Dignity in Displacement: From Rhetoric to Reality
Dignity is a key concept in humanitarian action. Throughout the past two decades, the term ‘dignity’ has appeared in most humanitarian policy and programme documents and donor requirements. It has …
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Rules of war in Pidgin and Hausa? No wahala!
"Dis law for fight na im dey protect pipol wey no dey fight." That is the Nigerian Pidgin for "These universal laws of war protect those not fighting." The Rules of war (in a nutshell) video now has …
Humanitarian situation in Colombia worsened during 2018
28-03-2019 The ICRC reports on its main humanitarian concerns in the country Bogotá - Deteriorating security conditions in the country´s most remote areas; at least five ongoing internal armed …
ICRC statement to UN Security Council opens debate on preventing and combating financing of terrorism
Delivered by Robert Mardini, Permanent observer to the UN and head of delegation, ICRC NYC Today, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2462. In this resolution, Council members upheld …
Colombia: Between war and indifference
Humanitarian challenges in 2019 Christoph Harnisch Head of the ICRC delegation in Colombia The humanitarian situation in Colombia is becoming increasingly complex as a result of the …
What’s it like being a midwife in Somalia?
Fartun Nur Abdulle, 25, Dusamareb, Galgaduud region. Experience as a midwife: Three years Fartun holds a dummy baby during an obstetrics training held in Nairobi for SRCS midwives. “My mother …
Operational update on Cyclone Idai: Destruction and anguish as thousands remain homeless
29-03-2019 Geneva (ICRC) - As flood-waters from Cyclone Idai recede, the scale of the devastation left behind is becoming clearer. But, worryingly, some of the hardest hit communities remain cut off …
Provision of psychosocial support to families of missing persons: Theory and practice
Every day people go missing as a result of armed conflict, other situations of violence, natural disasters or in the context of migration. Their relatives suffer great anguish not knowing what has …
Q&A: ICRC and access to education
This Q&A offers preliminary responses to ten frequently asked questions which the ICRC has addressed, in particular since the launch of its framework and strategy on access to education in 2017. The …
ICRC president to UN Security Council: Disrespect of health care a security issue
Statement to UN Security Council Arria-formula meeting: Protecting humanitarian and medical personnel Ministers, dear colleagues, I will start with this frank assessment: in conflicts around the …
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Customary international humanitarian law consists of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.