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

Alexis GOLDMAN
Conseiller, Service Public Fédéral Affaires étrangères (Belgique)
E-mail: alexis.goldman@diplobel.fed.be

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?

Comments

In order to respond to its international commitments from the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction 2015-2030, Belgium has begun to set up, since 2016, a national multi-sectoral platform under the leading of the Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs. The forward aim of such platform is to ensure the coordination of the actions of the public and private sectors and to elaborate a national strategy of disaster risk reduction in order to enhance the resilience.
Currently, the platform is composed by federal – including Home Affairs- and federated entities involved by the question of disaster risk reduction, according to theirs competences. The first step is to learn the competences of the participants. Afterwards an action plan will be elaborated for the continuation of the works.

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’)?
Engagement and contribution in National/local DRR platforms, 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, Community early warning systems

Comments

All the activities were not undertaken in collaboration with the National Society

- As mentioned, Belgium has begun to set up, since 2016, a national multi-sectoral DRR platform but the platform is currently only composed by federal and federated entities and not yet by private sector and ONG. The first step is to learn the competences of the participants in DRR. Afterwards an action plan will be elaborated for the continuation of the works
- Belgium has conducted a risk analysis in 2016 identifying 10 risks.
- Belgium has several contingency plans and standard operating procedures. The Belgian Red Cross participates in the exercises to test those procedures.
- In April 2017, adoption of the Belgian National Adaptation plan (2017-2020) by the National Climate Commission. The national Adaptation Plan identifies specific adaptation measures that need to be taken at national level in order to strengthen cooperation and develop synergies between the different entities on adaptation. The Plan addresses different sectors including crisis management (crisis management is also addressed in the federal and Flemish adaptation plan).
- Belgium has developed an early warning system called BE-Alert: channels for notification of the population in the event of a crisis.

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

Des discussions sont en cours entre les autorités (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale et Région wallonne) et la Croix-Rouge de Belgique afin de rendre obligatoire la formation aux premiers secours dans le cadre de l’obtention du permis de conduire.

Par ailleurs, des concertations ont lieu entre la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles et la Croix-Rouge de Belgique – Communauté francophone en vue d’intégrer potentiellement l’enseignement des premiers secours dans les programmes scolaires.

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