Resolution 5 : The safety and security of humanitarian volunteers | Power of humanity: Red Cross Red Crescent

State

Name, position and email of the focal person3

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. Did your Government take any action to improve the safety and security of humanitarian volunteers and minimize inherent risks?
Yes

Adopt national legislation related to volunteer protection, trainings, a national system for the collection and dissemination of comprehensive data, including sex and age disaggregated data, measures to promote public understanding and acceptance of the role of humanitarian volunteers, integration of measures to protect volunteer safety and security in national laws, policies, plans and programmes for emergency management, regularly share challenges and good practices, considered providing support to other countries, as donors, in accordance with national legislation and the humanitarian principles, Offering/Sharing expertise and resources

2. What measures have your public authorities undertaken to provide direct or indirect support for the insurance or equivalent “safety net” assistance for volunteers of National Societies and other actors deploying humanitarian volunteers within their territories?

In Portugal, the Law establishing the Legal Basis for Volunteering (i.e. Law Nr. 71/98, of 3 November 1998) and the law regulating the conditions for volunteering (i.e. Decree-Law Nr. 389/99, of 30 September 1999) recognise the volunteer’s rights to a safe and healthy volunteering environment, to insurance and to adequate compensation for any accident or illness suffered during volunteering activities or because of them.

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