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Working together effectively |
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| Dr. Praphan Phanuphak, director
of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, speaks at
a panel on discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS
at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona. |
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Humanitarian avocacy
In 2002, the Federation intensified
its advocacy work with the United Nations (UN) family and
the wider community of international organizations, focusing
on health issues, notably HIV/AIDS and disasters.
In 2002, the Federation participated actively in the consultation
processes leading to the World Assembly on Ageing and the
World Summit on Sustainable Development. Presidential statements
were delivered at both conferences and at the UN General Assembly
and the Economic and Social Council, among others.
A presidential statement at the UN Commission on Human Rights
launched a strong anti-discrimination campaign, and subsequent
work with UN Volunteers, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and
the International Business Leaders Forum built a new partnership
on volunteering issues.
The Federation advanced the devel-opment
of its relationship with the International Olympic Committee
with a view to extending the benefits of shared global priorities
to National Societies and National Olympic Committees.
Together with the ICRC, the Federation continued to work on
establishing an additional emblem through the adoption of
a third additional protocol to the Geneva Conventions.
Work continued on encouraging National Societies to incorporate
advocacy as a key component in their programming. Results
were positive with a steady increase in requests for advocacy
support from National Societies.
The secretariat responded with additional training and skills-building
programmes to improve National Societies' capacities to advocate
locally. |
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| A
Czech Red Cross volunteer stores relief goods in
a north Bohemia distribution centre. |
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Civil protection in the European
Union
The devastating floods that
affected Europe in July 2002 gave the Federation a chance
to show how crucial its network of volunteers is during
emergencies. As a direct result of the regular advocacy
work of European Union (EU) National Societies, the
Red Cross Red Crescent was able to strengthen dialogue
with the EU's institutions.
One of the outcomes of increased lobbying was a British
Red Cross workshop on the role of volunteers in civil
protection, which brought together representatives from
the European Commission, National Societies and government
officials of EU member states to discuss the contribution
the Red Cross Red Crescent makes in prevention, planning
and response to civil emergencies.
This resulted in a clear recognition of the position
of the Red Cross Red Crescent in the first EU Civil
Protection Forum in November 2002 in Brussels, and an
invitation to contribute to future policy-making. First
aid and the need to include psychological support as
an integral part of relief activities were highlighted.
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International disaster response
law
Access to people affected by disasters
and the timely provision of relief supplies, particularly in
the immediate aftermath of a disaster, is a constant challenge
for humanitarian actors.
The International disaster response law (IDRL) project was initiated
by the Federation in 2001 to respond to concern within the international
community about the adequacy of existing legal mechanisms to
facilitate humanitarian activities in natural and technological
disasters.
The IDRL project will last three years and aims to reduce the
vulnerability of people affected by disasters through the promotion
and development of law mechanisms.
With the assistance of National Societies and a number of leading
experts, the Federation conducted in 2002 legal and field research
in over 20 countries, spanning every region.
A collection of documents and research findings will be published
in 2003, in addition to the Federation's work in raising these
issues in various international forums including the UN General
Assembly and the International Con-ference of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent. |
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