© Stefania Negri, 2021 | doi:10.1163/26662531_00201_030 This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC 4.0 license. International Health Law (2019) Stefania Negri* Major health emergencies caused by disease outbreaks, environmental haz- ards and climate-induced disasters call for holistic and synergic responses based on global partnerships and integrated legal approaches. This section is devoted to WHO law and practice in relation to disasters, covering both WHO’s normative and policy guidance tools and its fieldwork in health and humani- tarian emergencies worldwide. 1 The WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework In 2019, WHO published the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (EDRM) Framework. This document is the result of extensive consultations between WHO, experts from Member States and partner organizations. It pro- vides a comprehensive and integrated approach aimed at reducing health risks and the consequences of emergencies and disasters.1 The Health EDRM Framework takes stock of good practices and the major results achieved in many related fields, such as humanitarian action, multisec- toral disaster risk management and all-hazards emergency preparedness and response. It substantially builds on World Health Assembly (WHA) and WHO Regional Committee resolutions, the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and their implementing guidelines, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the activities of the WHO Thematic Platform for Health EDRM and its associated research network, national policies, regional strategies, as well as international and national standards and guidelines. The Framework offers an overview of risk management concepts, guiding principles, and the components and functions of Health EDRM. It emphasizes that Health EDRM relies on assessing, communicating and reducing risks across * Associate Professor of International Law and Jean Monnet Chair in European Health, Environmental and Food Safety Law (2016–2019), School of Law, University of Salerno. 1 WHO, Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework (WHO Press 2019), available at <https://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/preparedness/health-emergency-and- disaster-risk-management-framework-eng.pdf>, last accessed (as any subsequent URL) on 10 June 2020. Downloaded from Brill.com02/24/2022 01:06:25PM via free access