At this Conference rather more references to “women” occur, many of them in the context of particular needs for assistance or protection – in terms of access to health care services, for example, or against sexual and gender-based violence. Most of these references have been omitted in the following but may have served to remind the Movement of the need to pay more attention to women in all issues under discussion.
One of the resolutions of the 28th Conference concerned the reduction of risk and impact of disasters, including the General Objective 4, which was “Reduce the increased vulnerability[i] to diseases arising from stigma and discrimination and from the lack of access to comprehensive prevention, care and treatment”
One of the paragraphs of that decision reads:
“4.1.3 States, assisted and supported by National Societies, are urged to undertake operational measures, with special emphasis on empowering women and addressing the gender imbalance, to promote the widespread availability of and equitable access to comprehensive prevention, care and treatment, including improved and enhanced sexual and reproductive health care[ii]”
Fernanda Texeira of Mozambique Red Cross, who was General Rapporteur of the Conference presented the “Consolidated report of the Commissions on tolerance, non-discrimination and respect for diversity”, including this paragraph:
“Many participants underlined that some of the biggest challenges come from within ourselves, both individually and within the Movement. It was felt that the Movement’s components are not sufficiently representative, that National Societies do not always reflect the diversity of their societies. Even those that are representative sometimes fail to empower sectors of society such as women and youth[iii]”
In his opening address to the Conference, the President of the ICRC – Jacob Kellenberger – referred to his own organisation’s work in relation to women since the previous Conference:
“The ICRC has kept the promise it made in 1999 to attend to the special needs of women and girls affected by armed conflict, and to endeavour to draw the attention of warring parties to the prohibition of all forms of sexual violence. It did this by publishing a detailed study on the subject in 2001. By integrating the study’s conclusions into its own operational practice through guidelines issued to its delegations, the ICRC has been able to take better account of women’s special needs.[iv]”
Icelandic Red Cross, in a statement, also referred to the work of the ICRC in this regard:
“We would also like to salute the work of the ICRC on both customary international humanitarian law and women and war.[v]”
Jacob Kellenberger was given the floor, during the first plenary session, to present their report on Women and War, referring primarily to the problems facing women, and the possible ways forward in terms of reducing these, but also reminded the audience that “woman” as not the same as “victim”:
“Turning firstly to the impact of armed conflict on women, the study found that women’s experience of armed conflict is multifaceted. In wartime, women may face grave risks to their security, they may lose loved ones, they may suffer from reduced access to the means of survival, they may face increased risk of sexual violence and injury, they may be forcibly displaced from their homes. Yet women should not be classified solely as vulnerable. They demonstrate resilience in countless ways, such as holding their families together and supporting dependents. They are often actively engaged as politicians, leaders of non-governmental organizations and campaigners for peace. They may take up arms, voluntarily or involuntarily, or participate in logistical support roles in the armed forces or armed groups. Thus, the Women facing war study demonstrates that the words “victim” and “vulnerable” are not synonymous with “women”[vi]”.
Later, he refers to one of the practical measures implemented by the ICRC:
“There is a greater awareness of the value of having mixed teams of male and female delegates and translators, in order to make the ICRC more approachable for women and to foster dialogue. Wherever possible, the ICRC endeavours to provide women with the option of speaking with female staff.[vii]”
After winding up the first morning of the first plenary session, the chairman – Mr Jaime Ricardo Fernández Urriola – gave the floor to Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan who introduced an exhibition related to the “Women and War” discussion.
In her address, Queen Rania said, among other things:
“These women have found loyal champions in the R ed Cross and Red Crescent, which understand that a woman’s well-being is more than just a marginal concern. An unsettled woman means shrinking levels of health and education for her family. And troubled families mean a troubled future for social and economic development. But by the same token, if we can uphold the safety and rights of women — if we can protect their human dignity, even in times of upheaval — we can lift the horizons for humanity as a whole.[viii]”
Ms Annika Söder, a Swedish Junior Minister took the floor on the issue of HIV / AIDS, and among the things she said was this, which may illustrate emerging new ways of thinking:
“The prevention of HIV/AIDS is one of the most controversial topics in the world today. It is about the balance of power in society between men and women, children and parents, rich and poor. This makes the struggle difficult but not less important. Everybody needs to engage[ix]”.
Later, the Conference heard from the Danish Ambassador, Mr Tyge Lehmann, who addressed a wide range of issues, including the following:
“The Danish government, together with the government of Chile, the United Nations and the European Commission, held a conference in Santiago de Chile in November last year on the subject, “Building Capacities for Peacekeeping and Women’s Dimensions in Peace Processes”. One of the Conference’s conclusions was that more women must be involved in peacekeeping and conflict resolution in order to ensure better protection of women.[x]”
Anders Milton, then President of the Swedish Red Cross, took the floor and spoke to several issues, including this:
“The mission of the R ed Cross and R ed Crescent Movement is to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Our task during and after conflicts is to protect and support the most vulnerable, the better to succeed, especially in cooperation with women’s organizations, at addressing humanitarian challenges, at alleviating suffering during and rebuilding society after an armed conflict. Women around the world are in many cases discriminated against. Women’s groups have the knowledge and experience of what is needed to lessen violence in society. We need to use that knowledge and cooperate with them. I would also like at this point to thank the ICRC and welcome the study on women and war.[xi]”
Ms Felicita Nanuse of Namibian Red Cross spoke on behalf of their Secretary General, Ms Razia Essack-Kauaria, giving a perspective on HIV/AIDS:
“We acknowledge that multiple factors such as poverty, migration, wars and conflicts, cross-border movements, substance abuse and the status of women and girls fuel the AIDS pandemic.[xii]”
Mrs Alicia Hunt, representing Belize, also went beyond “women as victims”:
“In conclusion, as my governments representative at this Conference, I would also like to reiterate our aim to advance social justice by promoting and enhancing opportunities for women to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security. These conditions are vital to improving the social standards of all nations. Moreover, I personally believe that women should be encouraged, to the greatest extent possible, to become more involved in their societies and that it should be an integral part of government programmes to promote women to become more politically active and present on the world scene[xiii]”.
Commission B3 of the Conference, which discussed “Reducing the risk and impact of disaster and disease: Reducing the risk and impact of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases on vulnerable people”, which included – among its conclusions:
“Because women shoulder the burden of infection and other HIV associated problems, the Declaration should include measures to empower women and alleviate their suffering.[xiv]”
and a little further on:
“The participants consider that the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a respected voice and has access to governments to advocate for:
…
4. the advancement and
empowerment of women and their protection from violence;[xv]”
[i] This was probably drafted rather late at night …
[ii] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 27; P 29/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iii] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 105; P 107/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iv] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 131; P 133/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[v] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 144; P 146/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[vi] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 152; P 154/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[vii] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 152; P 154/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[viii] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 153; P 155/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ix] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 166; P 168/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[x] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 175; P 177/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[xi] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 228; P 230/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[xii] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; P 242; P 244/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[xiii] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; PP 245-246; P 244/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[xiv] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; PP 245-246; P 244/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[xv] Report of the twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent including the summary report of the 2003 Council of Delegates and of the constitutive meeting of the 14th session of the standing commission; Geneva : ICRC : Federation, 2005; PP 245-246; P 244/284 in the electronic version available at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_2003_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
