CURRENT CHALLENGES TO HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

International Seminar on Jointly Addressing Challenges to

Humanitarian Aid 21-23.10.2015

Vincent OchiletDeputy Head of ICRC Regional Delegation- Beijing

PRESENTATION OVERVIEWPRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• ICRC mission • Changes in humanitarian environment • Challenges of today’s humanitarian action• ICRC responses to the challenges• ICRC dilemmas• ICRC contribution to the stability of

countries in conflict and to the world

ICRC MISSION

The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization

whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and

dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with

assistance.

ICRC: 150 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

The ICRC has over 150 years of experience in humanitarian action in armed conflict.

Our experience, combined with our presence today in over 80 countries, in close proximity to parties of conflict, allows us to see:

- Some changes, some patterns in the development of armed conflicts and

- The related challenges for humanitarian response.

CHANGES IN THE HUMANITARIAN ENVIRONMENT

•Fragmentation of armed groups (unclear command structures) like in Syria and Central African Republic•The easy availability of small arms (like in Libya), •The out-sourcing of security tasks to private military/security companies (Iraq, Afghanistan,…)

→All these realities have changed the environment in which humanitarian Organisations like ICRC operate.

CHANGES IN THE HUMANITARIAN ENVIRONMENT  (Cont)

•The resurgence of religious fundamentalism and the spreading of terror and violence (like in Syria and Nigeria)

•The negative perception of humanitarian action and the deliberate attacks against humanitarian workers (Syria, Iraq, Somalia…)

→Problems must be addressed by the international community.

CHALLENGES FACING HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

•The politicisation of humanitarian aid and the manipulation of humanitarian agencies

•Changing nature of armed violence

→Today, more than yesterday, lines between the parties to the conflict, and between combatants and civilians, have become increasingly blurred

CHALLENGES FACING HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

(Cont)

• "Global war on terror"

• New technologies, the unmanned aerial vehicles, drones

→have also posed a huge challenge to humanitarian action.

CHALLENGES FACING HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (Cont)

• Protracted conflicts that are ever longer in duration and affect basic social delivery systems

→For example in Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan or Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory.

• Regionalized conflicts that spill over into neighboring countries

→The violence in northern Nigeria that is affecting in the region or the Niger, Chad and other countries Syrian conflict which has destabilized the entire Middle East.

CHALLENGES FACING HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

(Cont) • Politicized and increasingly polarized conflicts

with few perspectives for political settlements

→That is the case in Ukraine or Yemen.

• Battlefields that extend into cities and civilian’s communities, with bombing and attacks in densely populated areas,

→Lugansk and Donietsk (Ukraine), Aleppo and Homs (Syria), Maidiguri (Nigeria) and Bengazi (Libya), Gaza

ICRC RESPONSE: ENSURE THE FULL RESPECT OF

IHLICRC is currently working with States on, notably:

•Compliance with IHL, •Detention, •The modern weapons, •Cyber warfare and autonomous weapons

ICRC RESPONSE: ENSURE THE FULL RESPECT OF

IHL

COMPLIANCE •Joint consultations with States launched by the ICRC and Switzerland to identify options for strengthening compliance mechanisms.

→Regular meetings of States Parties to the Geneva Conventions to discuss the application of IHL and make the law more meaningful.

ICRC RESPONSE: ENSURE THE FULL RESPECT OF

IHL

DETENTION •Legal framework governing detention during non-international armed conflict

→The ICRC works, together with States, to address that issue, and find both practical and legal solutions to the existing gaps in IHL.

ICRC RESPONSE: ENSURE THE FULL RESPECT OF

IHL

WEAPONS•ICRC is currently working on the issue of explosives in densely populated areas. •Battlefields are moving from open spaces into urban, densely populated areas close to family homes, hospitals and schools.

→How to better protect civilian populations in this case?

ICRC RESPONSE: ENSURE THE FULL RESPECT OF

IHL

NEW TECHNOLOGIES •Cyber warfare and autonomous weapons - have become subject of increasing debate in the humanitarian, legal and diplomatic community.

→If cyber capabilities are used in armed conflicts, they must comply with IHL, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.

ICRC APPROACH IN ITS

ENGAGEMENT WITH ARMED GROUPS

•The ICRC engages with more than 200 armed groups in about 50 countries affected by Non International armed conflict (NIAC) as well as situations of violence

→However this dialogue is often difficult, sometime impossible to establish due to the structural and political characteristics of armed groups.

ICRC APPROACH WITH ARMED GROUPS (Cont)

• Create an environment conducive to dialogue on humanitarian issues.

• Proximity to arms carriers and victims is critical to ensure humanitarian assistance

• Bilateral confidential dialogue

→Help to guarantee access to victims, acceptance and security of ICRC staff

ICRC APPROACH WITH ARMED GROUPS (Cont)

• The ICRC visits members of armed groups detained in governmental prisons and advocates for their conditions and treatment to be consistent with international norms and standards;

 • The ICRC also provides health training (basic

first aid courses) to fighters, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Sudan

ICRC APPROACH (Cont)

• The ICRC further strives for the human remains of members of armed groups to be handed-over to their families in places such as in Colombia and Afghanistan.

→The ICRC encourages armed groups to better integrate the applicable law

ICRC DILEMMAS

•Balancing the protection and assistance of the victims of armed conflict and the safety of humanitarian workers

•Respecting the sovereignty of States while securing access to populations in need

DILEMMAS (Cont)

• Engaging armed groups without supporting their agendas

• Maintain a confidential dialogue with Sates and communicate publicly on the recurrent lack of respect of IHL by the States

CONTRIBUTION TO THE STABILITY OF COUNTRIES IN CONFLICT AND TO THE

WORLD

• Visiting detainees, • Protection of civilians, • Restoring family links, • Enhancing economic security, • Water and habitat, • Health (including physical rehabilitation) • Forensic,• Humanitarian diplomacy

THANK YOU!

www.icrc.org