Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Better Laws: Stronger Humanitarian Action Training Workshop on strengthening disaster laws and humanitarian action Strategy 2020 & Humanitarian Diplomacy Razmi Farook 11 th -12 th October 2011, Maldives

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 WHO WE ARE

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Globalization Faith and culture Science and technology International order Climate change Disaster trends Migration Violence Humanitarian and development system Demographic changes Economic uncertainty Women as a force for change Urbanisation Health trends Communities Volunteering Our changing world: trends 2020

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Poverty and poor governance lie at the root of vulnerability to emergencies and disasters South Asia, has around 1/4 of the world’s population and continuing high levels of poverty & is also prone high risks of severe or catastrophic environmental hazards

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Vision 2020 To inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world. (Article 4, IFRC Constitution)

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Vision 2020 Strategic Aim 1 Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises Strategic Aim 2 Enable healthy and safe living Strategic Aim 3 Promote social inclusion and a culture of non-violence and peace Enabling Action 2 Pursue humanitarian diplomacy to prevent and reduce vulnerability in a globalized world Enabling Action 3 Function effectively as the IFRC Enabling Action 1 Build strong National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 South Asia What are the priority issues we should be tackling? What can the IFRC/NS and their Governments be doing about it? Share experiences/identify opportunities? What can NSs/Govts be doing to prepare for the International Conference?

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Humanitarian Diplomacy is persuading opinion leaders and decision makers, to act at all times, in the interest of vulnerable people and with full respect for the fundamental principles

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 The Responsibility to Persuade  Humanity  Independence  Unique standing in International Law  Millions of volunteers mobilised across the globe  Breath of humanitarian actors  Privileged access we enjoy as auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field  Strong confidential diplomacy

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 What can governments do to support their National Society? Govt reps have a vital role to play to ensure the RCRC can fulfill its mandate granted to it by States under international law and resolutions from the international conference.

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 What can government representatives do to strengthen and support their National Society?  Legal Recognition  Emblem usage  Harness expertise and understand capacity to respond to emergencies and disasters  Support an IHL committee  Build a Red Cross/Red Crescent Parliamentary Friends group  Understand and Implement the resolutions and pledges from the International Conferences

Saving lives, changing minds. HD/IDRL Workshop Maldives 2011 Overall Objectives  Build positive relationship between NSs and their Govts  Create a safe space to discuss, share information and identify opportunities to collaborate  Using resolutions at the International Conference to give prominence to global HD Priorities particularly IDRL  Use IDRL as an entry point to other HD interventions  Disaster Management, Health, Migration, Gender