Our work
In its capacity as partner and observer to the AU, the ICRC works with member states to draw attention to challenges requiring humanitarian action, promote greater recognition and much wider implementation of IHL throughout Africa and raise awareness of the ICRC’s role. It has endeavoured to build strong working relations with the AU Commission and its various departments and bodies, the AU member states, the AU Partners Group, UN agencies, think tanks and civil society organizations. This engagement has prominently revolved around humanitarian diplomacy, the provision of technical support, policy influencing, legal advice and capacity-building assistance to the AU Commission, member states and regional economic communities on humanitarian issues related to assistance for and the protection of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence, strengthening the promotion of respect for IHL by AU member states and the mainstreaming of IHL provisions into decisions and policies.
Over the past three decades, there has been impactful engagement with the African Union Commission and its bodies, notably with the now merged Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department, the Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) Department and the Office of the Legal Counsel, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
Our work with the African Union is supported by our regional delegation in Nairobi and by our delegation in Ethiopia for administrative matters. For more information, check out the ICRC delegation to the AU country page.
