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Recommendations on the Council of Delegates
The Working Group on the Council of Delegates met for the third time
on 11 June and its recommendations were adopted by the Standing Commission.
The Standing Commission discussed the way how the commissions could function
at the next Council and accepted the following proposal: on Monday 12
November (2 PM to 5 PM) there will be three parallel commissions on the
Movement Strategy. This will allow for more time for debate (with an average
of 60 delegations in each commission, compared with approximately 180
delegations in the plenary). Each delegation will have to right to take
the floor in one commission, but can send observers to the other commissions.
The ICRC and the Federation should have delegations in each of the 3 commissions
proposed, with the possibility of taking the floor in all of them. Furthermore,
experts from both institutions should also be available as resource persons
concerning the content debated. Delegations will be asked to register
themselves in the Commissions at the same time they send in their registration
to attend the statutory meetings. On Tuesday 13 November (10 AM to 12.30
PM) the same procedure will be applied to discuss the theme 'IDP's and
refugees'.
A document will be prepared to guide the work in commissions by the authors
of the reports. This document will identify the key issues to be discussed.
The consolidated results of the work of the 3 commissions should be agreed
in a small group composed of the Chairmen and rapporteur of each commission,
assisted by the experts of the ICRC and the Federation on each issue.
The consolidated report will be brought to the plenary session, highlighting
issues of main concern.
Each background document, presented to the Council, will contain a page
with an executive summary, with an indication of what the Council is expected
to do for each item (take note, decide, ask, etc.), and, if applicable,
with the budget implications of the resolutions.
With regard to the follow-up of the Council it was suggested to keep
questionnaires short and concise and to use the mechanism of a focal point,
as is done for the follow-up on the International Conference.
I recall that the 2001 Council of Delegates will be held at the C.I.C.G.
in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12, 13 and 14 November. The opening ceremony
will take place on 11 November at 6 p.m. It will be immediately followed
by the award ceremony of the Henry Dunant Medal.
Update on the emblem and the 28th International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Conference
The Standing Commission took note of the oral report from Mrs. Christina
Magnuson, its Special Representative on Emblem Issues, on the discussions
she was able to have in the recent months.
The Commission reaffirmed its decision of 24 January 2001 by which it
strongly endorsed the work being done towards the proposed Third Protocol
Additional to the Geneva Conventions, and confirmed its determination
to continue to work for the negotiation and adoption of the proposed Protocol
without delay.
Report on the Seville Agreement
According to Art. 10.5 of the Seville Agreement and Resolution 6 of the
1997 Council of Delegates a report on the 'Implementation of the Agreement
on the Organisation of the International Activities of the Components
of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement' (better known
as the Seville Agreement) has to be transmitted to all National Societies
as part of the consultative process. This year it will be part of the
official documents of the Council of Delegates 2001.
The Standing Commission asked to amend the draft report with comments
on the most recent relief operations. In general the report will show
that the Seville Agreement has served the Movement well and will reflect
trends and innovations in the cooperation between the components.
As Chairman of the Standing Commission I very much welcome this and I
urge all components to continue to follow the spirit of the Seville Agreement.
Cooperation, transparency and openness remain the essential messages for
the future.
Update on the Overall Strategy for the Movement
All National Societies received the draft early April and Working Group
members or Standing Commission Secretariat staff had direct contacts with
152 National Societies in different regional and sub-regional meetings
in all continents. More than 60 National Societies, the ICRC and the International
Federation have by now replied with comments. In general the draft is
well received and considered as an important step for the Movement.
In August the Working Group will meet one more time to revise the draft,
based on the comments received during the intensive consultation process,
and the Standing Commission will forward the Strategy to the members of
the Council after its September meeting. Professional editors and layout
specialists will be involved in preparing the final document. In the meantime
the consultations with National Societies continue.
Working Group on the conduct of international relief operations
I recall that the first draft report of this Working Group was finalised
in November. The report, together with the comments of the ICRC and the
Federation, was then circulated to the National Societies of the members
of the Standing Commission, and of the members of the ad hoc working group
on the Strategy of the Movement, for comments and amendments.
In its last meeting the Working Group consolidated the different comments
received into a consensus report, included the achievements reached so
far and finalised its recommendations, with a view of integrating them
into the Strategy for the Movement
The Standing Commission is pleased with the report that shows a real development
of harmonisation and contains clear recommendations to improve and coordinate
the Movement's response to emergencies, and will forward it to the members
of the 2001 Council of Delegates.
Finance
The 2001 budget of the Standing Commission totals 678.000 CHF. It is
my hope that the National Societies could contribute for a total of 200.000
CHF. This will allow us to continue our tasks.
Many thanks in advance for your support !
Position of Secretary of the Standing Commission
With regret I have to announce the resignation of the Standing Commission's
secretary, Marc Van der Stock, who will be leaving his post for personal
reasons at the end of August. I have asked the two Geneva institutions
to assist me in finding a successor to Marc. I hope to be able to inform
you in the next Newsletter of the new Secretary.
Yours sincerely,
Princess Margriet
Chairman
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