Hosts: Members of the Restoring Family Links (RFL) Strategy Implementation Group from American Red Cross, Australian Red Cross, British Red Cross, Honduran Red Cross, Mexican Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, Senegalese Red Cross Society, and the International Committee of the Red Cross
Short Title: Reconnecting families: crisis, displacement and resilience
Languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Where: room 5/6
Description:
“Somehow, after three months, my father and my family were reunited because of the Red Cross.” Hear the powerful testimonials from a Restoring Family Links beneficiary reconnected with her family and an RFL practitioner in crisis response as we discuss the reconnecting families work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Globally, families separated by conflict, disaster or migration have to live with the anguish of not knowing the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. Through effective Restoring Family Links (RFL) services, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement seeks to alleviate the impact of this uncertainty on separated families and consequently reinforce communities’ resilience.
The Movement’s efforts to support separated families and reconnect and maintain contact within families are essential for a community’s recovery and depend on the effective functioning of the global RFL network. This requires strong coordination within the Movement, close cooperation with government authorities and other concerned actors, innovative use of technology, careful protection of beneficiary information, and adherence to the Fundamental Principles.
Witness the global impact of the Movement and consider the opportunities and challenges faced in supporting resilience through this humanitarian service. For more information please visit familylinks.icrc.org.