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

Wendy Ward (wendy.ward@redcross.org); Sydney Morton (sydney.morton@redcross.org): International Policy and Partnerships

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

N/A

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

HCiD has been one of the thematic priority areas for our International Humanitarian Law education programs. The IHL team has hosted trainings and public events for staff, volunteers, and the general public on HCiD issues. Additionally, the IHL team trained our youth education staff and volunteers on HCiD legal obligations, which were incorporated in 2016 IHL youth outreach campaigns for tens of thousands of young people.

Finally, the IHL team is planning a follow up public event in the fall of 2017 on HCiD discussing the US obligations and implementations of the UN Secretary General’s recommendations on HCiD.

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?

N/A

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?

HCiD is included in ARC staff/volunteers trainings on IHL and the fundamental principles.

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?

The IHL team has regular discussions on HCiD issues with the US Department of Defense. The HCiD public event in 2017 will feature a speaker from the DOD Policy Office, which recently released a “Statement of Principles” on HCiD, explaining the US military’s understanding of its legal obligations to protect healthcare workers and facilities in armed conflict. The invited speaker will address US efforts to implement legal and policy initiatives on HCiD.

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