after every major disaster - and more needs to be done to raise public awareness of this.”
Donna Lagdameo
Technical Advisor, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre
“The Disaster Law Forum gave us the opportunity to see beyond traditional mindsets by showing links between disaster law and other pressing issues that confront us, like climate change. It gave us the opportunity to learn from each other and identify areas to work together, so we can have a stronger voice and ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable groups are addressed. The evolving risks we face due climate change reinforce the need to adopt the right laws and policies in this region. Disaster law is important because it is the main expression of a country's commitment to addressing the needs of the most at-risk communities through institutionalized, sustained and properly resourced mechanisms.”
Rebecca Barber
Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Save the Children
“The Disaster Law Forum was an excellent platform for National Societies and governments to come together and learn from each other’s experiences. There has been enormous progress made in the development of national laws, but not all countries in Southeast Asia have them - so I think it is important to bring the countries that don’t have yet have disaster management laws up to speed. The work that the Red Cross is doing, and this Forum in particular, plays a huge role in speeding up disaster law progress - and providing governments with the technical support they need to develop these laws.”
Arifin M. Hadi
Head of Disaster Management, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)
“We realize that disaster law is the foundation for making people safer and more resilient. It is our mandate, as a National Red Cross Society, to operate as an auxiliary to government. In this case, we empower them to develop better legislation.
"After the tsunami in 2004, the Indonesian government had an open mind. The disaster was beyond the government’s capacity and at the time there were no regulations, no disaster law, no proper mechanisms in place to deal with such a crisis. After this disaster, the government worked with PMI to provide better legislation – and we are continuing to work together on this.”
Saiful Izan Bin Nordin
Manager of International Humanitarian Law, Malaysia Red Crescent Society
“There is no doubt that the Regional Disaster Law Forum has been successful, as it gives National Societies the opportunity to discuss disaster law matters with our fellow government counterparts. In addition, we are also able to look at disaster law developments from the regional perspective, and share experiences and knowledge from other countries. In my humble opinion, it is important for Malaysia to consider law as an important tool to reduce and manage disasters.”