One of the features of this Conference was interviews conducted by the MS, Ms Hala Gorani, (CNN correspondent and anchor) and moderator:
“What fuels their passion for this humanitarian work, given the fact that they are volunteers?
Ms Fatima Gailani, President, Afghan Red Crescent:
I was a volunteer myself when I was 12.
My mother was a volunteer; my grandmother was a volunteer. So I come from a background of volunteers.
Even during peace, because we have lots of natural disasters in Afghanistan, our National Society was really respected and loved and lots of people wanted to be either a volunteer or a member. Quite frankly – I am talking about 50 years ago – I did not know any women around me among my family or friends who were not either a member or a volunteer.
Today it has changed a lot. Before it was the elite; today it is people. Because they are needed, people feel good.
Take a volunteer in a remote area of Afghanistan, when this recent earthquake happened in Badakhshan – the main reason that they were the first to call and tell us where the help was needed, was that it made them respectable in their community. They like that, to be respected, to help[i]”.
During the more formal part of the Conference, there were numerous references to women as victims, but also attempts to construct a different narrative, here the perspective of H.R.H. Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, President of the Luxembourg Red Cross.
“As time is short, I would really like to speak about one theme that is particularly important to me. I read with great interest the engagements and pledges our Movement is making to further the protection of victims and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in all circumstances, especially in armed conflicts. I do want to emphasize that while women are the first victims, they are also the first not to be considered when the process of reconstruction begins. Clearly, women still lack direct influence when it comes to the identification of reconstruction priorities that are part of standard peace agreements. We need to involve them more actively in all our efforts, as it is they who are the essential actors in rebuilding post-conflict and post-disaster societies, from the family unit all the way up to the reconstruction of a safe and economically prosperous environment at country level. I would like us to go beyond conventional images of women as victims of war and consider the important input a woman can contribute to translating individual grievances into legitimate social concerns. Moreover, many of them play significant roles in building a new culture of peace at the local level by reorganizing families and communities, relaunching economic activity and promoting peace and education in community-based reconciliation. We can no longer afford to bypass women in the peace-making process, in the making of peace treaties and in policymaking on the prevention and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence[ii]”
A little later in the same intervention, she said
“I would like us to go beyond conventional images of women as victims of war and consider the important input a woman can contribute to translating individual grievances into legitimate social concerns. Moreover, many of them play significant roles in building a new culture of peace at the local level by reorganizing families and communities, relaunching economic activity and promoting peace and education in community-based reconciliation. We can no longer afford to bypass women in the peace-making process, in the making of peace treaties and in policymaking on the prevention and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence.[iii]”
Ms Päivi Kaukoranta, Director General, Legal Service, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, took the floor somewhat later and included in her statement this paragraph:
“We pay particular attention to the situation of women and girls and the most vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. We also underline that women must play an active role in humanitarian action and decision-making.[iv]”
H.E. Dr Suraya Dalil, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Geneva, also addressed the Conference and said this in her statement:
“The Afghanistan High Peace Council is a body responsible for the Peace and Reintegration Programme established in September 2010. The members of the Peace Council, including men and women, are endeavouring to pave the way for peace and stability across the country. This demonstrates that peace is one of the top priorities of the Government and should be dealt with in a manner that could bring armed opposition groups to the negotiation table and encourage them to use democratic processes[v]”.
H.E. Mr Triyono Wibowo, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva, made – in his wider statement – the following point:
“We also need to ensure that women, who account for the majority of those affected by crises and are disproportionately affected by humanitarian emergencies, are given equal opportunity to voice their aspirations and get involved in all phases of humanitarian assistance.[vi]”
H.E. Ms Nazhat Shameem Khan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Fiji in Geneva, had this to say:
“Failure to address gender-based violence provides a poor foundation for women’s resilience and health in structuring the lives and livelihoods of individuals, families and communities. In Fiji, women play central roles in the household. They are responsible for shelter, food, the house and children – and children, are, of course, the future members of our society. When a disaster hits, it affects everyone, with women being affected the most, but supported the least.[vii]”
H.E. Mr Thomas Barankitse, Ambassador, Assistant of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi spoke on several issues, and included the following
“The Government of Burundi is also convinced of the pressing need to strengthen the capacities of local communities. The Burundi Red Cross has already established local branches throughout the country, encouraging women and young people in particular to become involved as stakeholders in humanitarian action. [viii]”
The Conference’s Commission C, which dealt with “Joint action on the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence” noticed this:
“Gender inequality and discrimination underpin SGBV
and are exacerbated during emergencies. Solutions must
therefore address gender equality, women’s empowerment and enlisting men and
boys as agents of change.[ix]”
[i] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 215/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ii] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 227/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iii] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 227/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iv] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 252/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[v] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 293/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[vi] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P2 92/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[vii] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 317/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[viii] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 324/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ix] Report of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: including the summary report of the 2015 Council of Delegates; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, [2019?]; P 368/380 in the electronic version – it has never been printed – at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DOC/icrc_CI_2015_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
