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The ICRC regional delegation in Kuala Lumpur
01-07-2011 Overview
The regional delegation covers Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Its activities focus on developing a dialogue with key regional actors on humanitarian issues, the relevance of IHL, and the mandate and role of the ICRC. Its regional resource centre supports ICRC delegations in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific in promoting IHL.
The presence of large numbers of undocumented immigrants continues to be a source of tension in Malaysia.
The risk of natural catastrophe remains at the forefront of concerns in Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in regional fora, given the disaster-prone nature of this part of the world.
Having operated in Malaysia since 1972, the ICRC opened its regional delegation in Kuala Lumpur in 2001. In 2009, the new ICRC office in Japan was officially opened with a view to raising the profile of the organization in the country, increasing interaction with Japanese officials and other contacts, and promoting closer cooperation with the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Communication with the region’s authorities is maintained in order to encourage accession to and national implementation of IHL instruments and to position the ICRC as a partner on humanitarian issues.
The ICRC works with the region’s armed forces to further the integration of IHL into their doctrine, operations and training. It also nurtures media and civil society contacts, while pursuing efforts to promote IHL in schools and universities as a means of raising awareness of humanitarian issues among future decision-makers.
The ICRC endeavours to strengthen the capacities of the region’s National Societies to disseminate IHL effectively, to restore family links and to raise public awareness of the Movement’s Fundamental Principles.
The delegation’s regional resource centre, established in 2003, supports the efforts of ICRC delegations in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific to enhance their prevention activities. These include promoting IHL and other humanitarian standards in the region, networking with think-tanks and other stakeholders in the diplomatic arena, and participating in meetings of Asian regional organizations.
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