Public Safety
What is civil protection, and is it the same as civil defence?
They started as different things and some systems still separate them in the constitution. Switzerland assigns armed-conflict protection to the federation in one sentence and disaster deployment in the next; Germany splits them between two levels of government; Norway runs both in one statute.
In short
Civil protection is the protection of the civilian population and of civilian assets by non-military means. Civil defence is the older term, and in its original sense it meant that protection specifically against the effects of war. Several systems still keep the two apart in their own texts — which is the reason the words are not interchangeable even though they are often used as though they were.
Why it exists
AnalysisThe function exists because the harms it addresses do not respect the categories the rest of government is organised around. A flood is not a crime, a chemical release is not a war, and a power failure in winter is not a medical emergency — but each can kill people, and none of them belongs to a single ministry.
How it works
Switzerland states both halves in one constitutional article and keeps them distinct. Article 61(1) of the Bundesverfassung makes legislation on den zivilen Schutz von Personen und Gütern vor den Auswirkungen bewaffneter Konflikte a federal matter. Article 61(2) then provides separately that the Confederation issues rules on the deployment of civil protection bei Katastrophen und in Notlagen.
Germany draws the same distinction and then uses it to allocate power between two levels of government. The Zivilschutz- und Katastrophenhilfegesetz defines the task of Zivilschutz as protecting the population, their homes and workplaces, vital or defence-critical civilian installations and cultural property vor Kriegseinwirkungen by non-military means, adding that official measures supplement the population’s own self-help.
Katastrophenschutz is a different matter, in both senses. Section 2(1) of the same Act provides that where its execution falls to the Länder, including municipalities and municipal associations, they act im Auftrage des Bundes — on federal commission — and that unless otherwise provided, authority competence and administrative procedure follow the Länder’s own disaster-protection rules. Section 16(3) adds that the Länder’s competence for operational crisis management remains unaffected.
Norway does not split them at all. Section 1 of the sivilbeskyttelseslov states one purpose covering the whole continuum: to protect life, health, environment, material assets and critical infrastructure, and to facilitate the use of civil society’s combined resources through non-military means når riket er i krig, når krig truer, når rikets selvstendighet eller sikkerhet er i fare, og ved uønskede hendelser i fredstid — at war, when war threatens, when the realm’s independence or security is in danger, and in unwanted peacetime events.
Above the national level the picture is deliberately thin, and the treaty says so. Article 6(f) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union places civil protection among the areas where the Union may only support, coordinate or supplement Member State action, and Article 1(3) of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism decision expressly preserves Member States’ primary responsibility for protecting people, environment and property on their own territory.
AnalysisWhich sets the ceiling on what the Mechanism can be. It runs a standing coordination centre and a request-based assistance system; it does not hold a competence that could displace a national one, because the Treaty did not give it one.
The field is also still being built. Kenya’s National Disaster Risk Management Act, Act No. 16 of 2026, establishes a National Disaster Risk Management Authority and, matching the devolved structure of Kenyan government, a County Disaster Risk Management Committee in each county.
That Swedish instruction gives the agency a national coordinating responsibility for civil defence, societal crisis preparedness and protection against accidents — the same three-part span Norway puts in one purpose clause, allocated to one body rather than stated as a statutory purpose.
Common misconceptions
Widely held beliefs that do not match how the system actually operates.
Common belief: Civil protection and civil defence are two names for the same thing.
In practice: Not in every system. Switzerland assigns protection against the effects of armed conflict and deployment in disasters to two separate paragraphs of Article 61, and Germany splits the two between the federation and the Länder.
Common belief: Civil defence is a wartime relic with no current legal content.
In practice: It is a live federal competence in both systems described here. Germany’s ZSKG defines the Zivilschutz task in operative terms, and Switzerland’s Article 61(1) makes the legislation a federal matter.
Common belief: A country with a national civil-protection statute has a national civil-protection system.
In practice: That does not follow. Germany’s federal statute is executed by the Länder on federal commission under their own disaster-protection rules, and the Act states expressly that their competence for operational crisis management is unaffected.
Common belief: The European Union runs civil protection for its member states.
In practice: It cannot. Civil protection is a supporting competence under Article 6(f) TFEU, and the Mechanism decision expressly preserves each Member State’s primary responsibility on its own territory.
Common belief: Civil protection is emergency response.
In practice: Response is part of it. The Norwegian purpose clause also covers protection of critical infrastructure and the marshalling of civil society’s resources, and the German statute covers warning of the population, shelter and the protection of cultural property.
How this varies between jurisdictions
A required section on every guide. Arrangements differ between countries, and we say how.
Five systems, four ways to place the same function.
- Two constitutional paragraphs, one for armed conflict and one for disasters — Switzerland, BV Art. 61(1) and (2).
- A federal task for war effects, with disaster protection left to the Länder and the federal Act executed on commission — Germany, ZSKG §§ 1 and 2(1).
- One statutory purpose spanning war, the threat of war, danger to the realm, and peacetime events — Norway, sivilbeskyttelsesloven § 1.
- A supporting supranational competence that cannot displace the national one — EU, TFEU Art. 6(f) with Decision 1313/2013 Art. 1(3).
- A brand-new statutory authority with a matching committee in every county — Kenya, National Disaster Risk Management Act 2026 ss. 5 and 31.
- A national coordinating agency constituted by instruction, recently renamed — Sweden, förordning (2008:1002).
Worked examples
Systems this platform has researched. Each example links to the dossier it draws on.
- Switzerland
- Splits the two ideas inside a single constitutional article: Art. 61(1) BV makes legislation on civil protection against the effects of ARMED CONFLICT a federal matter, and Art. 61(2) separately has the Confederation legislate on the DEPLOYMENT of civil protection in disasters and emergencies.
- Germany
- Splits them by level of government rather than by article. Federal Zivilschutz is defined by the ZSKG as protection against the effects of war by non-military means; Katastrophenschutz is a Land matter, and the Länder execute the federal statute on federal commission.
- Norway
- Runs the whole continuum through one statute. The purpose clause of the sivilbeskyttelseslov covers unwanted events in peacetime, war, the threat of war, and danger to the realm’s independence or security — in one sentence.
Rights and accountability
AnalysisWhere a function is split between levels of government, the question a person harmed by a failure has to answer first is which level owed the duty. Germany’s Act answers it expressly — the Länder act on federal commission and their operational competence is unaffected — which is more useful to that person than a general statement that the federation is responsible for civil protection.
The supranational layer has the same property in reverse. Because the Union’s competence is a supporting one, a Member State cannot answer for a failure by pointing upward: Article 1(3) of the Mechanism decision leaves primary responsibility where it was.
What we could not establish
- Five national systems and one supranational instrument are described — Switzerland, Germany and Norway on the civil-protection/civil-defence line, and Kenya and Sweden on the institutional form. How any other system draws the line, or whether it draws one at all, was not researched.
- This page describes the legal architecture of the function. It describes no civil-protection activity, no plan, no exercise and no capability.
Where to go next
Related: what public safety covers, who is in charge in an emergency, and how policing is divided between levels.
Related topics
- Is "public safety" just a broader word for policing?
No. Where statutes define the field, policing is one named partner among several — fire, emergency medicine, technical utilities, civil protection. Two constitutions and two statutes list the members, and in none of them does one body hold the field.
- When a flood or a major accident happens, which body is legally responsible?
Usually the lowest level that can cope, and often not the one people expect. Norway gives the default lead to the police by ordinary statute; Japan gives it to the municipal mayor; Czechia names four basic components of one rescue system. None of them starts at the centre.
- When an emergency outgrows the authority handling it, what moves it up?
A legal step, not a phone call. Germany makes federal direction conditional on more than one Land being endangered; Switzerland lists the grounds on which the Confederation assumes command; Norway does the opposite and keeps responsibility where it already sat.
Sources
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999 (SR 101)
Swiss Confederation — Fedlex (fedlex.admin.ch) · Legislation · 1999-04-18 · link verified 2026-07-26
The Federal Constitution, read in full from the official fedlex text (English is a non-authoritative translation; German, French and Italian are equally authentic). Supports: art. 1 (the Confederation of the People and the 26 Cantons); art. 3, 'The Cantons are sovereign except to the extent that their sovereignty is limited by the Federal Constitution. They exercise all rights that are not vested in the Confederation' — residual power with the CANTONS (like the United States and Australia); art. 46 (the Cantons implement federal law — executive federalism); art. 122 (the Confederation legislates civil law, but 'the Cantons are responsible for the organisation of the courts and the administration of justice in civil matters'); art. 123 ('The Confederation is responsible for legislation in the field of criminal law and the law of criminal procedure', while 'the Cantons are responsible for the organisation of the courts, the administration of justice in criminal cases as well as for the execution of penalties and measures') — so the law is federal and unified but the administration, including corrections, is cantonal; art. 188 (the Federal Supreme Court as the supreme judicial authority); art. 48 (inter-cantonal treaties, the basis for the corrections concordats); art. 70 (German, French and Italian as official languages); and the direct-democracy provisions (arts. 138-142: popular initiative, mandatory and optional referendums). WAVE 20 ADDITION. Read from the same consolidated Fedlex text in German, with the official English rendering consulted alongside. Supports Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft (SR 101), Art. 185: “Art. 185 Äussere und innere Sicherheit. 1 Der Bundesrat trifft Massnahmen zur Wahrung der äusseren Sicherheit, der Unabhängigkeit und der Neutralität der Schweiz. 2 Er trifft Massnahmen zur Wahrung der inneren Sicherheit. 3 Er kann, unmittelbar gestützt auf diesen Artikel, Verordnungen und Verfügungen erlassen, um eingetretenen oder unmittelbar drohenden schweren Störungen der öffentlichen Ordnung oder der inneren oder äusseren Sicherheit zu begegnen. Solche Verordnungen sind zu befristen. 4 In dringlichen Fällen kann er Truppen aufbieten. Bietet er mehr als 4000 Angehörige der Armee für den Aktivdienst auf oder dauert dieser Einsatz voraussichtlich länger als drei Wochen, so ist unverzüglich die Bundesversammlung einzuberufen.”. Supports Bundesverfassung (SR 101), Art. 173(1)(a)-(d): “Art. 173 Weitere Aufgaben und Befugnisse. 1 Die Bundesversammlung hat zudem folgende Aufgaben und Befugnisse: a. Sie trifft Massnahmen zur Wahrung der äusseren Sicherheit, der Unabhängigkeit und der Neutralität der Schweiz. b. Sie trifft Massnahmen zur Wahrung der inneren Sicherheit. c. Wenn ausserordentliche Umstände es erfordern, kann sie zur Erfüllung der Aufgaben nach den Buchstaben a und b Verordnungen oder einfache Bundesbeschlüsse erlassen. d. Sie ordnet den Aktivdienst an und bietet dafür die Armee oder Teile davon auf.”. Supports Bundesverfassung (SR 101), Art. 36(4): “4 Der Kerngehalt der Grundrechte ist unantastbar.”. Supports Bundesverfassung (SR 101), Arts. 189(4) and 190: “Art. 189 [...] 4 Akte der Bundesversammlung und des Bundesrates können beim Bundesgericht nicht angefochten werden. Ausnahmen bestimmt das Gesetz. [...] Art. 190 Massgebendes Recht. Bundesgesetze und Völkerrecht sind für das Bundesgericht und die anderen rechtsanwendenden Behörden massgebend.”. Supports Bundesverfassung (SR 101), Art. 58(2)-(3), read with Arts. 173(1)(d) and 185(4): “Art. 58 Armee. [...] 2 Die Armee dient der Kriegsverhinderung und trägt bei zur Erhaltung des Friedens; sie verteidigt das Land und seine Bevölkerung. Sie unterstützt die zivilen Behörden bei der Abwehr schwerwiegender Bedrohungen der inneren Sicherheit und bei der Bewältigung anderer ausserordentlicher Lagen. Das Gesetz kann weitere Aufgaben vorsehen. 3 Der Einsatz der Armee ist Sache des Bundes.”. Supports Bundesverfassung (SR 101), Art. 61; cf. Art. 102 (Landesversorgung: "Der Bund stellt die Versorgung des Landes mit lebenswichtigen Gütern und Dienstleistungen sicher für den Fall machtpolitischer oder kriegerischer Bedrohungen sowie in schweren Mangellagen, denen die Wirtschaft nicht selbst zu begegnen vermag."): “Art. 61 Zivilschutz. 1 Die Gesetzgebung über den zivilen Schutz von Personen und Gütern vor den Auswirkungen bewaffneter Konflikte ist Sache des Bundes. 2 Der Bund erlässt Vorschriften über den Einsatz des Zivilschutzes bei Katastrophen und in Notlagen. 3 Er kann den Schutzdienst für Männer obligatorisch erklären. Für Frauen ist dieser freiwillig.”. Supports Bundesverfassung (SR 101), Arts. 3, 5a and 57: “Art. 3 Kantone. Die Kantone sind souverän, soweit ihre Souveränität nicht durch die Bundesverfassung beschränkt ist; sie üben alle Rechte aus, die nicht dem Bund übertragen sind. [...] Art. 5a Subsidiarität. Bei der Zuweisung und Erfüllung staatlicher Aufgaben ist der Grundsatz der Subsidiarität zu beachten. [...] Art. 57 Sicherheit. 1 Bund und Kantone sorgen im Rahmen ihrer Zuständigkeiten für die Sicherheit des Landes und den Schutz der Bevölkerung. 2 Sie koordinieren ihre Anstrengungen im Bereich der inneren Sicherheit.”. Cited for the finding that Switzerland protects a CORE CONTENT of every fundamental right rather than listing non-derogable rights, that its civil protection is constitutionally split between armed-conflict protection and disaster deployment, and that review of federal acts is structurally constrained. It records no ordinance, states no cantonal arrangement, and supports no claim about any other country.WAVE 21 ADDITION. Read from the consolidated Fedlex text of 3 March 2024 in both the authoritative German and the official English rendering, article by article. Supports Art. 5 “Grundsätze rechtsstaatlichen Handelns”: “1 Grundlage und Schranke staatlichen Handelns ist das Recht. 2 Staatliches Handeln muss im öffentlichen Interesse liegen und verhältnismässig sein. 3 Staatliche Organe und Private handeln nach Treu und Glauben. 4 Bund und Kantone beachten das Völkerrecht.” — note that Art. 5(2) requires ALL state activity to be proportionate, which is a different provision doing a different job from Art. 36(3). Supports Art. 36 in full: “1 Einschränkungen von Grundrechten bedürfen einer gesetzlichen Grundlage. Schwerwiegende Einschränkungen müssen im Gesetz selbst vorgesehen sein. Ausgenommen sind Fälle ernster, unmittelbarer und nicht anders abwendbarer Gefahr. 2 Einschränkungen von Grundrechten müssen durch ein öffentliches Interesse oder durch den Schutz von Grundrechten Dritter gerechtfertigt sein. 3 Einschränkungen von Grundrechten müssen verhältnismässig sein. 4 Der Kerngehalt der Grundrechte ist unantastbar.” Supports Art. 13 “Schutz der Privatsphäre”: “1 Jede Person hat Anspruch auf Achtung ihres Privat- und Familienlebens, ihrer Wohnung sowie ihres Brief-, Post- und Fernmeldeverkehrs. 2 Jede Person hat Anspruch auf Schutz vor Missbrauch ihrer persönlichen Daten.” — one provision covering private and family life, the home, and mail and telecommunications together. Supports Art. 10(2), that every person has the right to personal liberty and in particular to physical and mental integrity and to freedom of movement. Supports Art. 31 “Freiheitsentzug” in full, including 31(2) (notification without delay, in a language the person understands, of the reasons and of their rights, with the opportunity to exercise them and in particular to have next-of-kin informed), 31(3) (a person in pre-trial detention has the right to be brought before a court without delay, which decides on continued detention or release, and to have their case decided within a reasonable time) and 31(4) (a person deprived of liberty by a body other than a court has the right of recourse to a court at any time, which decides as quickly as possible on the legality of the detention). Supports Art. 32(1)-(3) (presumption of innocence until a legally enforceable judgment; notification of the charge as quickly and comprehensively as possible with the opportunity to assert defence rights; review of a conviction by a higher court save where the Federal Supreme Court sits at first instance). Supports Art. 35 “Verwirklichung der Grundrechte”: fundamental rights must be upheld throughout the legal system; whoever acts on behalf of the state is bound by them and under a duty to contribute to their implementation; and the authorities shall ensure that fundamental rights, where appropriate, apply to relationships among private persons. Supports the RIGHTS-HOLDER observation that the rights read here are worded “Jede Person” / “Every person” rather than for Swiss citizens. English is a non-authoritative translation; German, French and Italian are equally authentic. This record establishes constitutional TEXT only — no decision of the Bundesgericht, no cantonal arrangement, and nothing about any other country.
Bundesministerium der Justiz / Bundesamt für Justiz (Gesetze im Internet) · Legislation · link verified 2026-08-26
The authoritative German text, each provision read directly at its own page on Gesetze im Internet. Supports Zivilschutz- und Katastrophenhilfegesetz (ZSKG) § 1(1), (2): “(1) Aufgabe des Zivilschutzes ist es, durch nichtmilitärische Maßnahmen die Bevölkerung, ihre Wohnungen und Arbeitsstätten, lebens- oder verteidigungswichtige zivile Dienststellen, Betriebe, Einrichtungen und Anlagen sowie das Kulturgut vor Kriegseinwirkungen zu schützen und deren Folgen zu beseitigen oder zu mildern. Behördliche Maßnahmen ergänzen die Selbsthilfe der Bevölkerung.”. Supports Zivilschutz- und Katastrophenhilfegesetz (ZSKG) § 4(1), (2): “(1) Die Verwaltungsaufgaben des Bundes nach diesem Gesetz werden dem Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe zugewiesen. [..] (2) Die der Bundesregierung nach Artikel 85 Abs. 4 des Grundgesetzes auf dem Gebiet des Zivilschutzes zustehenden Befugnisse werden auf das Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe übertragen.”. Supports Zivilschutz- und Katastrophenhilfegesetz (ZSKG) § 2(1) and § 16(3): “(1) Soweit die Ausführung dieses Gesetzes den Ländern einschließlich der Gemeinden und Gemeindeverbände obliegt, handeln sie im Auftrage des Bundes. Wenn nichts anderes bestimmt ist, richten sich die Zuständigkeit der Behörden und das Verwaltungsverfahren nach den für den Katastrophenschutz geltenden Vorschriften der Länder. [§ 2(1)] — Die Zuständigkeit der Länder für das operative Krisenmanagement bleibt unberührt. [§ 16(3)]”. Supports Zivilschutz- und Katastrophenhilfegesetz (ZSKG) §§ 12 and 16(1), (2): “Die Vorhaltungen und Einrichtungen des Bundes für den Zivilschutz stehen den Ländern auch für ihre Aufgaben im Bereich des Katastrophenschutzes zur Verfügung. [§ 12] — (1) Die Einrichtungen und Vorhaltungen des Bundesamtes für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe, insbesondere im Bereich Lageerfassung und -bewertung sowie Nachweis und Vermittlung von Engpassressourcen, können auch im Rahmen der Amtshilfe nach Artikel 35 Abs. 1 des Grundgesetzes zur Unterstützung eines Landes verwendet werden. (2) Die Unterstützung nach Absatz 1 umfasst auch die Koordinierung von Hilfsmaßnahmen durch den Bund, wenn das betroffene Land oder die betroffenen Länder darum ersuchen.”. Supports Zivilschutz- und Katastrophenhilfegesetz (ZSKG) § 18(1): “(1) Der Bund erstellt im Zusammenwirken mit den Ländern eine bundesweite Risikoanalyse für den Zivilschutz. Das Bundesministerium des Innern, für Bau und Heimat unterrichtet den Deutschen Bundestag über die Ergebnisse der Risikoanalyse nach Satz 1 ab 2010 jährlich.”. Cited for the STRUCTURE of German civil protection — a federal Zivilschutz task executed by the Länder on federal commission, sitting alongside a Katastrophenschutz that is a Land matter. It establishes nothing about any Land's own disaster-protection statute, none of which was read; it states no operational procedure; and it supports no claim about any other country.
Lovdata (Stiftelsen Lovdata, for the Norwegian Ministry of Justice) · Legislation · 2010 · link verified 2026-08-26
The Norwegian statutory texts on Lovdata, read directly. Three statutes are combined because they answer one question between them: who holds the civil-emergency lead in Norway, and what changes in war. Supports Sivilbeskyttelsesloven (lov 2010-06-25-45) § 1: “Lovens formål er å beskytte liv, helse, miljø, materielle verdier og kritisk infrastruktur og å tilrettelegge for bruk av det sivile samfunnets samlede ressurser ved bruk av ikke-militær makt når riket er i krig, når krig truer, når rikets selvstendighet eller sikkerhet er i fare, og ved uønskede hendelser i fredstid.”. Supports Sivilbeskyttelsesloven (lov 2010-06-25-45) § 4: “Sivilforsvarets oppgave er å planlegge og iverksette tiltak for beskyttelse av sivilbefolkningen, miljø og materielle verdier.”. Supports Politiloven (lov 1995-08-04-53) § 27 'Ulykkes- og katastrofesituasjoner': “Det tilligger politiet å iverksette og organisere redningsinnsats der menneskers liv eller helse er truet, hvis ikke en annen myndighet er pålagt ansvaret. Kongen gir nærmere bestemmelser om redningstjenestens oppgaver og organisasjon. I ulykkes- og katastrofesituasjoner tilligger det politiet å iverksette de tiltak som er nødvendig for å avverge fare og begrense skade. Inntil ansvaret blir overtatt av annen myndighet, skal politiet organisere og koordinere hjelpeinnsatsen.”. Supports Beredskapsloven (lov 1950-12-15-7), Kapitel I, § 1: “Er Stortinget på grunn av krig avskåret fra å utøve sin virksomhet, tilligger det Kongen å gjøre alle de vedtak som er påkrevd for å vareta rikets interesser under krigen…”. Supports Beredskapsloven (lov 1950-12-15-7) § 2: “Bestemmelser av lovgivningsmessig innhold gitt av Kongen med hjemmel i § 1 skal snarest mulig meddeles Stortinget.”. Cited for the finding that Norway places the DEFAULT civil-emergency lead with the police by ordinary statute, and that its war-powers statute is conditioned on the Storting being cut off from exercising its functions. It records no invocation of the beredskapslov, states no measure taken under it, and supports no claim about any other country.
Publications Office of the European Union (EUR-Lex) · International organisation · 2013-12-17 · link verified 2026-08-26
The consolidated Decision and the consolidated Treaty text, both read directly on EUR-Lex. The pairing matters: the Treaty article fixes the LIMIT of what the Decision can do. Supports TFEU Art. 6(f): “Article 6 The Union shall have competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States. The areas of such action shall, at European level, be: (a) protection and improvement of human health; (b) industry; (c) culture; (d) tourism; (e) education, vocational training, youth and sport; (f) civil protection; (g) administrative cooperation.”. Supports Decision No 1313/2013/EU, Art. 1(3): “3. The Union Mechanism shall promote solidarity between the Member States through practical cooperation and coordination, without prejudice to the Member States' primary responsibility to protect people, the environment and property, including cultural heritage, on their territory against disasters and to provide their disaster-management systems with sufficient capabilities to enable them to prevent, and cope adequately and in a consistent manner with, disasters of a nature and magnitude that can reasonably be expected and prepared for.”. Supports Decision No 1313/2013/EU, Art. 7 (as amended by Reg. (EU) 2021/836), with Art. 8: “Article 7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre 1. An Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is hereby established. The ERCC shall ensure 24/7 operational capacity, and serve the Member States and the Commission in pursuit of the objectives of the Union Mechanism. The ERCC shall in particular coordinate, monitor and support in real-time the response to emergencies at Union level. The ERCC shall work in close contact with national civil protection authorities and relevant Union bodies to promote a cross-sectoral approach to disaster management.”. Supports Decision No 1313/2013/EU, Art. 15(1) (as amended by Decision (EU) 2019/420): “1. When a disaster occurs within the Union, or is imminent, the affected Member State may request assistance through the ERCC. The request shall be as specific as possible. A request for assistance shall lapse after a maximum period of 90 days, unless new elements justifying the need for continued or additional assistance are provided to the ERCC.”. Supports TFEU Art. 222 (Part Five, Title VII, Solidarity Clause): “1. The Union and its Member States shall act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. The Union shall mobilise all the instruments at its disposal, including the military resources made available by the Member States, to: [..] (b) assist a Member State in its territory, at the request of its political authorities, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. 2. Should a Member State be the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster, the other Member States shall assist it at the request of its political authorities. To that end, the Member States shall coordinate between themselves in the Council.”. Cited for the finding that supranational civil protection here is a SUPPORTING competence which cannot displace a Member State's own responsibility, and that assistance is requested by the affected State rather than imposed. This instrument binds the Union and its Member States; it is NOT evidence of any Member State's domestic emergency law, and no national claim on this platform rests on it. It establishes nothing about states outside the Union and supports no claim about their arrangements.
National Disaster Risk Management Act, Act No. 16 of 2026 (Kenya), ss. 5, 30 and 31
National Council for Law Reporting (Kenya Law), for the Republic of Kenya · Legislation · 2026-06-02 · link verified 2026-08-26
The official Kenya Law text of an Act assented to on 29 May 2026, published in the Kenya Gazette on 2 June 2026 and commenced on 16 June 2026 — read directly. CURRENCY NOTE, verified rather than assumed: this framework is new, and material written before mid-2026 describes a different institutional arrangement. Supports National Disaster Risk Management Act, Act No. 16 of 2026 (Kenya), ss.5 and 30: “PART II — ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ON DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT 5. (1) There is established the National Disaster Risk Management Authority. (2) The Authority shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal .. 30. (1) In the event of a national disaster, the President may declare a National State of Disaster by notice in the Gazette. (2) The declaration of a National State of Disaster shall contain— (a) a concise statement of the reasons for the declaration; and (b) the duration of the declaration. (3) A National State of Disaster declared under subsection (1)— (a) shall lapse on the date specified in the notice declaring the national state of disaster; (b) may be terminated by the President at any time before the lapse of the period specified in paragraph (a); or (c) may by notice in the Kenya Gazette be extended by the President, any time before the period specified under paragraph (a) lapses.”. Supports National Disaster Risk Management Act, Act No. 16 of 2026 (Kenya), ss.30(4) proviso, 30(5) and 31(1): “Provided that no order or regulation shall make provision for the imposition of imprisonment for a period of exceeding six months or of a fine exceeding twenty thousand shillings .. (5) When a State of National Disaster lapses or is terminated as provided for in this section, any regulation, order or directive made or issued in consequence thereof shall thereby cease to be in force: Provided that nothing in this section shall affect the validity of anything done pursuant to a declaration of a national state disaster or any regulation, order or directive made in consequence thereof, prior to the cessation .. PART IV— COUNTY DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES 31. (1) There is established a County Disaster Risk Management Committee in each county.”. Cited for the establishment of the Authority and for the two-tier national/county structure. It records no declaration under the Act, supports no claim about how it operates in practice, and supports no claim about any other country. It is also NOT evidence about the state of emergency under Constitution Art. 58, which is a different instrument on a different subject.
Förordning (2008:1002) med instruktion för Myndigheten för civilt försvar, 1 §
Sveriges riksdag (Svensk författningssamling) · Legislation · 2008 · link verified 2026-08-26
The agency instruction as published by the Riksdag, in the version in force and fetched on 26 August 2026. CURRENCY NOTE, verified rather than assumed: the agency instituted by this instruction was formerly the Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap (MSB) and is now the Myndigheten för civilt försvar, the change of heading being recorded by the Riksdag with effect from 1 January 2026. Most secondary writing still uses the old name. Supports Förordning (2008:1002) med instruktion (version in force as fetched), 1 §: “Myndigheten för civilt försvar har ett nationellt samordnande ansvar för civilt försvar, samhällets krisberedskap och skydd mot olyckor.”. Cited for the agency's statutory basis, its current name and its national coordinating responsibility. It states no power the agency holds over any other body, records nothing about its activities, and supports no claim about any other country.