Report on – 33rd IC Resolution 1: Bringing IHL home: A road map for better national implementation of international humanitarian law (33IC/19/R1) – Indonesian Red Cross Society

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Strategy
Policy
Operational plan

At the National, Local level

Explanation:

PMI has resolutions and contributions in terms of IHL:

a. Building trust with integrity in carrying out its duties and activities guided by strong adherence to the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as stipulated in Article 4 of Law Number 1 of 2018 concerning the Red Cross.
b. Conducting dissemination of the Red Cross emblem and humanitarian values, both internally (PMI personnel) and externally (public, basic-secondary-higher education institutions, TNI-POLRI (Army-Police), relevant ministries in education, social affairs, law, and humanitarian fields).
c. Operational plans were incorporated disseminating humanitarian values of the Red Cross conducted by PMI disseminators across Indonesia and collaborating with relevant institutions (TNI, POLRI, academics, NGOs, and other ministries/agencies) to disseminate the Red Cross and humanitarian diplomacy to uphold world peace.
d. Ensuring Proper Use of the Red Cross Emblem: Through a series of consultation meetings with academics and the national government (Ministry of Law and Human Right), PMI were discussing on the regulations for how the Red Cross emblem can be used as an identifier. This aligns with Article 41(2) of the government regulation implementing Law Number 1 concerning the Red Cross in Indonesia. These regulations will ensure the emblem is used appropriately and maintains its significance.

PMI has been working on:
* Building trust with a strong foundation in integrity and following the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Fundamentals Principles;
* Actively promoting the Red Cross emblem and its humanitarian values both for its personnel and the public through various channels like schools, universities, military, government agencies, and relevant NGOs;
* Building collaboration with ICRC in promoting peace to disseminate humanitarian and Red Cross values to the military, police, and academics;
* PMI offers first-aid training programs specifically designed for police and journalists. These programs include a brief introduction to the RCRC and its core principles.
* Building a network of RCRC advocate by trained disseminators to act as a pool of talent dedicated to promoting the principles and mission of the RCRC;
* Optimizing the SAF (Safer Access Framework) to strengthen its personnel’s ability to respond safely in sensitive or insecure contexts including armed conflict, internal disturbances and tension.

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
Government and/or public authorities
ICRC/IFRC
Academia

Examples of cooperation:

PMI’s efforts in implementing resolutions on International Humanitarian Law:
a. In the context of Red Cross dissemination, PMI carries out disseminator training activities which include representatives from PMI throughout Indonesia. Disseminators are trained to educate and raise awareness about international humanitarian law (IHL), for example regarding the protection of victims of armed conflict, individual rights, and other humanitarian principles. They may also be trained to provide first aid training, organize public health programs, or disseminate vital information in emergencies or disasters.

b. PMI collaborates with the Government in membership of the Permanent Committee for the Application and Research of International Humanitarian Law (PANTAP) following the legal basis of the Decree of the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Indonesia No. M.01.PR.09.01-1980 dated 2 January 1980 Concerning the Permanent Committee for the Application and Research of International Humanitarian Law consisting of various representatives of Ministries/Institutions and Academics from State/Private Universities with the following duties:
* Formulate government policies in the field of IHL
* Carrying out research and studies related to the implementation and development of HHI
*Collect and evaluate national provisions related to IHL
* Formulate government policies regarding the implementation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and other international law rules that have been ratified by Indonesia
* Formulate uniformity in educational and teaching materials about IHL
* Formulate uniform public information related to IHL

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources
Competing priorities
Lack of specific knowledge/expertise
Lack of capacity and/or support (technical, financial, or other)

Details about challenges:

a. Limited dissemination of policies in IHL, especially the Red Cross Law no. 1 of 2018 and the National Government Regulation no. 7 of 2019, to the public, business actors and law enforcement officials.

b. The various priorities of PMI and ministries/institutions as members of PANTAP which sometimes do not touch on duties and functions in the field of IHL

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Type of Impact:
Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened
Programming and operations have become more effective and efficient
Partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been created or enhanced
Increase in mobilization of resources
Training and capacity of staff and volunteers has increased (for National Societies)

Details about the impact:

Expanding PMI’s Scope: Our current initiatives primarily focus on disseminating the RCRC mission and its core principles and are limited to the International Humanitarian Law (IHL). However, to enhance our contribution, PMI’s Strategic Plan 2024-2029 plan incorporates conflict resolution and humanitarian diplomacy, adapting into practical actions tailored for the Indonesian context, allowing PMI to play a more significant role in these areas.

1. In the context of dissemination:
* Strengthening Community Engagement: PMI actively engages the community by promoting volunteer opportunities for humanitarian programs to foster a sense of ownership and strengthens the impacts of the programs. Dissemination efforts go beyond simply raising awareness. PMI educates the public on various topics like health protocols, first aid, and disaster preparedness to empower them to take responsibility for their own safety and well-being in emergency situations;

* Building Strategic Partnerships: Disseminating information on PMI’s programs and works to foster collaboration and partnerships with other humanitarian organizations, governments, and the private sector. This collaborative approach allows for a wide reach and greater effectiveness in delivering humanitarian aid.

2. Building a Unified and Respected Identity: PMI issued 2 (two) regulations regarding the use of the PMI’s Logo as an identifier (PMI’s Corporate Identity and Uniform Guidelines) represents a significant policy step. These regulations enhance the protection of the emblem and prevent misuse to foster a sense of professionalism and unity, further solidifying PMI’s reputation as a trusted and reliable humanitarian organization.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

While Indonesia isn’t currently experiencing in active conflict, PMI prioritizes building trust in the community by promoting the values and core principles of the RCRC, as well as PMI’s programmes and services. This proactive approach emphasizes the preparedness of its personnel to navigate potential challenges and use SAF as a strategic approach when necessary to deliver humanitarian services safely and effectively in sensitive or insecure contexts, including situations of armed conflict, internal disturbances, and tension (i.e. Indonesian Presidential and Legislative Election 2024).

By actively disseminating information about the Red Cross, PMI achieves a multitude of positive outcomes:
a. Empowering the Public: The dissemination of information plays a vital role in raising public awareness of the PMI’s role in humanitarian assistance and protection. This empowers the public to understand how PMI helps those in need;
b. Promoting Humanitarian Values: effective communication fosters an understanding of core humanitarian principles, such as protecting those affected by emergency and non-emergency situations including conflict resolutions;
c. Fostering Engagement: recognizing the PMI’s work, creates a stronger network of support for humanitarian action through engaging the public in volunteering initiatives;
d. Protection of the Emblem: empower the public to identify and report misuse.