Resolution 5 : The safety and security of humanitarian volunteers | Power of humanity: Red Cross Red Crescent

National Society

Name, position and email of the focal person3

Lotte Bernhard, legal adviser, lbernhard@redcross.nl

1. What did your National Society do to provide volunteers with the best safety and security coverage?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtZWwE5YSQs&feature=youtu.be

http://www.rodekruis.nl/documents/gedragscode%20tekst%20eng%20def.pdf

In every training we talk about the Fundamental Principles and the dilemmas we face during our work in the field. Every year we try to develop something new for new focus on the principles. Knowing the 7 Fundamental Principles doesn’t mean we immediately act according to the Fundamental Principles. During the refugee crisis, starting in September 2015 we were confronted with volunteers that were not willing to help the refugees. Sometimes this was because they were afraid and insecure and after additional information they started helping. Sometimes this was really a big issue for them and they kept refusing. So we had to say goodbye to these volunteers.

We are working on a Risk Investigation for our volunteers and staff. This investigation might show us some necessities to strengthen the safety and security of our staff and volunteers more than our actual level.

This summer we will launch an e-learning/webinar on how to act after a terrorist attack/mass casualty incident and send it to all our First Aid volunteers in the field.

Depending on the work of the volunteer we offer protective equipment and hygiene and security instructions. During the refugee crisis our instructions were actualized and this was very appreciated by the volunteers.

We have a protocol on psychosocial support. First of all it’s the team and the head of the team of volunteers that will take care of the volunteer in need. If this is not enough we offer professional assistance via an external organization, specialized in psychosocial support. During the refugee crisis we opened a helpdesk for all volunteers working with refugees. They could call anytime if they needed psychosocial support.

All our volunteers are insured during their work for the Netherlands Red Cross.

2. What measures has your National Society taken to review potential threats to the volunteers?
Ensuring that their plans and programmes include measures to reduce and mitigate these risks / - Veiller à ce que ses plans et programmes comprennent des mesures de réduction et d’atténuation des risques / - la garantía de que en los respectivos planes y programas se incluyen medidas para reducir y mitigar esos riesgos , Using for example Safer Access Framework and Stay Safe as tools to guide decision making process

See answers above

3. Public authorities

The OCAC revealed that security management in the NLRC domestic services is virtually absent and that it has been listed as one of the components for improvement and is included in the MT action plan to increase our safety & security management for our domestic services.

Needless to say, in our international work we have improved in past years our safety & security management: Our S&S policy, security management plan and training guidelines have been revised, at country level security management have been developed and staff has been undergoing variety of training. This has an indirect positive effect on S&S of humanitarian volunteers engaged in sister NS programmes supported by NLRC. Finally, we have made at different occasion public and private calls to NL GOV to increase respect for IHL, to use its influence for safer access in various conflicts.

Other partners and stakeholders of influence

4. Does your National Society ensure that volunteers have adequate insurance or equivalent “safety net” assistance with regard to death, injury, sickness or trauma they may endure while carrying out their duties?
Yes

Please let us know what type of insurance or equivalent "safety-net" form you use

5. How can the RCRC movement better support you to enhance the safety and security of your volunteers?

I don’t think the movement can.

6. What support did you provide to other National Societies for increasing safety and security of volunteers?
Training, Support to drafting policy on volunteering

7. What activities have you undertaken to facilitate partnerships towards strengthening the safety and security of volunteers?

For psychosocial support we work together with an external organization, specialized in psychosocial support

NLRC has in 2016 supported the establishment of a security management unit within the Lebanese RC and assisted with the development of a security plan. In 2016 we enabled security training of one of the unit’s members. 2017-2018 we are paying salaries of two security staff in LRCS and have financial support for trainings.

In 2017 we are supporting the IFRC with 6-months security expert staff on loan (Ilse Boer) to help improving security management in the MENA region, focusing on young volunteers. She is currently based in Beirut.

8. What measures did you take to ensure that volunteers have adequate insurance or equivalent “safety net” assistance with regard to death, injury, sickness or trauma they may endure while carrying out their duties?

We have a complete package of insurance for our volunteers

Attached files