The International Federation presented its IDRL Project Report 2002-2003 to States and the components of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement at the 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in December 2003.

The report contains a summary of the methodology and findings from its 2-year research process to collect the various international treaties, resolutions and other texts relating to international disaster response. The report also contains analysis of the effectiveness of these instruments in resolving some of the operational challenges associated with international disaster response, based on the findings from a number of field studies conducted in different regions during 2002 and 2003.

The report concludes with a series of recommendations on further activities to ensure that the existing body of IDRL is able to enhance international disaster response and ensure that assistance is able to reach disaster affected populations quickly and effectively.

The recommendations from the report also formed the basis for the proposed actions adopted by the Conference members in Final Goal 3.2 of the Agenda for Humanitarian Action.