Resolution 6 : Strengthening legal frameworks for disaster response, risk reduction and first aid | Power of humanity: Red Cross Red Crescent

State

Name, position and email of the focal person

Name: Ms. Ana Pereira
Function: Legal counsellor at the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal
Email: ana.costapereira@mne.pt

1. Has your government drafted, revised or adopted any laws, policies or procedures at the national or subnational level for the management of international disaster assistance?
Yes

2. Has your government used the Checklist on Law and Disaster Risk Reduction to review or develop domestic legal frameworks at the national, provincial and / or local levels?
No, we have not undertaken any specific activities yet.

Comments

3. What activities have your public authorities undertaken in collaboration with your National Society towards achieving the goals related to DRR, community resilience and climate change adaptation as set out in the Sendai Framework for DRR, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and outcomes of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (‘Paris Agreement’)?
Mainstream DRR across contexts and sectors, Engagement and contribution in National/local DRR platforms, Support the development and/or Implementation of national DRR plan/strategy, Public awareness and public education , Assessment of risk and vulnerability, Disaster response and preparedness (contingency plans, standard operating procedures, pre-disaster meetings, disaster preparedness stocks), Promote the development and implementation of the National Adaptation Plan, Disaster preparedness and contingency policies, plans and programmes, Community early warning systems, Training & simulation drills, Psychosocial support and mental health services, Support in food security and nutrition , Livelihoods support

Comments

An important partnership exists between the Government and the Portuguese Red Cross in matters of medical emergency and disaster prevention and response. The national society is regarded as an important auxiliary to public authorities in the humanitarian field and is included in the National Plan of Emergency of Civil Protection and the National System of Medical Emergency. The Portuguese Red Cross exercises civil protection functions in the domains of intervention, support, aid, sanitary and social assistance and trains their volunteers to act efficiently in disaster situations. It also provides advice to the public on how to make emergency kits for disaster situations.

4. What activities have your public authorities undertaken to strengthen existing legal frameworks related to first aid? This may include promoting the need for regularly updated first aid education in line with existing guidance such as the International Federation’s International First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines; ensuring equal participation of women, girls, men and boys in first aid training and; mandatory training for school children and teachers and driver’s licence applicants

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (a public institute) provides certified training on first aid and on basic or advanced life support treatments and techniques. Awareness campaigns on the correct and responsible use of the European Emergency Number (112) are held periodically (e.g. advertisements on the television).
The Ministry of Education has published a number of manuals on safety at schools, including a first aid manual for teachers, parents and students (First Aid Manual: Emergency situations at schools, kindergartens and summer camps).

Attached files