Roundup: Leaders call for greater collaboration to meet growing humanitarian needs

The world needs greater collaboration in light of growing humanitarian needs, participants at the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent said Thursday.

The conference adopted a series of resolutions that will directly benefit vulnerable communities, and the people serving them.

"The resolution on the safety and security of volunteers, for example, calls on states to ensure that humanitarian volunteers are protected, including by providing insurance and other safety nets," said International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Secretary General Elhadj As Sy.

Another resolution seeking to improve the protection of those detained in non-international armed conflicts was passed, as well as one improving the facilitation and regulation of international disaster response, strengthening coordination and laws for disaster risk reduction, and promoting enabling laws for first aid.

States did not reach an agreement, however, on the adoption of a new mechanism aiming to strengthen the compliance of international humanitarian law.

Despite this setback, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director General Yves Daccord maintained that "together with states, we've resolved to do more to fight and prevent two of the biggest humanitarian scourges in current times: attacks on health care personnel and facilities, and sexual and gender-based violence in crises."

"From South Sudan to Syria, ensuring access to health care in war zones is a top priority. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake," he added.

The International Conference, held from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10, is a unique global forum bringing together the leaders from State Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

This year representatives from 169 governments and 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies attended the event, which takes place once in four years. Endit