Three Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) countries (Myanmar, Laos and Indonesia) have been identified for participation in the Disaster Law Field School to be held in Sydney, Australia from 24–27 April 2017. The country delegations will comprise of representatives from the National Societies and National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs). Representatives from ASEAN will also attend. In total, there will be 11 participants funded from the RRI to attend, also including 2 colleagues from the Canadian Red Cross’ legal and Disaster Management (DM) domestic departments in Ottawa, Canada.

The field school will be a mix of theory and scenario based learning. It will provide an overview of the key international and regional legal and policy frameworks for disaster risk management as well as best practice of national and local level implementation into law and policy. Additionally, it will provide a platform to highlight the important auxiliary role of Red Cross and Red Crescent across the disaster risk management spectrum. The programme will explore legal issues related to preparedness, response, risk reduction, and recovery. Cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection and inclusion, including displacement and climate change adaptation will be considered and addressed throughout every phase of the field school, including how to strengthen approaches in, policy and practice.

The Disaster Law Field School objectives:

• Provide an overview of the key international and regional legal and policy frameworks for disaster risk management, including best practice on national and local level implementation of the various agendas.
• Explore how law and policy across the disaster risk management spectrum, from preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery, need to be developed and implemented to ensure words translate into local level action.
• Ensure cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection and inclusion, including displacement and climate change adaptation will be considered and addressed throughout every phase of the field school, including how to strengthen approaches in policy and practice.
• Ensure implementation of theory into practice through simulation and scenario based work;
• Further develop legislative advocacy skills among participants to ensure disaster risk management is seen as priority for action among decision makers and opinion leaders in the region.
• Encourage participants to undertake an analysis of their own domestic frameworks and develop plans of action for their strengthening, utilising key disaster law tools and guides;

Related documents:

• Concept note
• Agenda
• Participant list
• Field school report

See also the related story at http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-law/news/asia-pacific/back-to-school-on-disaster-law-in-asia-pacific-73935/