Report on resolution 4:
– Date: 31.07.2019
– Country: United Kingdom
– Type of entity: National Society
– Which measures have you put in place in order to enhance the secure functioning of health care facilities and medical transport?
The topic of Health Care Delivery in Armed Conflict was included in papers on the Promotion and Implementation of International Humanitarian Law, prepared by the British Red Cross and the ICRC for consideration at both the Commonwealth’s Law Ministers Meeting (16-19 October 2017) and the Commonwealth Meeting of Senior Officials of Law Ministries (1-3 October 2018).
• On 1 February 2018 and 28 January 2019, a British Red Cross international law adviser gave a lecture at University College London on the treatment of the medical function under IHL and the legal bases of humanitarian action in armed conflict for a course on “Conflict, Humanitarianism and Health”. Additionally, on 7 February 2019, another adviser gave a lecture at St George’s University London on the same topic for the Wilderness and Disaster Medicine Society.
• On 2 November 2017, an international law adviser gave a presentation at the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Symposium on the special status of the medical function under international humanitarian law with reference to how obligations under IHL can intersect with medical ethics more generally. The adviser also presented on humanitarian principles and the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• On 7 April 2018, an international law adviser gave a lecture on Legal and Ethical Issues in Armed Conflict Situations for the Society of Apothecaries’ course on Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine.
– Which concrete actions have you conducted to collect and analyze data related to violence against health care? How did you use this information to develop practical measures to address such violence?
N/A
– What decisions have you taken to enhance your staff and volunteers’ understanding of the rights and responsibilities of health care personnel? In addition, have you implemented concrete measures (e.g. Safer Access Framework) to ensure the safety of health care delivery?
The British Red Cross sent a Technical Team Manager to the Geneva Reference Group on Global Health in May 2019. The debate at this meeting included a session on safety, security and protection of humanitarian health care actors in the context of conflict and violence.
– As an auxiliary to your government, which activities have you initiated to promote, advocate for, and address the issue of violence against health care with your government?
On 19 April 2018, the NGO – Military Contact Group (NMCG), which is chaired by the British Red Cross, held a meeting to answer the following question: Are all Humanitarian Principles equal in the delivery of frontline humanitarian medical care? Using the case example of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) co-location of civilian medical teams alongside the Iraqi military, during the 2016-2017 military campaign, Battle of Mosul, Iraq, as a discussion starting point, the meeting set out to explore the extent to which the Humanitarian Principles of Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality and Independence, can be adhered to when humanitarians work in situations of close proximity to the military to deliver frontline medical care within an active conflict setting. Further, the discussion examined whether all four Humanitarian Principles could be up-held equally or whether compromises should be afforded as to the weight of individual Principles, in order to effectively deliver live-saving care. Currently, the case example of Mosul is deemed as unique, however, it is acknowledged that with the changing and increasingly complicated nature of conflicts that these questions will continue to arise and could become a ‘new norm.’ • The British Red Cross Executive Director for International, Alexander Matheou visited Yemen in April 2019 and briefed the All Party Parliamentary Group on Yemen shortly thereafter. Key themes of his briefing included safe access for humanitarian organisations including healthcare staff and respect for the IHL principles of precautions and proportionality.
Report on resolution 4– download
– Country: United Kingdom
– Type of entity: National Society
– Which measures have you put in place in order to enhance the secure functioning of health care facilities and medical transport?
The topic of Health Care Delivery in Armed Conflict was included in papers on the Promotion and Implementation of International Humanitarian Law, prepared by the British Red Cross and the ICRC for consideration at both the Commonwealth’s Law Ministers Meeting (16-19 October 2017) and the Commonwealth Meeting of Senior Officials of Law Ministries (1-3 October 2018).
• On 1 February 2018 and 28 January 2019, a British Red Cross international law adviser gave a lecture at University College London on the treatment of the medical function under IHL and the legal bases of humanitarian action in armed conflict for a course on “Conflict, Humanitarianism and Health”. Additionally, on 7 February 2019, another adviser gave a lecture at St George’s University London on the same topic for the Wilderness and Disaster Medicine Society.
• On 2 November 2017, an international law adviser gave a presentation at the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Symposium on the special status of the medical function under international humanitarian law with reference to how obligations under IHL can intersect with medical ethics more generally. The adviser also presented on humanitarian principles and the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• On 7 April 2018, an international law adviser gave a lecture on Legal and Ethical Issues in Armed Conflict Situations for the Society of Apothecaries’ course on Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine.
– Which concrete actions have you conducted to collect and analyze data related to violence against health care? How did you use this information to develop practical measures to address such violence?
N/A
– What decisions have you taken to enhance your staff and volunteers’ understanding of the rights and responsibilities of health care personnel? In addition, have you implemented concrete measures (e.g. Safer Access Framework) to ensure the safety of health care delivery?
The British Red Cross sent a Technical Team Manager to the Geneva Reference Group on Global Health in May 2019. The debate at this meeting included a session on safety, security and protection of humanitarian health care actors in the context of conflict and violence.
– As an auxiliary to your government, which activities have you initiated to promote, advocate for, and address the issue of violence against health care with your government?
On 19 April 2018, the NGO – Military Contact Group (NMCG), which is chaired by the British Red Cross, held a meeting to answer the following question: Are all Humanitarian Principles equal in the delivery of frontline humanitarian medical care? Using the case example of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) co-location of civilian medical teams alongside the Iraqi military, during the 2016-2017 military campaign, Battle of Mosul, Iraq, as a discussion starting point, the meeting set out to explore the extent to which the Humanitarian Principles of Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality and Independence, can be adhered to when humanitarians work in situations of close proximity to the military to deliver frontline medical care within an active conflict setting. Further, the discussion examined whether all four Humanitarian Principles could be up-held equally or whether compromises should be afforded as to the weight of individual Principles, in order to effectively deliver live-saving care. Currently, the case example of Mosul is deemed as unique, however, it is acknowledged that with the changing and increasingly complicated nature of conflicts that these questions will continue to arise and could become a ‘new norm.’ • The British Red Cross Executive Director for International, Alexander Matheou visited Yemen in April 2019 and briefed the All Party Parliamentary Group on Yemen shortly thereafter. Key themes of his briefing included safe access for humanitarian organisations including healthcare staff and respect for the IHL principles of precautions and proportionality.
Report on resolution 4– download
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