A) Objectives of the pledge:
Signatories of this pledge are deeply concerned by the increasing number of fatalities and incidents involving humanitarian personnel and increasing restrictions on humanitarian access globally. The impacts of this trend are felt most acutely by local humanitarian personnel, including volunteers.[1]
International humanitarian law is the foundation for alleviating human suffering in wars. It limits the effects of armed conflict and regulates the conduct of hostilities. It provides for the protection of civilians, including the protection and respect of humanitarian personnel who assist and protect the victims of armed conflict, and notably provide the food, water and medical care that civilians in conflict zones need to survive and live in dignity.
Respect for IHL is being severely undermined, with consequences for current and future conflicts. The protective power of IHL is under immense pressure and this will only increase as the nature of warfare becomes more complex. States and the Movement have unique and complementary roles to increase adherence to IHL, including the protection of humanitarian personnel.
Signatories share a sense of responsibility to challenge this trend and amplify calls for compliance with IHL. We want to ensure that the tragic increasing number of fatalities and incidents involving humanitarian personnel are not in vain. We must advocate for increased compliance with IHL to better protect humanitarian personnel and the people they serve. We must support practical actions that Movement and other humanitarian actors propose to ensure the humanitarian assistance they provide in conflict, does not come at the cost of their lives.
This pledge supports:
- the call of the Council of Delegates for respect and support for principled humanitarian action, including the Appeal to States
- Commission I: ‘Building a Global Culture of Respect for IHL’
- Commission II: ‘Standing by our Fundamental Principles in responding to humanitarian needs and risks’
- Commission III: ‘Enabling sustainable, locally-led action’
[1] Aid Worker Security Report, Figures at a Glance, 2024
B) Action plan:
Signatory States and National Societies, working together as appropriate, pledge to take as many as possible of the following actions before the 35th International Conference:
- Enhance promotion of, respect for, and compliance with IHL, particularly in relation to the protection of humanitarian personnel, and principled humanitarian action.
- Consistently call upon all parties to armed conflict to respect and ensure respect for IHL.
- Undertake awareness raising, training, capacity building, and other means of engagement with a focus on those who operate in theatres of armed conflict.
- Support effective domestic implementation of IHL obligations.
- Leverage the Movement’s unique combination of local, national, and international response capabilities, and its multilateral engagement with States globally, to progress initiatives that increase respect for, and protection of, humanitarian personnel.
- Enhance support for local, national, and international humanitarian organisations delivering assistance to civilians affected by conflict, including all Movement actors, with a view to reduce individual, operational, and organisations risks to personnel, including volunteers.
- Regularly engage and consult with local, national, and international humanitarian personnel to determine practical measures to further support their protection and their vital work in current and future conflicts.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
- Activities undertaken by signatories that enhance promotion of, respect for, and compliance with IHL, including in relation to the protection of humanitarian personnel, multilaterally, regionally, and bilaterally.
- Actions by signatories (for example, funding or providing training, insurance, security, health security, other protective actions) that practically support local, national, and international humanitarian personnel and organisations, enhance humanitarian outcomes, and reduce individual, operational, and organisational risks.
- Activities undertaken to include local and national humanitarian personnel in coordination mechanisms, platforms, forums, seminars and events, organised by the signatory, on IHL, the protection of humanitarian personnel, and humanitarian action.
D) Resource implications:
Signatories to consider available budgetary, human, and technical resources, as applicable.