Enhancing the protection of the most vulnerable in Pacific Island Countries through laws and policies for climate resilience

This case study aims to illustrate how the complex, multi-faceted and evolving concept of vulnerability against natural hazards is being addressed by Pacific Island Countries (PICs) laws and policies. Broadly speaking, the protection of vulnerable groups through laws and policies for climate resilience is a two-fold topic. On the one side, it considers if and how representatives of vulnerable groups have been included in law- and policy-making processes; on the other, if – and in what manner – the substantive content of adopted instruments effectively addresses their needs through dedicated protection mechanisms. Hence, vulnerable groups are not to be considered as mere beneficiaries of additional normative safeguards and protection, as their effective inclusion as proactive stakeholders and contributors to the development, implementation and monitoring of new laws and policies is key for increasing climate resilience.

This study finds that PICs legislative systems often include ‘assertive’ or ‘aspirational’ statements on these points, but in most cases, they still lack clear, effective and duly funded operative provisions. Moreover, a lack of clear institutional mandates at the different administrative levels can be observed. IFRC Disaster Law is putting its resources, tools and expertise at the service of National Societies that want to support their governments in improving on these aspects. The recent establishment of a Technical Working Group on Risk Governance for Resilient Development under the Pacific Resilience Partnership (PRP) with a focus on climate-smart DRM legislation is an example of its concrete commitment in the region towards the collection and sharing of good practices and of guidance for national policy and legislation development processes.