Resolutions ofthe 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
31-12-1999 Article, International Review of the Red Cross, No. 836
27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 31 October to 6 November 1999
Adoption of the Declaration and the Plan of Action
The 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (“the Conference”),
1. adopts the Declaration in annex 1,
2. adopts the Plan of Action in annex 2,
3. urges all members of the Conference to implement the actions set out in the Plan of Action, in accordance with their respective powers, mandates and capacities, and in the spirit of the humanitarian principles outlined in the Declaration, with a view to reaching the goals defined in the Plan of Action,
4. invites international and regional organisations to implement the actions mentioned in the Plan of Action which concern them,
5. requests all members of the Conference to make e very possible effort so that armed groups in conflict and other actors concerned implement, as appropriate, the actions mentioned in the Plan of Action,
6. requests the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to encourage and further the implementation of the present Resolution according to its statutory mandate, through consultations with States party to the Geneva Conventions and other actors,
7. requests the ICRC and the International Federation to present a report to the 28th International Conference on the implementation of the Plan of Action,
8. requests the members of the Conference to report to the 28th International Conference on the follow up given to the individual pledges made at the Conference.
Annex 1
Declaration of the 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: “the power of humanity ”
Annex 2
Plan of Action for the years 2000-2003
People on War - Solemn Appeal on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions
The 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent,
having taken note of the solemn Appeal of 12 August 1999, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, by leading figures invited by the International Committee of the Red Cross (attached),
stressing the relevance of this Appeal,
noting with satisfaction the impact it has already made,
fully endorses the Appeal of 12 August 1999 and undertakes to contribute towards the achievement of its aims.
* * * * *
People on War
Solemn Appeal on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions
The universally recognized Geneva Conventions were adopted in this city 50 years ago today. The States Parties thereby declared
their refusal to see the unprecedented horrors of the Second World War repeated.
Since then, these treaties have helped to alleviate much suffering but have not been able to prevent millions of innocent people from falling victim to the conflicts that have ravaged our planet.
Although they are often breached, the Geneva Conventions and the principles on which they are founded remain as valid and relevant as ever.
That is the opinion of thousands of individuals across the world who bear the physical and mental scars of war. Men, women and children have all talked about their experiences, their fears and their expectations. They are the voices of war, and we are convinced that these expectations can be met.
We have come together in Geneva to make a solemn appeal to all peoples, nations and governments. We call on the world:
to reject the idea that war is inevitable and to work tirelessly to eradicate its underlying causes;
to demand of all those involved in armed conflicts and all who are in a position to influence the course of such conflicts that they respect the essential humanitarian principles and the rules of international humanitarian law;
to spare civilians the agony of war;
to foster relations between individuals, peoples and nations on the basis of the principles that inspired the Geneva Conventions, namely,
respect for human dignity in all circumstances;
compassion for those who suffer;
solidarity.
We are convinced that disregard for these principles sets the stage for war and that respecting them during wartime facilitates the restoration of peace.
On the eve of a new millennium, let us all undertake to defend these principles and thus give hope to future generations.
This Solemn Appeal was signed in the Alabama Room of Geneva Town Hall on 12 August 1999 by:
His Highness Prince Saddrudin Aga Khan
Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Ms Shabana Azmi, India, actress
Ms Geraldine Chaplin, United Kingdom, actress
H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan
Fayrouz, Lebanon, singer and poet
Mr Serge Klarsfeld, France, President of the Association Fils et Filles des Déportés Juifs de France
Mr Chris Moon, United Kingdom, supporter of organizations for the disabled
Mr Jean Pictet, Honorary Vice-President of the ICRC
Mr Vladimir Pozner, Russian Federation, journalist
H.E. Mr Mário Soares, former President of Portugal
H.E. General Amadou Toumani Touré, former President of Mali
Ms Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children's Defense Fund
Mr Zhang Yuan, China, stage and film director
Mr Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Argentina, 1980 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, was unable to attend for health reasons.
Resolution on Emblems
The 27th International Conference,
taking into account Resolution 2 concerning the establishment of a working group on the emblems adopted by the Council of Delegates on 29 October 1999 (attached),
recognising the points raised in the above-mentioned Resolution,
accepts the proposals made in the Resolution.
Annex
Counc il of Delegates of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (Geneva, 28-30 October 1999) / Resolution 2: Emblem
The Council of Delegates,
recognising the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's fundamental principle of universality and the common goal of States, which are parties to the Geneva Conventions, and of the Movement to remove any obstacles to the universal application of the 1949 Geneva Conventions,
further recognising the current problems in some States and National Societies regarding the emblems of the red cross or red crescent,
taking into account and commending the work and consultations undertaken since 1995 by the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent at the request of the Movement, and in particular resolution 2 of the 1997 Council of Delegates,
1. calls upon the 27th International Conference
a) to invite the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent to establish a joint working group from the Movement and States on the emblems with a mandate to find a comprehensive solution, as rapidly as possible, which is acceptable to all parties in terms of substance and procedure,
b) to invite the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, to nominate the membership of the joint working group which will represent the shared responsibility of the Movement and States on the emblem, and to establish its terms of reference,
c) to request the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to establish the practical arrangements with States to carry out the tasks of the joint working group.
d) to request the joint working group to report back, through the Standing Commission, to the 2001 Council of Delegates and to the 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Revision of the Regulations for the Empress Shôken Fund
The 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent,
having taken cognizance of the report of the Joint Commission of the Empress Shôken Fund,
1. thanks the Joint Commission for its management of the Empress Shôken Fund and approves all the allocations made by it,
2. requests the Joint Commission to transmit this report to the Imperial Family of Japan through the intermediary of the Japanese Red Cross Society,
3. approves the new Regulations for the Empress Shôken Fund, the text of which is as follows:
Regulations for the Empress Shôken Fund
Approved by the Sixteenth International Conference of the Red Cross, London 1938, and revised by the Nineteenth International Conference, New Delhi 1957, the Twenty-fifth International Conference, Geneva 1986, the Council of Delegates, Budapest 1991, and the Twenty-seventh International Conference, Geneva, 1999
Article 1 -- The sum of 100,000 yen in Japanese gold presented by H.M. The Empress of Japan to the International Red Cross on the occasion of the Ninth International Conference (Washington, 1912) to promote “relief work in time of peace”, was increased to 200,000 yen by a further gift of 100,000 yen from their Majesties The Empress and The Dowager Empress of Japan, on the occasion of the Fifteenth International Conference, (Tokyo, 1934). The Fund was further increased by a gift of 3,600,000 yen from H.M. The Empress of Japan, on the occasion of the Red Cross Centenary in 1963, and by successive contributions from the Government of Japan since 1966, and from the Japanese Red Cross Society. This fund shall be entitled: “The Empress Shôken Fund”.
Article 2 -- The Fund shall be administered and its revenues distributed by a Joint Commission of six members chosen in their personal capacity. The Joint Commission shall be composed equally of three members appointed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and three by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the quorum shall be four. The Chairman of the Joint Commission shall be on a permanent basis one of the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross whereas the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shall provide the Joint Commission's Secretariat. The Joint Commission shall meet at Geneva, in principle at the headquarters of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cr escent Societies.
Article 3 -- The capital of the Fund as well as subsequent donations and contributions shall remain intact. Only revenues provided by interest and capital gains may be used for allocations awarded by the Joint Commission to meet all or part of the cost of the activities enumerated below:
(a) Disaster preparedness
(b) Activities in the field of health
(c) Blood transfusion services
(d) Youth activities
(e) First aid and rescue programmes
(f) Activities in the field of social welfare
(g) Dissemination of the humanitarian ideals of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
(h) Such other programmes of general interest for the development of the activities of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Article 4 -- National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies wishing to receive an allocation shall make the necessary application through their Central Committees to the Secretariat of the Joint Commission before 31 December of the year preceding that in which the allocations are to be made. Applications shall be supported by full details concerning the particular activity selected from among those specified in Article 3 above.
Article 5 -- The Joint Commission shall examine the applications mentioned in the previous Article and shall make such allocations as it considers just and suitable. It shall each year communicate the decisions it has taken to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Article 6 -- National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies which feel obliged by circumstances to put the allocations receive d to uses other than those specified in their applications for grants under Article 4 must ask for the Joint Commission's approval before doing so.
Article 7 -- National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shall send to the Joint Commission, not later than twelve months after receipt of the allocations, a report on the use of the allocations received.
Article 8 -- The announcement of distribution shall take place each year on 11 April, the anniversary of the death of H.M. The Empress Shôken.
Article 9 -- A sum which shall not exceed twelve per cent of the annual interest on the capital shall be set aside to cover the cost of administering the Fund and of assisting the National Societies concerned in the realisation of their projects.
Article 10 -- The Joint Commission shall present to each International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent a report on the current financial situation of the Fund, the allocations which have been made since the preceding Conference and the use made of those allocations by National Societies. The International Conference shall transmit this report to the Japanese Imperial Family through the intermediary of the Japanese Red Cross Society.