Over 60 representatives gathered in Bangkok at the ‘Regional Disaster Law Forum for Southeast Asia’ on 10-11 June 2015.  These included National Society leaders and technical staff, NDMOs, ministries of foreign affairs, parliamentarians, United Nations organizations, NGOs and the ASEAN secretariat.

The Forum discussed 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; developing a regional disaster law advisory group; and discussion of key disaster law themes and pledges coming before the 32^nd International Conference of the Red Cross Red Crescent in December 2015.

The objectives of the Forum focus on three levels:

1. Disaster law at the national level

• Discuss progress at the country level: strengths, gaps, support required.
• Highlight the role of the Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies as auxiliary to government in the humanitarian sector, and as the ‘community voice’ in national law and policy making processes.
• Share experiences between South-East Asian nations, and how National Societies and governments have worked/are working in partnership to strengthen disaster laws.
• Identify what more can be done at the national level.

2. Disaster law at the regional level

• Highlight National Societies’ and IFRC’s contribution to the implementation of AADMER through disaster law initiatives.
• Discuss the notion of a rules-based ASEAN (post 2015), as envisioned by ASEAN leaders: what does tihs mean in the context of disaster law and disaster management?
• Identify how the Red Cross Red Crescent can work better with ASEAN to promote and support the development/implementation of disaster laws (including at the operational, policy and strategic levels) and discuss how this can be reflected in the new AADMER work programme.
• Discuss the idea of establishing a regional disaster law ‘ advisory group’ for South East Asia. See the proposed draft concept note.

3. Disaster law at the international level

• Consider the recent international commitments contained in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (which include legislating for DRR and utilizing the IDRL Guidelines) and discuss how to implement this at the national level.
• Discuss progress on implementing the South-East Asia Disaster Law pledge that was signed at the International Conference of the Red Cross Red Crescent in 2011.
• Develop ideas for a new regional pledge (NS and government) at the upcoming 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross Red Crescent in December 2015.
• Compare national, regional and international approaches: has enough progress been made? Is there a a need for stronger international mechanisms for disaster law (e.g. international binding agreement)?
• Looking forward to the World Humanitarian Summit, discus links between disaster law, legal frameworks and humanitarian effectiveness.

The outcomes of the Forum demonstrated how Southeast Asia is a leader when it comes to 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. An article about the Forum and disaster law developments in southeast Asia was featured in the Bangkok Post on the opening day of this event (see the news link), and a formal report and recommendations were prepared (see the resources below).

Group Session: Participants from Thailand and Vietnam

Below are all the resources from the Forum:

Final Report of the Regional Disaster Law Forum | South-East Asia 2015

Click to see the concept note, agenda and participant List.

Country snapshots of disaster law development as of June 2015: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam.

Relevant documents in preparation of 32nd International RCRC Conference 2015:

• Presentation: overview of 32nd International Conference
• Introduction to the elements of the Disaster Law Resolution
• Pledge guidelines
• Pledge Options of Disaster law at the 32nd International Conference
• Reporting questionnaire for National Societies and Reporting questionnaire for States
• South-East Asia Disaster Laws pledge 2011
• Disaster Laws Resolution adopted in 2011 (31IC/11/R7)

Power Point materials:

• Introduction to disaster law, developments in South-East Asia and moving forward to the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross Red Crescent by Lucia Cipullo, IFRC.
• Disaster Law at the regional level: Engaging with ASEAN by Miguel Musngi, ASEAN Secretariat.
• Creating a regional disaster law advisory group by Lucia Cipullo, IFRC. See also the related concept note.
• Disaster law at the international level: Global Commitments by Lucia Cipullo, IFRC
• Introduction to the Checklist on Law and Disaster Risk Reduction by Lucia Cipullo, IFRC
• Gender, Diversity and Gender-Based Violence in Context of Disaster Law by Christina Haneef and May Maloney, IFRC.
• RCRC and Climate Change by Donna M. Lagdameo, RCRC Climate Centre
• Case Studies on the Facilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Relief: Offers and Requests for Assistance by Rebecca Barber, Save the Children Australia

See also: The Voices from the Regional Disaster Law Forum which highlights significant quotes from the participants.

For more disaster law resources, visit the Disaster Law page.