2023-12-19 10:00:00
The purpose of this strategy is to address the challenges brought about by the ever-changing global scenario and emphasize the organization’s main mission: to provide protection and assistance to people affected by armed conflicts and other situations of violence.
In the coming years, the ICRC will prioritize strengthening its protection activities and engaging in dialogue with States and non-State armed groups to ensure that they fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL).
“The ICRC was born on a battlefield more than 160 years ago, driven by the refusal to be indifferent to suffering. That deep commitment remains at the heart of our identity,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.
You can download the institutional strategy here
“As a humanitarian agency on the front line of response, we see how IHL plays a vital role in limiting the brutality of armed conflict. With this strategy, the ICRC affirms its determination to support both civilians and combatants in times of war. to ensure that their rights and protections under IHL are respected. The devastating human cost of war must be reduced.”
One of the objectives of the strategy is to make international humanitarian law a global political priority, reinforcing its universality and enduring importance.
The new strategy also reaffirms the neutrality of the ICRC as a “principle facilitating action”; By not taking sides in armed conflicts, the organization can help conflict-affected people in disputed places that it could not otherwise reach. Similarly, he underlines the unique role of the ICRC as a neutral intermediary, which this year has allowed it to facilitate the release of hostages and detainees in Yemen, Sudan and Israel and the occupied territories.
“There is an inherent relationship between IHL, humanitarian principles and peace; in fulfilling our role as a neutral intermediary, we will seek to promote humanitarian measures that can contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflicts. This is part of our operational approach unique, combining protection and essential services, while promoting respect for the laws of war,” said President Spoljaric.
The ICRC is active in a hundred conflict situations worldwide, so this strategy aims to strengthen the organization’s emergency response capacity, as well as its flexibility to adapt its capabilities, partnerships and exit strategies in protracted conflicts. .
The new strategy also highlights the need to understand and address the consequences of new technologies in wars, and the applicability of IHL to areas such as autonomous weapons, cyber warfare and the use of artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, the ICRC affirms its identity within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Commits to cooperating with all National Societies and the International Federation to strengthen the Movement as a credible and effective global humanitarian network, recognizing respective roles, roles and responsibilities.
Furthermore, in recognition of changing attitudes towards international humanitarian action, the ICRC is committed to actively participating in debates on localization and decolonization. By learning from and contributing to this necessary re-evaluation of conventional practices, the ICRC aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable approach to humanitarian assistance.
On the other hand, it prioritizes risk management and financial stability, with a renewed emphasis on the diversification of financing sources and the acceleration of the institution’s digital transformation.
Finally, the new strategy reiterates the value of competition, diversity and inclusion within the organization and aims to cultivate a workforce in which people of all backgrounds feel respected and supported and have a deep sense of belonging. .
About the ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, impartial and independent organization with an exclusively humanitarian mission established in the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It helps people affected by armed conflicts and other situations of violence around the world, doing everything possible to protect their lives and dignity, and to alleviate their suffering, often together with their Red Cross and Red Crescent partners.
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