A) Objectives of the pledge:
Volunteers represent the primary resource for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; their safety, protection, well-being, and valorization are essential to the success of its mission. Volunteers increasingly operate in contexts of fragility, complex emergencies, or protracted conflicts, the presence of adequate measures to protect, train, and provide value, legal advocacy, and support has become crucial.
Following the importance and support given to Volunteers and Volunteering tematics by Italy, (L. 266/1991; D.Lgs. 117/2017) the Italian Government and the Italian Red Cross are strongly and actively committed to enhancing value and protection for Volunteers on duty, involving relevant stakeholders.
The present pledge aims to strengthen the cooperation between the Italian Government and the Italian Red Cross through the auxiliary role in the humanitarian field also accomplished by Volunteers. This objective will be carried out in accordance with the important outcomes of the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and considering the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and their National Societies as key supporting counterparts.
B) Action plan:
Italy and the Italian Red Cross have strengthened their collaboration in different sectors, including the valorization of the contribution of Volunteers in the initiatives that the state makes available to citizens as well as the impact of Volunteering on the country’s economy. The Italian Red Cross in collaboration with the National Council of Economy and Labor (CNEL) has presented a study aimed precisely at giving value to the activity of the thousands of Volunteers in the field every day to assist those in a context of vulnerability.
Concurrently, the commitment of the Italian Red Cross to the safety and security as well to the well-being of Volunteers is always in action, through active security training (Lgs 81/08) besides establishing and acting a complete insurance coverage for all Volunteers in all types of Volunteering activities according to the current normative (L. 266/1991; D.Lgs. 117/2017) as Italy is actively promoting the normative development in the third sector.
To ensure the continuity and strengthen their cooperation towards the fulfilment of common goals in protecting and valorizing Volunteers in the humanitarian sector, the signatories commit to:
- Cooperate in the updating of the Study and Guidelines for the valorization of Volunteering, taking into consideration the developments of the sector and contemplating involving other partners, to be reported on the next International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent;
- Keep collaborating in the discussion, activities, development, and fulfilment of the normative regarding the protection, well-being, and security of Volunteers on duty;
- Maintain collaboration in the support and promotion of Volunteering by being present on initiatives, encounters, and conferences with the third sector;
- Keep collaborating in the discussion, activities, development, and active sharing with our partners in the Movement regarding the protection, well-being and security of Volunteers on duty.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
Proposed evaluation criteria for assessment to be held in 2028:
- Number of events with relevance on security, protection, and valorization of Volunteer and Volunteering;
- Number of encounters and meetings with partners of the third sector, universities, and stakeholders regarding the thematic areas of Volunteering;
- Updating of the study and the participation of other partners;
- Updating of the implementation and outpoints regarding the Guidelines;
- Updating of the involvement of our Movement partners.
D) Resource implications:
N/A
