30th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

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30th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE INFORMAL
PREPARATORY MEETING 4 September 2007 (1500 -
1830)
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Agenda

• Introductory remarks
• Overview of the draft provisional agenda and
  programme of the Conference - Issues and
  envisaged results
• Objective 1 - Partnerships in addressing
  humanitarian challenges
• Objective 2 - Specific nature of the Red Cross
  and Red Crescent and auxiliary role of National
  Societies
• Objective 3 - Reaffirmation of international
  humanitarian law in armed conflict
• Objective 4 Strengthening the legal framework
  for international disaster response
• 3. How the Conference works
• Structure
• Format of outcomes
• Rules of procedure, practicalities and timeline
• 4. Election of the Standing Commission

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• Overview of the draft provisional agenda and
  programme of the Conference

General Assembly of the Federation
Council of Delegates
Governing Board of the Federation
Tue. 20.11
Wed. 21.11
Fri. 23.11
Sat.24.11
Mon. 19.11
Thu. 22.11
30th International Conference
Sun. 25.11
Mon. 26.11
Tue. 27.11
Wed. 28.11
Thu. 29.11
Fri.30.11
A
OFF
OFF
OFF
A
B
C
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2
Plenary session
3
4
Commissions
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6
Drafting Com.
7
8
Workshops
Ceremony/reception
?
4
Issues and envisaged results
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highlight the need for collaborative action and
partnerships between States, the components of
the Movement and other stakeholders in
addressing humanitarian challenges of common
concern
Objective 1

• Background document on humanitarian challenges
• requiring strategies and partnerships
• Decrease the vulnerability of communities to
  environmental deterioration, including climate
  change
• Ensure that migrants receive the help they need
  to protect their life, health and dignity
• Prevent and alleviate the suffering caused by
  violence in urban settings
• Improve access to health care for vulnerable
  people affected by emergent and recurrent diseases

Panel at the opening (Day 1)
General debate in plenary (Day 2)
Adoption of the Declaration  Together for
humanity  (Day 5)
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Expected results (Objective 1)

• Declaration
• Pledges

• Elements for the Declaration  Together for
  humanity  (1/3)

In responding to all four humanitarian
challenges, we will

• build on added value of RC/RC Movement
• Strengthen capacity and resources
• Optimise auxiliary role of NS
• Capitalize on community and volunteer base of NS

• Confidence of and access to vulnerable
  communities
• Learn from worldwide experiences / best practices
• Promote and respect international law
• Intensify interaction and partnerships among
  ourselves
• and with other institutions

• Environmental degradation and climate change
• Recognition of the increased burden for people
  particularly "poorest of the poor" - due to the
  rise in natural disasters and the scarcity of
  resources induced by environmental degradation.
• Commitment to raise awareness about the
  humanitarian consequences of environmental
  degradation, including climate change, and to
  capitalize on the community base of National
  Societies to decrease the vulnerability of
  affected communities
• Commitment to ensure that adaptation to climate
  change is included in disaster management
  policies and to strengthen preparedness for
  disaster (operational capacity and resources).

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Elements for the Declaration  Together for
humanity  (2/3)

• International migration
• Recognition of the vulnerability of migrants
  when living outside conventional health, social
  and legal systems and with no access to processes
  guaranteeing respect for their fundamental
  rights
• Acknowledgement of responsibilitiy of Governments
  to address the humanitarian needs of persons
  affected by migration withing the framework of
  international human rights law, refugee law and
  humanitarian law.
• Commitment to work together in addressing
  humanitarian needs of migrants in source,
  transit, and destination countries, with respect
  to
• humanitarian assistance e.g., food, shelter,
  health, psycho-social support
• Protection e.g, restoring family links, legal
  advice, information on risks of irregular
  migration, monitoring detention conditions and
  treatment
• Advocacy e.g., combatting xenophobia, racism,
  discrimination promoting international norms for
  protection of migrants - - Integration/reintegrati
  on eg., reception services, helping migrants to
  get included in labour markets
• Acknowledge the responsibility of National
  Societies to respond to the needs of migrants,
  irrespective of their legal status.

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Elements for the Declaration  Together for
humanity  (3/3)

• Violence in urban settings
• Recognition of the particular challenge of
  violence in urban areas as a leading cause of
  preventable death, injury and human suffering,
  and of the primary role of States to support
  victims in prevention and mitigation
• Commitment to develop violence prevention
  programmes, to facilitate the rehabilitation of
  youth affected and to mobilise community,
  volunteers and youth in action promoting respect
  for diversity and against racism, discrimination,
  xenophobia, marginalization and exclusion.

• Emergent and recurrent diseases and public health
• Recognition of pandemics and public health
  threats such as HIV, avian/human influenza,
  tuberculosis and malaria
• Commitment to involve National Societies in
  national health plans, to empower volunteers and
  affected groups in the programming and
  implementation and ensure access to basic health
  care and to necessary medecines and vaccines.
• Stressing the importance for medical personnel to
  have access to any place where their medical
  services are required and to enjoy the necessary
  protection.
• Recognition that comprehensive public health
  approach must address the issue of TB, HIV and
  other health threats in prisons.

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recognize the specific nature of the RC/RC
Movement in action and partnerships, in
particular the unique value of the role of
National Societies as auxiliaries to their public
authorities
Objective 2

• Background report on the balanced relationship
  and partnership between RC/RC and States (and
  other stakeholders)
• Specific nature of the RC/RC Movement (global
  network, Fundamental Principles, Emblems,
  auxiliary role of National Societies)
• Definition of the role of National Societies as
  auxiliaries to the public authorities
• Characteristics of a balanced relationship
  between National Societies and their public
  authorities
• Capacity building, information material and
  partnership tools to promote the auxiliary role
  of NS

Debate in Commission A (Day 3)
Adoption of a Resolution on the specific nature
of RC/RC and NS auxiliary role (Day 5)
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Expected results (Objective 2)

• Resolution
• Pledges

• Elements for the Resolution (1/2)
• The specific nature of the RC/RC Movement in
  action and partnerships and the role of National
  Societies
• as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the
  humanitarian field

• Strong partnerships are needed between States,
  the Movement and other humanitarian actors,
• Movement's adherence to the Fundamental
  Principles and the Statutes of the Movement,
• Normative base related to the auxiliary role
  (Geneva Conventions law, Fundamental principles,
  Statutes, decisions of the previous conferences,
  Movements regulations on the use of emblems),
• Movement's capacity to mobilise human and
  material resources at the community-level,
• Confidence of and access to people in need by NS
  when autonomous, neutral and impartial,
• Toolbox for NS on good partnership, including
  the auxiliary role,

• primary responsibility of States to provide
  humanitarian relief to vulnerable persons on
  their territories and primary purpose of National
  Societies (NS) to supplement them,

• call to NS and public authorities to consolidate
  a balanced relationship with clear and reciprocal
  responsibilities,

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Expected results (Objective 2)

• Resolution
• Pledges

• Elements for the Resolution (2/2)
• The specific nature of the RC/RC Movement in
  action and partnerships and the role of National
  Societies
• as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the
  humanitarian field

• definition of the auxiliary role public
  authorities and NS as auxiliaries enjoy a
  privileged unique special partnership,
  entailing mutual responsibilities and benefits,
  based on international and national laws, in
  which the national public authorities and the NS
  agree on the areas in which the NS supplements or
  substitutes public humanitarian services the NS
  must be able to deliver its humanitarian services
  at all times in conformity with the Fundamental
  Principles and with its other obligations under
  the Statutes of the International RC/RC Movement
  as agreed by States in the International
  Conference of the RC/RC

• mutual responsibilities of States and National
  Societies as auxiliaries to the public
  authorities in the humanitarian field NS duty to
  consider requests from public authorities and
  autonomy in response public authorities duty to
  refrain from making requests in conflict with
  RC/RC Fundamental Principles, Statutes and
  mission and to respect NS decision invitation to
  clarify areas of cooperation)

• requirement of clear distinction of NS
  activities from military and other governmental
  bodies while individual NS staff members seconded
  to the medical services of the armed forces (Art.
  26 of the First GC) are subjected to military
  laws and regulations.

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reaffirm the continued applicability and
relevance of international humanitarian law for
preserving human life and dignity in armed
conflict
Objective 3
Background document Reaffirmation and
implementation of International Humanitarian Law
(IHL)

• ICRC report Study on Customary IHL
• ICRC report IHL and the challenges of
  contemporary armed conflict

Debate in Commission B (Day 3)
Adoption of a Resolution on reaffirmation /
implementation of IHL (Day 5)
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Expected results (Objective 3)

• Resolution
• Pledges

• Elements for the Resolution
• Reaffirmation and implementation of international
  humanitarian law
• Preserving Human Life and Dignity in Armed
  Conflict

• Respect and ensure respect
• Relevance of IHL in armed conflicts
• Deep concerns on civilians remaining main victims
  of IHL violations.

• Fundamental guarantees

• National implementation

• Humanitarian and medical assistance

• Doctrine, training and Education

• Conduct of hostilities

• Ending impunity

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• Elements for the Resolution (1/2)
• Reaffirmation and implementation of international
  humanitarian law
• Preserving Human Life and Dignity in Armed
  Conflict

Respect and ensure respect

• Fundamental guarantees (FG)
• all persons (no adverse distinction) are
  entitled, as a minimum, to the FG
• expression of the FG in art. 3 of the Geneva
  Conv., applicable treaties and customary IHL
• requirement of humane treatment for all
  prohibition of murder, torture, cruel or inhuman
  treatment, outrages upon personal dignity,
  corporal and collective punishment, mutilation,
  sexual violence, enforced disappearance
• requirement of procedural safeguards for persons
  detained or interned and judicial guarantees for
  those on trial

• Conduct of hostilities
• strict observance of the principles and
  obligations of distinction, proportionality and
  precaution in attacks
• prohibition of acts of terror, attacks directed
  at civilians, indicriminate attacks and human
  shields
• strengthen legality review of new weapons,
  control on the availability of arms/ammunition
  and protection against indiscriminate use of
  weapons

• Humanitarian and medical assistance
• right of civilian population to receive
  impartial humanitarian assistance obligation to
  parties to armed conflict to grant unimpeded and
  rapid access
• obligation to respect and protect medical
  personnel, humanitarian workers and the
  protective value of the distinctive emblems

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• Elements for the Resolution (2/2)
• Reaffirmation and implementation of international
  humanitarian law
• Preserving Human Life and Dignity in Armed
  Conflict

• Doctrine, training and education
• IHL and domestic law to be reflected at doctrine
  and procedure level
• education, training and legal advising in armed
  forces
• education and dissemination of IHL to the
  civilian population, in particular among young
  people

• National implementation
• need for States to incorporate IHL in domestic
  law and practice
• effective role of IHL national committees

• Ending impunity
• enforcement of the law and individual
  responsibilty for IHL violations with effective
  penal or disciplinary sanctions
• war crimes need for domestic legal framework
  for investigation, prosecution or extradition
• International Criminal Court, international
  judicial cooperation, International Fact-Finding
  Commission
• victims'rights, including the provision of
  reparation

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prioritize appropriate avenues for strengthening
the legal frameworks for international response
to disasters at the international, regional and
national levels
Objective 4

• Guidelines for the Domestic Facilitation and
  Regulation of International Disaster Relief and
  Initial Recovery Assistance.
• Non-binding guidance tool to review the
  comprehensive national policy and legal
  frameworks in the area of disaster response

Debate in Commission C (Day 3)
Adoption of a Resolution on legal frameworks for
international response to disasters (Day 5)
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Expected results (Objective 4)

• Resolution
• Pledges

• Elements for the Resolution

• Context and existing texts of reference
• Victims of disasters urgently require emergency
  relief and recovery assistance
• RC/RC Resolutions, UN GA Resolutions, Millennium
  Declaration, Hyogo Framework
• International framework dispersed and
  under-utilized lack of harmonization with
  national law legal challenges to effective
  international relief and recovery persist.

Role of domestic law and policy in addressing
legal challenges
Adoption of the Guidelines will favour their
implementation in national law policy

• Future IDRL activities, in close collaboration
  with UN and other organizations
• Support the implementation of the Guidelines in
  national legal policy frameworks
• Promote their mainstreaming in existing legal,
  disaster management and risk reduction
  initiatives
• Continue research and advocacy, and development
  of tools for legal preparedness for disasters

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Follow-up by States and the components of the
Movement on resolutions and pledges made at
previous conferences

• 28th International Conference (agenda for
  humanitarian action, Declaration, pledges)
• Web-based database (www.icrc.org)
• ICRC/Federation's summary report(s)
• 29th International Conference

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3. How the Conference works
Structure

• Plenary
• Opening and panel 26 Nov.
• General Debate (Objective 1) 27 Nov.
• Reports, election of the Standing Commission
  29 Nov.
• Reports, adoption of resolutions 30 Nov.

• Workshops
• 8-10 w/shops 29 Nov.

• Drafting Committee
• (28-29 Nov.)

• Exhibitions and other side events

• Commissions 28 Nov.
• A specific nature of RC/RC and NS auxiliary
  role
• B international humanitarian law
• C legal framework for international response to
  disasters

• Bureau and officers

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Format of outcomes
RESOLUTIONS

• PLEDGES
• All pledges should
• Relate to the objectives of the Conference
• Preferably promote partnerships between
  participants
• Be action-oriented, with measurable indicators
• Be reasonably short

1. Declaration (Objective 1) environmental
degradation international migration violence in
urban settings diseases
2. Specific nature of RC/RC Movement in action
and partnerships and NS auxiliary role (Objective
2)
3. Reaffirmation and implementation of
international humanitarian law (Objective 3)
4. Legal framework for international response to
disasters (Objective 4)
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Rules of procedure, practicalities and timeline
Fundamental Principles in documents and debates
Working and official languages

• General debate
• provisional speakers list before the Conference
  (pascal.rapillard_at_eda.admin.ch)
• speeches limited to 3 minutes

• Registration of participants
• http //event.ifrc.org

• Timeline
• Standing Commission (17 September 22 November)
• Observations by members on the draft provisional
  agenda
• 25 September (- 60 days)
• Dispatch of official documents 11 October (- 45
  days)

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4. Election of the Standing Commission

• Governments and NS elect
• 5 members of different NS, elected in a
  personal capacity (article 17/1a Statutes of the
  Movement)
• ...taking into account personal qualities and
  the principle of fair geographical distribution
  (article 10/4 Statutes)
• NS encouraged to nominate one qualified candidate
  / region
• Informal session on 27 Nov. candidates meet
  Government and NS delegations
• Nomination forms reflecting profile encouraged
  (latest) by September 30, 2007 (SC Secretariat)
• All nominations on www.rcstandcom.info in 4
  languages.

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For more information, please visit our websites

• www.icrc.org
• www.ifrc.org
• www.fednet.ifrc.org
• www.rcstandcom.info