Regulating disasters? The role of international law in disaster prevention and management
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of international law in disaster prevention and management, with a particular focus on the emerging field of international disaster law (IDL), and its relationship with international human rights law. It further introduces the four articles of the special column of this journal issue, dedicated to disasters and international law.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is based upon primary sources of legislation and policy, as well as academic literature on disasters and international law.
Findings
Although the field of IDL is in its infancy, the authors argue that this emergent area does have the potential to gain widespread recognition as a distinct field of law, and that this may benefit the wider disaster management community.
Originality/value
The paper introduces key legal features and themes relating to international law and disasters, highlighting their relevance for disaster management. The added value is to widen the discussion on aspects of disasters regulated by international law, thus facilitating the future exchange with other academic subjects and operational fields.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section: International Law and Disasters.
The authors would like to express sincere gratitude towards many people for providing with the opportunities to further explore and discuss themes relating to this special column. The authors are, in particular, grateful to Ilan Kelman for his continuous support and engagement, and the many opportunities he tirelessly offers to early career scholars seeking to contribute to and thrive in the disaster field. The authors are also very grateful to the editors and reviewers of this journal, and, of, course, the contributing authors. Key events where we discussed the aspects of this special column include the 2017 annual conference at the University College London’s (UCL) Institute for Reduction of Disaster Risk; the 2016 meeting on law and climate change hosted by UCL Global Governance Institute; and the interdisciplinary DRR and international law symposium hosted by the University of Reading earlier this year. All these events allowed the authors to sense that there is a real need for and interest from various scholars and practitioners to further explore the relationship between disasters and the law. This is an exciting period of development for IDL, and this special column covers only a small parcel of the monumental task ahead. Moving forward, it is imperative that we find ways to better connect law, scientific findings, and humanitarian practice. The authors are grateful for the opportunity to engage with this journal, and the authors’ hope that this special column will encourage further critical, constructive, and reflective engagement with IDL and the role of law in disaster prevention and management.
Citation
Aronsson-Storrier, M. and da Costa, K. (2017), "Regulating disasters? The role of international law in disaster prevention and management", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 502-513. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-09-2017-0218
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited