icrc-annual-report-2013

The ICRC provided information in 19 special notes and joint statementson humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, the Central AfricanRepublic, Egypt, Mali, the Philippines, South Sudan and Syria.It placed particular emphasis on strengthening the Movementresponse to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, including by organizingmeetings of the Movement Advisory Platform and developinga joint Movement narrative.Movement coordination and cooperation was one of the mainissues discussed at the 2013 Council of Delegates in Sydney. Inpreparation for the meeting, the International Federation and theICRC jointly commissioned independent reviews on Movementcoordination and cooperation with external actors in four contexts(Haiti, Mali, the Philippines and Syria). In addition, 12 surveybasedcountry reviews followed a similar approach and involvedall Movement components.A report presented the findings of these reviews and informedthe Council’s discussions and its final resolution on this topic.The reviews also guided the development of an InternationalFederation/ICRC vision paper on Movement coordination. TheCouncil of Delegates resolution proposed a process to strengthenMovement cooperation over the next two years, with a focus onthe following areas:• strengthening leadership and coordination roles• scaling up the Movement’s operational preparedness andresponse• promoting coherent and well-coordinated internal andexternal communications• exploring new Movement-wide resource-mobilizationapproachesNames and Numbers (see Communication and InformationManagement). In the framework of the Movement’s InternationalBranding Initiative, the 2013 Council of Delegates adopted a resolutionaffirming the existing legal and regulatory framework onthe use of the emblems (see Communication and InformationManagement).National Societies directly contributed to three expert workshopsheld as part of the Health Care in Danger project. These workshopsfocused on safe delivery of health care by National Societiesin armed conflicts (Islamic Republic of Iran), ambulance andpre-hospital services in risk situations (Mexico) and the physicalsafety of health care facilities (Canada). The report of the workshopin Mexico was launched and promoted during the Councilof Delegates.MOVEMENT POLICYFollowing a consultation process in which they all participated,the Movement components adopted nine resolutions and debatedtopics of priority concern at nine interactive workshops during the2013 Council of Delegates. The resolutions focused on, inter alia,strengthening IHL, weapon-related issues, Movement coordination,the International Branding Initiative and the social inclusionof people with disabilities. All of these were also among the topicsproposed for the preliminary agenda of the 32nd InternationalConference in 2015. The workshops also provided a platform forthe exchange of experiences regarding humanitarian action toaddress the needs and concerns of vulnerable migrants and theresponse to sexual and gender-based violence.National Societies received technical guidance in working withexternal protagonists (private sector, other humanitarian agenciesor governments). The International Federation and the ICRC coorganizeda workshop on this topic during the 2013 Council ofDelegates, focusing on UN entities and civil protection.MOVEMENT PRINCIPLES AND RULESThe Joint International Federation/ICRC Commission forNational Society Statutes (Joint Statutes Commission) continuedto support National Society efforts to adhere to the FundamentalPrinciples and to strengthen their legal and statutory bases in linewith Movement standards. Throughout the year, it provided commentsand recommendations to over 50 National Societies ondraft or newly adopted statutes and on domestic laws supporting/recognizing the National Society. To this end, the Commissionkept track of National Society statutes and related national legislationworldwide. It also conducted a survey with chosen NationalSocieties on how to further strengthen the Movement’s work inthis field.Based on its statutory responsibilities and pursuant to the recommendationof the Joint Statutes Commission, the ICRCrecognized the South Sudan Red Cross Society as the Movement’s189th National Society, on 18 June 2013.The ICRC dealt with and responded to over 50 inquiries relatingto the proper use of the red cross, red crescent and red crystalemblems. On this topic, it also provided regular advice and recommendationsto ICRC delegations, National Societies, governmentsand the private sector and, together with Movement components,continued its dialogue with the Internet Corporation for Assigned70 | ICRC ANNUAL REPORT 2013