31 st International conference

1. 31st International conference 28 November - 1 December 2011Taking a closer look at other topics 11th-12th October 2011 Razmi Farook

2. Objectives Strengthening IHL and humanitarian actions Our world. Your move – for humanity • Strengthening IHL • Strengthening Legal Protection for Victims of Armed Conflicts • IHL & the challenges of contemporary armed conflicts • 4 year plan of action • Strengthening Disaster Law • Risk reduction legislation • IDRL • Regulatory barriers to shelter • Strengthening local humanitarian action • Partnership for stronger NSs & volunteering development • Migration: ensuring access,dignity,respect for diversity, social inclusion Addressing barriers to health care • 'Health Care in Danger' • Inequitable access to health care 2

3. RESOLUTIONS EXPECTED • Strengthening Legal Protection for victims of Armed Conflicts • Four-year action plan for IHL • Respecting and Protecting Health Care in armed conflict and other situations of violence • Implementation of the MoU PRCS-MDA • Strengthening disaster laws • Health inequities with a focus on women & children • Furthering auxiliary role: partnership for stronger NSs & volunteering development • Migration: ensuring access, dignity, respect for diversity and social inclusion

4. HUMANITARIAN ACTION • Migration, ensuring access, dignity, respect for diversity and social inclusion • Health Inequities with a Focus on Women and Children • Furthering Auxilliary Role: partnership for stronger auxilliary role and volunteer development

5. Migration in South Asia • Every year, over 1.5 million workers migrate abroad • major countries of origin, while India and Pakistan are also classified as countries of destination and transit South Asia alone • Due to porous borders in the region, there is also a trend of irregular, undocumented movements • Global financial crisis-irregular migrations increases

6. Migration in South Asia cont. • Govts developing strategies for dealing with GFC • Govts exploring longer term support for rehabilitation of affected workers • There are also a large number of IDPs due to conflict/rural-urban disparities or environmental impact

7. Why is migration important to IFRC? • Working with vulnerable migrants is firmly established in our mission and fundamental principles as well as in our global volunteer and community base. • In 2007, the role of National Societies “in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants, irrespective of their legal status” was recognised by States.

8. IFRC Policy on Migration • The Policy on Migration was adopted by the IFRC Governing Board in 2009, and • Endorsed by the 17th General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2009

9. IFRC Policy on Migration 10 Migration principles

10. IFRC Policy on Migration 10 Migration principles

11. The ProposedDraftResolution on Migration is comprised of four elements

12. Four migration sub-topics

13. Health Inequalities in South Asia • 34% of child deaths occur in South Asia and the region has almost two thirds of the global burden of malnutrition. • Of an estimated half a million maternal deaths worldwide, almost half occur in South and Southeast Asia • India alone has more than 900,000 new born deaths • South Asia still has a long way to go to meet MDGS for maternal and child mortality

14. No person of conscience should stand by and see such needless deaths continue. It is said that a society can be judged by how it treats women and children. Just as no woman should die needlessly in childbirth. Each of us can make a difference. Together we can improve the health and well-being of women and children. When they thrive, so will our world.

15. MDG 4: Social and Gender inequities need to be addressed

16. Health inequities:Reducing the burden on women and children • Women and children are among the most vulnerable, focusing efforts on them promises gains for everyone • A needs-based approach addresses the causes of health inequities and capitalizes on the Movement’s strengths. Human rights offer guiding principles, informing and complementing a needs-based approach • A needs-based approach draws on existing RCRC activities and requires specific principles for action

17. Examples of Public Health Concerns in Asia Pacific • Non-communicable diseases cause 47-80% of all deaths in AP • HIV 2009: 360 000 new infections, 300 000 HIV-related deaths • Recurrent dengue and cholera / diarrheal “epidemics” • Tuberculosis: largest numbers of new cases and drug resistant TB • Top 3 killers in natural disasters: acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria • Road Safety: >500 000 traffic related deaths annually

18. Health inequities are “unfair and avoidable differences in health status within and between countries” • Health inequities are rising despite overall progress in health • Simple, cost-effective measures reduce health inequities, leading to significantly better health when scaled-up • Most maternal and child deaths are preventable • Failing to reduce health inequities potentially leaves the most vulnerable at sustained risk and disadvantage, especially in times of economic uncertainty

19. Women and children are among the most vulnerablefocusing efforts on them promises gains for everyone • Focusing on women and children, who are among the most vulnerable, can begin to dismantle obstacles to equity • Multiplier effect: • Dismantling barriers to health that burden either women or children benefits the other, as the health problems of mothers affect their children and vice versa • Benefits spill over to families and communities, rendering women and children a gateway to improving population health, economic growth, and development

20. What is needed? • Provision of prevention, treatment, care, and support when and where they are needed • Make accurate and reliable health information available • Promote gender equity, non-discrimination, and non-violence

21. A needs-based approach draws on existing RCRC activities and requires the following principles for action • National Societies are called upon to • Use their status as auxiliaries to their public authorities to engage in dialogue, review existing health plans, and advocate for equity • Engage in advocacy on health-seeking behaviours and strengthen partnerships with Governments and Civil Society Organizations to extend advocacy effectiveness • Set the example of gender equity in their own policies and programs and serve as role models for governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector

22. A needs-based approach draws on existing RCRC activities and requires specific principles for action Governments are called upon to: • Encourage the formal health system to embrace non-discrimination, and improve the quality and character of patient-provider interactions by increasing commitments to non-discrimination, ethical practices, and professional health care standards

23. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS • RECOGNITION • PROTECTION • PROMOTION

24. Getting access to those in need through National Societies and Volunteering • Furthering the auxiliary role for Stronger National Societies • Furthering the auxiliary role toward stronger volunteer development

25. Auxiliary Status: Specific and distinctive relationship between States and National Societies • NS participation in the implementation of the States Obligation on the basis of International Law and Resolutions of the International Conference in related tasks such as social services, disaster management and RFL • NSs right to dialogue with public authorities on all levels on matters within their competencies • Creation by the state of an enabling environment for the NS • Authorisation of NS to assist regular medical service of its armed forces and employment of NS personnel within that framework

26. Enable a legal environment for volunteerism • Recognising the role of volunteers • Ensure adequate provision defining the status as well as rights & duties of volunteers

27. Additional resources • 31st International Conference website http://rcrcconference.org/en • 30th International Conference Red Cross and the Red Crescent, Geneva, November 2007: “Declaration: Together for humanity” http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/pubs/events/intconf07/adopted/declaration-en.pdf • The Policy on Migration and background documents are available online: http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/migration/

28. NEXT STEPS • Have conversations within respective NS’s and feed coordinated NS responses back to us on the draft resolution. • We would like feedback on the resolution by 1 November to be able to revise • Where practical we would also request undertaking meetings with respective Government Ministries and brief them on the upcoming International Conference using the advocacy material we have provided on Fednet (see link) https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/resources-and-services/migration/migration-at-the-31st-international-conference/ • Send any proposed pledges to us in order that we can coordinate and  share with others