HCiD/Emergency health services

Violence, actual or threatened, against healthcare personnel, healthcare facilities and medical transport can paralyze the delivery of emergency or life-saving medical assistance. The consequences for local communities are often dire. It has a long-lasting impact on health systems and development, with broader consequences for global health. Needs mount when rapid access to basic healthcare services is unavailable. In response to this, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, States, the health community and other actors have mobilized to improve safe access to impartial health care for the wounded, sick and all those needing health services, by striving for better protection for healthcare personnel, healthcare facilities and medical transport and supplies.

The signing parties:
Recognize that «the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health» is universal and that the responsibility to protect access to healthcare goes beyond those directly affected by violence against healthcare personnel, facilities and medical transport.
Recognize the efforts undertaken so far by States, National Societies and international, national and local organizations,
Recognize the need for further efforts to address violence against healthcare personnel, healthcare facilities and medical transport, and to minimize the disruptions to health care delivery.

Action plan

And commit to:
1) implementing regional, national or local measures aimed at protecting healthcare personnel, healthcare facilities and medical transport, and at minimizing disruptions to health care delivery caused by actual or threatened violence
And/or, to:
2) supporting national/local stakeholders, such as National Societies, in their efforts to protect access to and the delivery of impartial health care