For this purpose, the ICRC develops and maintains close relations with a wide range of intergovernmental organizations through its headquarters and its delegations, mainly in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Brussels (Belgium), Cairo (Egypt), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), New York (United States), Paris (France) and Washington (United States). The ICRC’s Humanitarian Diplomacy Unit acts as the focal point for relations between the ICRC and these organizations, inter alia the African Union (AU), the Council of Europe, the League of Arab States, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In general terms, the ICRC has further deepened its understanding of Asian multilateral and regional organizations as a means of reinforcing its humanitarian diplomacy in the region. Similarly, it maintains regular contact with the UN bodies in New York and Geneva, such as the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the various UN and non-UN humanitarian agencies. It also engages in regular exchanges with NGOs and their umbrella organizations.
Raising issues of humanitarian concern in international fora
Throughout 2007, issues of humanitarian concern were high on the agenda of various UN bodies and international conferences, not only because of the major international crises that occurred, but also because various aspects of UN humanitarian system reform continued to be introduced at field level.
The ICRC trained a keen eye on the UN reform process and its implementation. It strives to keep abreast of developments that are relevant to its own humanitarian activities, and to promote understanding of and support for its mandate and work, both generally and in relation with the UN’s cluster approach. It attended the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly in its capacity as an observer, and delivered statements, in the plenary and various committees, on issues of humanitarian concern. These included enhanced coordination of UN humanitarian and disaster-relief assistance, protection of the rights of children and women in time of armed conflict, the situation of IDPs, the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and peacekeeping operations. The ICRC paid close attention to the various issues taken up by the UN Security Council. In November, the Security Council invited the ICRC’s director-general to participate in its debate on the protection of the civilian population in armed conflicts. In Geneva, the ICRC played a similar role at the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the Economic and Social Council, and followed closely developments in the Human Rights Council as it completed its first year of work. Such developments included the finalizing of the Council’s institution-building process, along with the new universal periodic review mechanism, and ongoing discussions on the Council’s geographic and thematic special procedures. The ICRC monitored the special sessions on Darfur and Myanmar and developed diplomatic contacts.
In Africa, the ICRC reinforced its cooperation with the AU, its Commission and relevant departments, and particularly with the Peace and Security Council (PSC). The ICRC and the presidency of the PSC strengthened a structured dialogue on humanitarian topics of mutual concern. Through its focal points network, the ICRC also strengthened its cooperation with Africa’s main regional economic communities and attended some of the events organized under their auspices. It attended the eighth and ninth AU summits in Addis Ababa and Accra (Ghana) respectively. The ICRC is also making a significant contribution to the preparation of the September 2008 special summit on IDPs in Africa. In November, the president of the ICRC met with the PSC, the president of the AU Commission and two commissioners. This visit reinforced the relations between the ICRC and the AU and saw both parties express their desire for further high-level meetings on an annual basis.
A significant milestone in Asian multilateral affairs was the signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter by the organization’s member States. During contact with the Eminent Persons Group tasked with drafting the Charter, the ICRC’s Kuala Lumpur delegation, with the support of delegations in the region and the Humanitarian Diplomacy Unit at headquarters, successfully lobbied for the inclusion of a provision on IHL. Furthermore, significant effort has been put into relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). To date, two meetings have taken place with the organization’s secretary-general.
In Latin America, the ICRC closely followed the work of, among others, the OAS, the Caribbean Community and Common Market, and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur). It participated in various events, including the 37th General Assembly of the OAS in Panama. It also significantly strengthened its cooperation with various OAS bodies at OAS headquarters in Washington, and with the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights. Throughout its interaction with these organizations, the ICRC focused on the application of IHL, international refugee law and human rights law, the fight against “terrorism” and the issue of persons displaced and missing in connection with armed conflict.
With regard to Europe, fruitful cooperation between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the ICRC led to the adoption by the PACE of two resolutions for which the ICRC gave substantial input. As in previous years, the ICRC regularly attended events such as those organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE, including the regular sessions of the PACE, the 15th OSCE Ministerial Council, and the Council of Europe-OSCE-UN Tripartite Meeting. These events were opportunities for the ICRC to promote its humanitarian agenda and to interact with other multilateral and intergovernmental organizations, such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The ICRC continued to pursue closer links with Muslim organizations and their leaders. It participated as an observer in several high-level meetings, including the 34th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad (Pakistan). It drew closer to the OIC through a mission to OIC headquarters in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and organized a number of workshops on the implementation of IHL with the support of the League of Arab States.
The ICRC maintained and developed its interaction with the IPU. ICRC representatives attended the IPU Assemblies in Nusa Dua (Indonesia) and Geneva, participating in meetings of the ad hoc committee on IHL and monitoring Standing Committee debates and other relevant IPU activities. The IPU and the ICRC launched two joint projects on missing persons: the production of a handbook for parliamentarians, and the conduct of a study of the national implementation by IPU members of international norms related to the missing.
The ICRC kept abreast of numerous public discussions on issues relevant to its work, including migration, the specific situation of women and children in conflict, internal displacement, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and the strengthening of the humanitarian response capacity for forgotten emergencies. Accordingly, it attended international conferences on these issues in various places around the globe.
Enhancing cooperation and coordination between agencies
In recognition of the scale and complexity of needs arising from crises, the growing number of relief organizations on the ground, the diversity of the humanitarian environment and changes resulting from the UN humanitarian reform process, the ICRC continued to consult and coordinate with other humanitarian actors on the multilateral humanitarian scene, both at headquarters and in the field.
The ICRC actively participated in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), in which it is a standing invitee, and played an active role in the IASC’s sub-bodies, information meetings, working groups and principals meetings at headquarters. ICRC field delegations participated in coordination meetings and cooperated with UN staff to develop Common Humanitarian Action Plans in an effort to prevent duplication or gaps in relief aid.
In 2007 the ICRC delegation in Iraq appointed a full-time delegate to liaise with the various players involved in humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi population, and in particular with the UN bodies. This followed the example of a similar position created in Lebanon during the crisis there in 2006.
The ICRC maintained close bilateral operational and institutional relations throughout the year with various UN and non-UN agencies. It attended several executive councils and board meetings of UN and other agencies engaged in humanitarian activities (IOM, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO). It held bilateral high-level meetings with the UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP in order to strengthen operational dialogue. These meetings were good opportunities to address issues linked to implementation of the UN cluster approach, the humanitarian response to IDPs, access to victims and security constraints, and complementarity and coordination, taking into consideration the ICRC’s traditionally independent and neutral action.
In October 2007, ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres reaffirmed their desire to implement the 2006 Joint Note defining cooperation between the ICRC and UNHCR. Preparations for the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (held in November 2007) also led to several meetings with IOM, including with its deputy director general, Ms Ndiaye, regarding international migration issues.
The ICRC maintained close contacts with NGOs in the light of its decision to apply to them the approach outlined in its position paper, ICRC Position on Humanitarian Coordination: reality-based and action-oriented. Preparations began for a high-level meeting between MSF and the ICRC in spring 2008. Close coordination with NGO umbrella organizations, such as the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (the ICRC is a full member) and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (the ICRC has observer status) has continued. The ICRC was one of the speakers at a Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies (VOICE) seminar that took place in Brussels.
The ICRC continued to participate in the UN/non-UN dialogue through the Global Humanitarian Platform, which was created in 2006 to bring NGOs, the Movement and the UN together on an equal footing. The Platform created the Principle of Partnership, including a commitment to equality, diversity, transparency, mutual accountability and complementary roles.
A close link was maintained with the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group, which brings together representatives of major donor countries in Geneva to foster dialogue with humanitarian agencies.
ICRC Annual Report 2007
