28th International Conference of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent - Geneva, 14 November 2000

 CONVOCATION  

To the Members of the 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

Geneva, Switzerland, 14 November 2000

The Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to host the 28th International Conference. It will be held in Geneva on 14 November 2000. The anticipated duration of the Conference will be one day. However, travel arrangements should allow Delegates to take part in a supplementary session on 15 November, should such a session prove absolutely necessary.
 
The Standing Commission took this decision in view of exceptional circumstances in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Statutes of the Movement, and in furtherance of recommendations made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The 27th International Conference (1999) adopted a Resolution on Emblems (Resolution 3) inviting the Standing Commission 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. "  Since then, through various consultations, including a meeting of the Joint Working Group, the Standing Commission concluded that the time was ripe to suggest the adoption of a Third Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions relating to the em blems, and consequential amendments to the Statutes and the Rules of Procedure of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
 
The expected output of the Conference is therefore to adopt the amendments to (mainly) Article 4, paragraph 5 and Article 10, paragraph 3 of the Statutes of the Movement, and Rule 19, paragraph 2 of the Rules of Procedure of the Movement (see the separate sheet with the proposed modifications attached). As the 28th International Conference is convoked due to exceptional circumstances, all business normally for consideration at the 28th International Conference, including the election of members of the Standing Commission should be postponed to the 29th International Conference, with the exception of the follow-up to Resolution 3 adopted by the 27th International Conference (1999).
 
The International Conference will be preceded by meetings of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
 
This is the convocation for the members of the Conference which, pursuant to Article 9 of the Statutes of the Movement, are:

• duly recognised National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies;

• the International Committee of the Red Cross;

• the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies;

• the States Parties to the Geneva Conventions.

In accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the Movement, this convocation is also being sent to observers of the Conference.

In view of the exceptional circumstances which motivated the Standing Commission to convoke this Conference, the St anding Commission would propose that for organisational purposes this 28th Conference should be treated as a Special Conference, with regular business deferred to the 29th Conference which should normally take place in 2003 (on the basis of resolution 5 of the 27th International Conference).

Attached, in accordance with Article 20 of the Statutes of the Movement, is

• the provisional agenda and programme of the Conference;

• the text of the proposed amendments to the Statutes and Rules of Procedure of the Movement (as well as the complete text of the Statutes and Rules currently in force);

• the comments on the proposed amendments, submitted in accordance with Rule 32 of the Rules of Procedure of the Movement, by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Also attached is

• an information note;

• Resolution 3 adopted by the 27th International Conference (1999);

• the Conference registration form;

• information on Geneva hotels, including a hotel registration form.

Rule 6.2 of the Rules of Procedure of the Movement requires that observations, amendments or additions to the provisional agenda be received by the Standing Commission at least sixty days before the opening of the Conference. Members of the Conference are therefore requested to notify any such observations, amendments or additions to the following address before 15 August 2000.

 Secretariat of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent  

 Villa Moynier  

 120b, rue de Lausanne  

 CH-1202 Geneva  

 Dr. Astrid N. Heiberg  

President

International Federation

of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

 Dr. Jakob Kellenberger  

President

International Committee

of the Red Cross