THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) & THE RED CROSS (ICRC) &

CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONSCIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

Larry MaybeeDelegate to Armed & Security ForcesSoutheast Asia and the Pacific

The International RC/RC Movement:

The International Federation of Red

Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

(1919)

National Societies

The ICRC(1863)

186 National Societies(since 1864)

The ICRC:The ICRC:

"The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.“

International mandate given by States in the Geneva Conventions

Protection of Civilians:

Internally displaced persons (IDP)

Women, children, most vulnerable

Monitoring hostilities, reporting IHL violations

Restoring family links:

Protection of detainees

Aim of detention visits:

Prevent disappearances, summary executions, torture and ill treatment

Improve of conditions of detention

Assistance if needed (not substitution)

Restore family links

Visits, standard methods

Don't challenge reasons

Don't ask for release

Principle of Confidentiality

Humanitarian Assistance (needs based):

How the ICRC How the ICRC works:works:

In close proximity to victims (access is critical) In dialogue with all parties & armed groups Confidentially & bilaterally – all parties Predictably & consistently – in all contexts In accordance with the RC/RC principles of

Neutrality, Independence and Impartiality

Towards BelligerentsTowards Belligerents

NNeutrality :eutrality :

IImpartiality :mpartiality :

Towards VictimsTowards Victims

STATES

NGOs

ARMEDARMEDGROUPSGROUPS

The ICRC is independent with regard to decision making and action. Its humanitarian activities are based solely on its own assessment of needs.

The ICRC believes that humanitarian activities must not be associated with (or subordinated to) political or military objectives.

Independence :Independence :

The ICRC worldwide:The ICRC worldwide:

- Present in 80 countries - More than 13,000 employees - 1200 expatriates & 12,000 national staff- 75 different nationalities- Annual budget approx. CHF/USD 1 Bn (plus emergency appeals)- Visits to 800,000 detainees in 88 countries in 2010

ICRC Relations with Military Forces ICRC Relations with Military Forces (Civil-Military Relations):(Civil-Military Relations):

ICRC & Civil-Military Relations:ICRC & Civil-Military Relations:

Engagement with the military is natural (inevitable) for an organisation like the ICRC (sharing the battle space)

What are the respective parties seeking from each other (humanitarian organisations & military forces)?

What concerns does each side have about the other?

For the ICRC, why are the humanitarian principles (neutrality, independence & impartiality) so important?

What are the risks if these principles are not followed?

"In one moment in time our service members will be feeding "In one moment in time our service members will be feeding and clothing displacedand clothing displaced refugees – refugees – providing humanitarian providing humanitarian assistance.assistance. In the next moment, they will be holding two In the next moment, they will be holding two warring tribes apart – warring tribes apart – peacekeeping.peacekeeping. Finally, they will be Finally, they will be fighting a highly lethal fighting a highly lethal mid-intensity battle.mid-intensity battle. All in the same All in the same day, all within three city blocksday, all within three city blocks.«  .«  (confusion, perceptions)(confusion, perceptions)

"Those are the guys who are going to win it for us… That's how we're really going to defeat the root causes…"

Military commander, referring to aid workers – 2003 (perceptions)

Partners in the Mission?Partners in the Mission?

Baghdad – October 2003 (perception?)

““Today, like 20 years ago, you come here to try Today, like 20 years ago, you come here to try and make sure prisoners are well treated, and make sure prisoners are well treated, wounded taken care of, our families not wounded taken care of, our families not bombed, or starved, or humiliated. We respect bombed, or starved, or humiliated. We respect that. Now, be warned: just as we do not expect that. Now, be warned: just as we do not expect you to support our religious, social, political you to support our religious, social, political views and actions, so we expect you not to views and actions, so we expect you not to support – in any way – our enemies’. Know when support – in any way – our enemies’. Know when so-called humanitarian action becomes a sword so-called humanitarian action becomes a sword or a poison – and stop there.”or a poison – and stop there.”  

Discussion between senior ICRC delegate Discussion between senior ICRC delegate and anti-government tribal leaderand anti-government tribal leaderregarding ICRC safe passage regarding ICRC safe passage Afghanistan, 2010 Afghanistan, 2010

DIPLOMATIC/POLITICALDIPLOMATIC/POLITICALDIPLOMATIC/POLITICALDIPLOMATIC/POLITICAL

MILITARY / SECURITYMILITARY / SECURITYMILITARY / SECURITYMILITARY / SECURITY

ECONOMICECONOMICECONOMICECONOMIC

HUMANITARIAN / SOCIALHUMANITARIAN / SOCIALHUMANITARIAN / SOCIALHUMANITARIAN / SOCIAL

AdministrationAdministrationGovernanceGovernance

Rule of LawRule of Law

StabilisationStabilisation

Civilian ControlCivilian Control

Training IHL/HRTraining IHL/HR

Market AccessMarket Access

Free TradeFree Trade

EducationEducation

HealthcareHealthcare

Basic SvcsBasic Svcs

STABLESTABLEANDANDFAIRFAIR

SOCIETYSOCIETY

STABLESTABLEANDANDFAIRFAIR

SOCIETYSOCIETY

The The Integrated ApproachIntegrated Approach::

ElementsElements:: ActivitiesActivities::

END STATEEND STATE

Victims ofVictims ofConflictConflict

POLITICALPOLITICALOBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

The ICRC asks for :The ICRC asks for :

Access to all areas (continuing/ongoing) – including conflict affected

Information on the security situation in the fieldMainly for the safety of our teams and the civilians/victims

Access to detainees

Not armed escortsNot the use of military

(logistic) assets

Immediate assistance in emergency situationsConstructive dialogue (confidential & bilateral)Coordination of movement (to ensure safe access)Useful information on the situation of civ populationsMonitoring compliance with IHL (all parties/groups) Its services as neutral intermediary between

parties to the conflict:PW & detainee exchangesMortal remainsHumanitarian corridorsEvacuate wounded & civiliansIDP resettlement

The ICRC can offer:The ICRC can offer:

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

Conclusions & key messages:Conclusions & key messages:

Challenge for all actors to adequately understand and respect each others' roles, mandates & capacities

Clear separation between military & HA – clarity in terms, use of uniforms & vehicles, objectives & comms

Obligation to ensure sufficient space for the function of impartial, independent humanitarian actors

ICRC has a specific legal & principle-driven approach focused on those in need

Trust and dialogue -

(exchange of information on issues of

mutual concern, particularly protection)

ICRC's ten largest operations:ICRC's ten largest operations:

RANK DELEGATIONS 2011INITITAL

BUDGET 2011 (in CHF million)

1 Afghanistan 89.4

2 Iraq 85.8

3 Sudan 82.8

4 Pakistan 82.4

5 Israel & Occupied Territories 64.8

6 Democratic Republic of Congo 63.1

7 Somalia 53.0

8 Yemen 48.8

9 Colombia 40.9

10 Niger (West Africa) (regional) 29.3

TOTAL 640.2

Field Budget 2011 1,046.9

Proportion 61.16%