Resolution 4 : Health Care in Danger: Continuing to protect the delivery of health care together | Power of humanity: Red Cross Red Crescent

National Society

Name, position and email of the focal person

Yvette Zegenhagen, National Manager International Humanitarian Law, yzegenhagen@redcross.org.au

1. Which measures have you put in place in order to enhance the secure functioning of health care (personnel, facilities and medical transport)?

Australian Red Cross has completed a review of domestic legislation relating to the protection of health care personnel, and is finalising a report analysing gaps relating to the integration of HCiD recommendations in Australia that will be shared with Government and discussed through the National IHL Committee.

What strategies has your National Society adopted to promote and implement the HCiD recommendations throughout the country?

In addition to the above, Australian Red Cross also:
- regularly engages with relevant stakeholder groups (healthcare, academia, government, Australian Defence Forces, Australian Federal Police etc.) to promote awareness of existing tools for their safety and security, and to embed information on HCID in university curricula for medical students;
- is an active member of the Movement Reference Group for HCiD;
- is embedded within the formal curriculum for all Health personnel run by Army School of Logistic Operations in Bandiana, and delivered training on HCiD to Australian Defence Force personnel in Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland;
- delivered a customised IHL course for medical students in cooperation with the IMPACT Medical Students’ Society in Tasmania;
- created a specialist role to strengthen Australian Red Cross’ engagement on IHL issues, including HCiD, with the humanitarian and medical sectors;
- is working with the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) to develop a policy on HCiD
- ensures our emblem protection work in Australia is aligned to support HCiD messaging

2. What concrete actions have you conducted to collect and analyze data related to violence against the wounded and sick, health care personnel and facilities, and medical transport? How did you use this information to develop practical measures to address such violence?

3. What actions have you taken to enhance your staff and volunteers’ understanding of the rights and responsibilities of health care personnel? In addition, have you implemented concrete measures (e.g. Safer Access Framework, “Stay Safe” toolkit, uphold and abide by the Fundamental Principles, etc.) to ensure the safety of health care delivery?

Australian Red Cross delivers training for staff and volunteers on the Fundamental Principles, and the rights and obligations of health care personnel pursuant to IHL. Australian Red Cross Delegates who deploy internationally undergo IMPACT training, which includes a requirement to complete the “Stay Safe” training prior to departure as well as HCID online e-learning modules.

4. As an auxiliary to your government, what activities have you initiated with your government to promote and advocate efforts to address the issue of violence against the wounded and sick, health-care personnel and facilities, and medical transport?

As discussed above, Australian Red Cross has recently completed a review and analysis of domestic legislation relating to the protection of health care personnel at the request of the Attorney General’s Department. Following this, Australian Red Cross recognises that there is an opportunity, via our auxiliary relationship with the public authorities in the humanitarian field, to encourage the Australian Government to implement measures outlined in the HCiD resolution, including strengthening domestic legislation and training of armed forces.

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