Actions taken:
The British Red Cross (BRC) is pleased to report on actions taken to implement the commitments of this pledge.
To continue to work together in the United Kingdom’s National Committee on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to promote, monitor and implement IHL, including by forging and strengthening links with other States’ National IHL Committees, and by helping other States establish such Committees.
The BRC continues to be an active member of the UK National Committee on IHL. It has worked with the Committee to promote, monitor and implement IHL throughout the reporting period.
The BRC has had the privilege to be part of the small group of Committee members (including the Chair and the Secretary, both from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)) who have met with representatives of other States’ National IHL Committees to establish and strengthen links with these Committees. This has included participation in both bilateral exchanges and in more formal meetings. The same has applied to contacts with other States to help them establish their own National IHL Committee.
Examples of relevant multi-lateral meetings include the following. In 2021, the FCDO, the ICRC and the BRC, with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat, organised a meeting of representatives of Commonwealth IHL Committees. The BRC also helped to represent the UK Committee at the 5th Universal Meeting of National IHL Committees. In 2023, the BRC participated in the European Regional Conference of IHL Committees, and together with the Chair of the Committee, the BRC spoke at the ICRC Regional IHL Seminar for Eastern Africa.
The UK National Committee has continued to hold events to mark significant anniversaries and to raise awareness in the UK of topical IHL issues. This has included a joint event with the UK Group of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War in 2022 to mark the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the first two Additional Protocols to the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
To work together to raise awareness of the special status and role of the British Red Cross as an auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field.
Over the period, the British Red Cross has developed a deeper overall partnership with the UK government in specific areas of mutual interest. The BRC has facilitated contact between UK officials and the National Red Cross and National Red Crescent Societies of countries engaged in armed conflict and provided Movement perspectives on those situations.
We have expanded the British Red Cross secondee programme into HMG by introducing a second role into FCDO working on climate-related issues. We have also utilised the auxiliary role to support and co-operate with the FCDO on exploring key humanitarian priorities. This included a donor-led localisation dialogue in 2023.
We reinstated the FCDO – BRC Strategic Dialogue in 2024. It was agreed that we would continue to promote the work of the BRC as a humanitarian auxiliary and clarify priority focus areas for our continued co-operation.
At the FCDO’s request, British Red Cross psycho-social support workers continue to accompany the FCDO Rapid Deployment Team to major emergencies involving UK nationals overseas. We also delivered training to FCDO officials on personal well-being.
Generally, over the past four years, there has been increased awareness and understanding of the auxiliary role among officials.
Some UK funding to support the BRC’s overseas work with partner National Societies has contributed to enhancing the partner’s own auxiliary role with their respective authorities.
To hold an event which commemorates the 150th anniversary of the British Red Cross.
The 150th anniversary of the founding of what became the British Red Cross was in 2020. Unfortunately, constraints arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the organisation of an anniversary event.
The British Red Cross is presently working with the FCDO, under the auspices of the UK National Committee on International Humanitarian Law, in the organisation of a public event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and the 25th anniversary of the UK National Committee on International Humanitarian Law. This is likely to be held in October 2024.