31ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT GENEVA 2011 REPORT OF THE 31ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT INCLUDING THE SUMMARY REPORT OF THE 2011 COUNCIL OF DELEGATES Prepared by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Geneva 28 November–1 December 2011 International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) TABLE OF CONTENTS RESULTS OF THE MEETINGS OF 1 THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT 1.1 AGENDA AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE 2011 COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 9 1 1 1 Agenda 9 1 1 2 Resolution 1: Working towards the elimination of nuclear weapons 11 1 1 3 Resolution 2: Movement components’ relations with external humanitarian actors 12 1 1 4 Resolution 3: Strategy for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement Strategy) 13 1 1 5 Resolution 4: Revision of National Society statutes and legal base 4 1 1 1 6 Resolution 5: Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement on Operational Arrangements, dated 28 November 2005, between the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Magen David Adom in Israel 15 1 1 7 Resolution 6: Preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement 16 1 1 8 Resolution 7: National Societies preparing for and responding to armed conflict and other situations of violence 17 1 1 9 Resolution 8: Agenda and programme of the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 21 1 1 10 Resolution 9: Proposal of persons to fill the posts of officers at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 21 1.2 AGENDA AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE 31st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT 23 1 2 1 Agenda 23 1 2 2 Resolution 1: Strengthening legal protection for victims of armed conflicts 24 1 2 3 Resolution 2: 4-year action plan for the implementation of international humanitarian law 26 1 2 4 Resolution 3: Migration: Ensuring access, dignity, respect for diversity and social inclusion 31 1 2 5 Resolution 4: Furthering the auxiliary role: Partnership for stronger National Societies and volunteering development 33 1 2 6 Resolution 5: Health care in danger: Respecting and protecting health care 35 1 2 7 Resolution 6: Health inequities with a focus on women and children 37 1 2 8 Resolution 7: Strengthening normative frameworks and addressing regulatory barriers concerning disaster mitigation, response and recovery 40 1 2 9 Resolution 8: Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement on Operational Arrangements, dated 28 November 2005, between the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Magen David Adom in Israel 42 1 2 10 Resolution 9: Our World Your Move – For Humanity 44 3 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 2 LIST OF DELEGATES 2.1 MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE 45 2.2 STANDING COMMISSION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT 95 2.3 OBSERVERS 97 2 3 1 National Societies awaiting recognition and admission 97 2 3 2 Entities and organizations that participated as observers 97 2.4 GUESTS 103 2 4 1 Guest speakers 103 2 4 2 Red Cross and Red Crescent 104 2 4 3 Other guests 104 4 Table of contents 3 2011 COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 3.1 CONVOCATION 105 3.2 AGENDA 107 3.3 CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 109 3.4 SUMMARY RECORD 111 3 4 1 ITEM I: OPENING SESSION, ELECTIONS, AGENDA AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS 112 – Opening of the Council by the Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 112 – Election of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretaries of the Council 112 – Adoption of the agenda of the Council of Delegates 112 3 4 2 ITEM II: ISSUES FOR DEBATE AND DECISION 112 – Nuclear weapons 112 – Movement components’ relations with external humanitarian actors 117 – National Societies preparing for and responding to armed conflict and other situations of violence 119 – Strategy for the Movement 124 – Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Magen David Adom in Israel 128 3 4 3 ITEM III: ISSUES FOR DECISION 131 – Red Cross/Red Crescent heritage 131 – 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 132 • Adoption of the agenda 132 • Adoption of the list of proposed officers 132 3 4 4 ITEM IV: FOLLOW-UP TO THE 2009 COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 132 3 4 5 ITEM V: CLOSING OF THE COUNCIL OF DELEGATES AND VENUE OF THE NEXT COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 133 3 4 6 HENRY DUNANT MEDAL AWARDS CEREMONY 134 3.5 LIST OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 137 5 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 31st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 4 OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT 4.1 CONVOCATION 139 4.2 AGENDA AND PROGRAMME 141 4 2 1 Agenda and programme 141 4 2 2 Programme of workshops and side events 141 4.3 CONFERENCE OFFICIALS 143 4 3 1 Chairmanship of the Conference 143 4 3 2 Chairmanship of the Conference’s subsidiary bodies 143 4 3 3 Bureau of the Conference 144 4.4 OPENING CEREMONY 145 4 4 1 Welcoming address by Mr Guy Mettan, President of the Geneva branch of the Swiss Red Cross 145 4 4 2 Testimonials 145 4 4 3 Reading of the Movement’s Fundamental Principles by dancers of the Rudra-Béjart School 148 4.5 OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE 151 4 5 1 Opening of the First Plenary Meeting by Mr Massimo Barra, Chairman of the Standing Commission 151 4 5 2 Address by Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation 153 4 5 3 Election of the Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Secretary-General, Assistant Secretaries-General and other officers of the Conference 515 4 5 4 Conference agenda and programme, and procedure for adopting resolutions 515 4 5 5 Keynote address by Mr Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross 159 4 5 6 Keynote address by Mr Tadateru Konoé, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 162 4.6 FIRST PLENARY MEETING 167 4 6 1 Opening address by the Chair of the Plenary 167 4 6 2 Speech by Dr Philip Spoerri, Director for International Law and Cooperation, International Committee of the Red Cross 168 4 6 3 Discussion on international humanitarian law (IHL) 170 6 Table of contents 4.7 SECOND PLENARY MEETING 217 4 7 1 Election of the members of the Standing Commission 217 4 7 2 First Plenary meeting discussion on IHL (continued) 220 4 7 3 Follow-up to previous conferences 229 – 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and follow-up to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding of 28 November 2005 between the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Magen David Adom in Israel; adoption of a resolution 230 4.8 THIRD PLENARY MEETING 233 4 8 1 Election of the members of the Standing Commission (continued): Proclamation of results 233 4 8 2 Opening address by the Chair 233 4 8 3 Introduction by Mr Matthias Schmale, Under-Secretary-General for Programme Services, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 234 4 8 4 Keynote speakers’ statements and discussion on implementation of the International Disaster Response Laws (IDRL) Guidelines, enhancing disaster risk reduction through legislation, and regulatory barriers to providing emergency and transitional shelter in a rapid and equitable manner after natural disasters 236 – Part I – Implementation of the IDRL Guidelines 236 • Keynote speakers’ statements 236 • Discussion on strengthening disaster law 242 • Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United Nations Office on the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 249 – Part II – Enhancing disaster risk reduction through legislation 251 • Keynote speakers’ statements 251 • Discussion on strengthening disaster law (continued) 254 – Part III – Regulatory barriers to providing emergency and transitional shelter in a rapid and equitable manner after natural disasters 275 • Keynote speakers' statements 275 • Discussion on strengthening disaster law (continued) 278 4.9 FOURTH PLENARY MEETING 287 4 9 1 Additional remarks on the election of the members of the Standing Commission 287 4 9 2 Report on the Conference 288 4 9 2 1 Workshops and Commissions 288 4 9 2 2 Pledges 291 4 9 2 3 Drafting Committee 293 4 9 3 Adoption of the resolutions of the Conference 293 4 9 4 Closing of the Conference 294 4.10 LIST OF PLEDGES 295 4.11 LIST OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE CONFERENCE 299 7 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent SIXTEENTH SESSION OF THE STANDING COMMISSION 5 OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT 301 8 Results of the meetings of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement RESULTS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT 1 1.1 AGENDA AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE 2011 COUNCIL OF DELEGATES 1.1.1 Agenda external humanitarian actors in a coordinated and coherent manner and in line with the I. Elections, agenda Fundamental Principles and procedural matters 6. National Societies preparing for 1. Opening of the Council and responding to armed conflict 2 and other situations of violence 2. Election of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretaries of the Council Following up on the recommendation of the 2009 Council of Delegates workshop on “Collective 3. Adoption of the agenda of the Council responsibility and partnerships,” in view of recent of Delegates world events and on the basis of a background report, the resolution calls upon leaders of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to II.