Council of Delegates 2001: Resolution 5

14-11-2001 Resolution

International Disaster Response Law

Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Geneva, Switzerland, 11 - 14 November 2001

The Council of Delegates,

recalling Resolution VI of the 23rd International Conference of the Red Cross, Bucharest 1977 and the recommendations drawn up in its Annex “Measures to expedite international relief”,

bearing in mind the Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red Crescent Disaster Relief as taken note of by the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (International Conference), Geneva 1995,

recalling the significance for all humanitarian actors of the obligations listed in the Code of Conduct for the Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief as endorsed by the Council of Delegates, Birmingham 1993,

noting Strategy 2010 as adopted by the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) 1999,

recalling Final goal 2.2 , paragraph 7 of the Plan of Action adopted at the 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva 1999,

noting the significance of the work now under way in the UN on the development of rules relating to international urban search and rescue,

acknowledging the concept of International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) as outlined in the background document CD 2001/7/1,

underlining that the full application of International Humanitarian Law in situations of armed conflict and complex humanitarian disasters should be preserved,

 

1. welcomes the International Federation’s initiative to advocate for the development and, where applicable, the improvement and faithful application of International Disaster Response Law in particular, but not limited to, through the compilation and publication of existing international laws and regulations, and the evaluation of their actual effectiveness in humanitarian operations;

2. encourages the International Federation, with the support of all concerned National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (National Societies), to engage or, where applicable, continue the dialogue with governments and promote appropriate disaster response laws and regulations, allowing relief actors to meet the needs of the disaster victims in the most effective way;

3. encourages the International Federation to continue its work and invites it to report to the Council of Delegates and the International Conference in 2003;

4. requests National Societies and, as appropriate, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to support the International Federation in the implementation of this resolution through contributions to the work plan and advocacy;

5. invites National Societies to encourage their respective governments to become parties to the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunications Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998 as an important contribution to enhancing International Disaster Response Law.

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