Protection of persons in the event of disaster

The topic "Protection of persons in the event of disasters" would fall within the category of "new developments in international law and pressing concerns of the international community as a whole" as contemplated by the Commission, at its forty-ninth session, upon establishing guide- lines for the inclusion of topics in the long-term programme of work. The focus of the topic would, at the initial stage, be placed on the protection of persons in the context of natural disasters or natural disaster components of broader emergencies, through the undertaking of activities aimed at the prevention, and mitigation of the effects, of natural disasters as well as through the provision of humanitarian relief in the immediate wake of natural disasters. In light of the present state of development of existing international law regulating disaster relief, as well as the perceived need for a systematization of such law, particularly from among the ranks of the disaster relief community (both within and beyond the United Nations), the consideration of such a topic by the Commission is merited.

Related Subject(s): International Law and Justice