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14 November 2001 Discussions at the Movement's Council of Delegates, which brings together representatives from 178 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation and the ICRC, focusssed yesterday on the plight of refugees and displaced people, the emblem issue, progress on developing an International Disaster Response Law and a resolution on how to address the threat of unexploded ordnance. The Council was presented with a draft resolution on the Movement Action in Favour of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Mr. Jean Ayoub, Director of Disaster Management with the Federation, urged the Movement to do better on the issue of refugees and IDPs which could only be achieved if the various components communicate effectively, coordinate with one another and develop new and more effective systems. Mr. Ruud Lubbers, High Commissioner of Refugees, was a guest speaker at the Council. At the end of the second world war there were some 1.5 million refugees - now 250 million people are living away from their homes, both as IDPs and refugees. The UNHCR has become an implementing agency,he said, giving protection to and providing for the needs of the refugees. Mr Lubbers recommended better management of migration issues to help ease the situation for displaced persons. Countries with matured economies do not only receive refugees or asylum seekers, but also economic migrants who arrive illegally and seek refugee status. There is a tendency to view many genuine refugee caseloads with suspicion, which delays the provision of assistance, he explained. Mr Lubbers went on to address the "humanitarian challenge" posed by internal displacements caused by war or natural disasters. Although the UNHCR does not have a global mandate for this group, it is increasingly finding itself involved when there is a mixed flow of refugees and IDPs. He concluded by paying tribute to the "great cooperation between the UNHCR and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement" noting that while the work of the two bodies may differ in some aspects, both are driven by concern for the people whom they serve. The debate on an additional emblem was opened by Mrs. Christina Magnuson, a member of the Standing Commission. She regretted the paradox that the Movement had found a solution to the emblem problem, in the proposal of the adoption of a Third additional protocol to the Geneva Conventions, but was not able to implement it, since it had not been possible to date to convene a Diplomatic Conference where States could adopt the protocol. She expressed her belief that in the world, after the events of 11 September 2001, the solution of the emblem issue was even more urgent. She called on the Council to support the solution proposed in the draft resolution and to reject anything which would affect the Movement's independence from govenment positions. Mrs Magnuson also added that concrete measures should be taken to establish even closer relations with those National Societies who cannot yet become full members of the Movement. "We say to our friends of the Eritrean, Israeli, Kazakh and Palestinian Societies: we know you share our ideas. We have seen the commitment of your volunteers. We are happy to see you amongst us in this Council of delegates." After a debate in which some concerns were expressed on the draft resolution, ICRC President Dr. Jakob Kellenberger announced that a small working group would produce a revised text. The debate was adjourned until today. Delegates were also asked to approve what could be termed an exercise in rationalisation, the work towards an International Disaster Response Law. The initiative by the International Federation to study, compile, analyze and work to rationalise international law dealing with disaster preparedness and the provision of emergency relief stems from extremely practical concerns. "The members and volunteers of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, as well as Federation delegates told us of the difficulties they often face in bringing relief to victims", explained Dr. Mohammed Al-Hadid, president of the Federation's Disaster Relief Commission. There is a widening international debate on the adequacy of existing mechanisms to respond to disasters and other emergencies and the general view holds that the legal framework for international disaster response requires significant improvement to make disaster response quicker and more effective. Among issues needing urgent attention are waiving import, export and transit restrictions and duties for relief goods, reviewing over-flight and landing regulations, facilitating telecommunications in emergency situations, waiving visa and other immigration restrictions, recognizing medical or other relevant foreign qualifications when necessary and easing quarantine restrictions to enable search and rescue dogs to be used. Although the IDRL project had been raised in different fora, including the United Nations General Assembly as of the beginning of 2000, the Federation formally initiated the project in February 2001. This was done in consultation with the ICRC and under the clear understanding that IDRL was to apply only to natural and technological disasters and that disasters generated by a conflict were adequately covered by International Humanitarian Law (IHL). "We hope to compile laws into one convention where they will be easily accessible", Dr. Al-Hadid explained. He also underlined that only States can create international law. The Federation will present the result of its work on IDRL to the Council of Delegates and the Movement's International Conference in 2003, where National Societies and governmentscan determine together what the next steps should be. The Council of Delegates then adopted a resolution which urges the Federation to continue this work and requests other components of the Movement to support this initiative. Millions of lives and thousands of communities are at stake, said Mrs. Anne Petitpierre, Vice-President of the ICRC, in her presentation concerning the "explosive remnants of war". Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is a deadly threat to populations long after the end of armed conflict. In Laos, for example, the population still suffers from the effects of bombs and munitions dropped there nearly 30 years ago. It is believed some nine million pieces of UXO are scattered in the country. According to the country's National UXO Programme, approximately 11,000 people have been killed or injured in UXO accidents since 1973. There have also been large numbers of victims in similar accidents in Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, Chechnya, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kosovo and Vietnam, among others. Mrs. Petitpierre explained that the ICRC has proposed that States adopt a new protocol to address the problems caused by "explosive remnants of war". In December 2001 the States Parties will hold the second Review Conference of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. This meeting will provide an important opportunity to strengthen and develop international humanitarian law regulating weapons which may cause unnecessary suffering. The ICRC will also propose that the Convention's scope of application be extended to non-international armed conflicts. Delegates adopted a resolution welcoming the ICRC's proposals and calling on States to address these issues urgently. 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