The IDRL Guidelines adopted by the 30th International Conference of the Red cross and Red Crescent

The Guidelines for the domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and initial recovery assistance were unanimously adopted by the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent on 30 November 2007.

Conference participants also engaged in detailed discussions on future steps that States and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement should take concerning IDRL.

The International Conference is the highest policy making-body of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, normally meeting every four years. It includes not only the components of the Movement but also all state parties to the Geneva Conventions as well as numerous observers. This year’s conference gathered over 350 delegations to consider pressing issues of humanitarian concern to the international community, including the need for “strengthening the legal frameworks for international response to disasters.”

More information:

• Conference press release
• International Conference's daily bulletins issues: no. 11, no. 10 and no. 9

Commission C

While the Conference resolutions and declaration were considered by the Drafting Committee, separate “Commissions” were conducted on November 28th for more free-ranging debate on the Conference objectives. Commission C was devoted to discussion on IDRL. That session drew 126 participants, thirty-five of whom took the floor to express their support of the IDRL Guidelines and the need for improved legal preparedness for disasters.

• Summary report by the Rapporteur, H.E. Ahmet Üzümcü, Ambassador of Turkey (PDF document, 30 kb, 8 pages)
• Statement by the Chairman, Dr. Raymond Forde, Vice President for the Americas Region for the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (PDF document, 25 kb, 3 pages)
• Statement by Dr. Salvano Briceño, Director, UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (PDF document, 274 kb, 6 pages)
• Statement by Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman, the Philippine National Red Cross (PDF document, 33 kb, 12 pages)
• Statement by Dr. Charles Agbo, Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria (PDF document, 53 kb, 10 pages)

Pledges on IDRL

To date, 40 Governments and 42 National Societies have made either individual or joint pledges concerning IDRL pursuant to International Conference Objective 4. These include commitments to use the Guidelines when reviewing or developing national disaster management legislation as well as undertakings to disseminate and promote discussion of the issues raised by the Guidelines. It is still possible to add new pledges on IDRL and other International Conference topics by contacting either the International Federation or the ICRC.

• International conference pledges of IDRL chart (PDF document, 34 kb, 10 pages)
• Model pledges on IDRL (PDF document, 23 kb, 2 pages)

Official International Conference documents on IDRL

• Resolution 4
• Guidelines for the domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and initial recovery assistance
• Background document
• Annotations to the guidelines
  They have no official status, but serve as an explanatory commentary to the Guidelines. The annotations will not be submitted for adoption by the International Conference.
• Model pledge elements
  This document offers several options for the consideration of your Government or National Society if they wish to make a pledge on IDRL.
• International Conference pledges on IDRL
• Conference press release
• Daily bulletin: no. 11; no. 10 and no. 9
• More information on the IDRL Guidelines
• More information on the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent