Red Cross and Red Crescent spotlight humanitarian law and disaster response

With a global network of over 16 million volunteers, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has people in almost every country around the world, ready to respond quickly to humanitarian crises.

“When disaster strikes or a conflict breaks out, we’re already on the ground,” said Aleksandra Saša Gorišek, director of communications at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC.

Staff and volunteers from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Lebanese Red Cross, and Magen David Adom in Israel are currently responding to the situation in the Middle East, which is requiring extensive resources and attention, she explained. The movement is also providing assistance amid Sudan’s escalating humanitarian crisis, as well as the world’s “forgotten crises” — sadly a long list, including Mongolia’s “dzud” winters, catastrophic fires in Bolivia and Chile, hunger and virus outbreaks across Africa, and relentless extreme weather hitting Southeast Asia.  

Preserving the “space for humanity” in these and other crises is a priority for the organization in the coming years, especially “amid rising global polarization,” Gorišek explained. This means “making sure that the lives of people affected by conflicts and disasters don’t get overshadowed by geopolitical considerations, and working together to meet their needs, wherever they are.”

This commitment is central to the agenda of the 2024 Statutory Meetings, co-hosted by IFRC and the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC. The 2024 Council of Delegates — discussions agreed with representatives of national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies — took place earlier this week in Geneva. The movement’s 34th International Conference — which brings in national governments too — is now underway.

“Since the first conference in 1867, past conferences have made significant strides, including shaping the Geneva Conventions, deciding on Red Cross’ provision of assistance to prisoners of war, and expressing support for the prohibition of antipersonnel landmines,” said Patricia Rey, head of communications at ICRC. “This year, we build on that legacy by reaffirming our commitment to neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian action, ensuring we can help those in need, regardless of the challenges ahead.”

In a conversation with Devex, Gorišek and Rey spoke about the impact of these meetings on the movement’s efforts to tackle the most pressing humanitarian challenges and the five key resolutions being voted on at the international conference.  

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

The 34th International Conference is currently underway, following the 2024 Council of Delegates. What is the purpose of these meetings?  

Gorišek: These meetings set the direction for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement over the next few years. They bring together the IFRC and ICRC, youth representatives, 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and state representatives from almost every country in the world. Together, we’re discussing the big humanitarian challenges and agreeing on how we’re going to tackle them.

Rey: By promoting collaborative dialogue rather than denouncing specific violations, the conference creates a neutral space for participants to address shared responsibilities. It’s also a space where we bring the voices of the people caught in conflicts and disasters to the attention of states. We want to bridge the gap between the experiences and day-to-day struggles of populations affected by crises and the decision-makers who have a responsibility to find solutions to improve their lives. Both the Council of Delegates and the International Conference play crucial roles in shaping the movement's direction and humanitarian efforts, but the former focuses on internal governance and coordination, whereas the latter expands the dialogue to include states, therefore fostering broader collaboration on humanitarian issues.

What are the key topics on the agenda, and why are they relevant to today’s humanitarian challenges?

 Rey: A central focus of the International Conference is international humanitarian law, or IHL, which is part of its mandate to uphold and develop. One of the key aims is building a culture of compliance with IHL, to ensure that the rules of war are respected and adhered to. This year — in the midst of escalating conflicts with devastating humanitarian consequences — ICRC proposes a resolution that addresses the human toll of conflicts and calls for intensified efforts in implementing and enforcing IHL, including legislation, armed forces training, and the crucial role of national IHL committees. Another pressing topic is the impact of digital technologies on warfare. As technologies like cyber warfare and autonomous weapons systems evolve, they pose new challenges to IHL. For the first time, the International Conference presents a resolution dedicated to new technologies, to call for protection of civilians from the risks posed by digital activities during armed conflicts.

Gorišek: Three resolutions are being sponsored by the IFRC. One is a resolution tackling the humanitarian impacts of climate and weather events and it pushes for more anticipatory action to prevent crises before they happen. A second is on strengthening disaster risk governance, aimed at helping countries put better laws and policies in place to manage and respond to disasters. The third resolution focuses on enabling locally led action, which is about empowering national societies and local actors to take the lead in responding to humanitarian crises.

What are your hopes for the outcomes of the 34th International Conference?

Rey: We should come out of the discussions much better equipped to address present and future humanitarian challenges — such as the impact of war in cities, the use of autonomous weapons, the lack of respect of IHL, the effects of harmful information, and the double impact of conflict and climate change — and alleviate the human suffering that comes with them.  

Gorišek: In practical terms, these meetings set the agenda for the next four years and the resolutions we pass and the decisions we make will directly influence how we respond to crises, and ultimately, how we can better serve the people who need our help the most.  

How will the outcomes of these meetings impact staff, volunteers, and on-the-ground actions?   

Gorišek: The idea is that, collectively, they’ll strengthen the capacity, safety, and efficiency of the entire movement, making humanitarian responses more localized, proactive, and adaptive to current challenges. For example, the resolution on disaster law — on risk governance — will lead to improved disaster preparedness, ensuring that teams can respond faster and more effectively during emergencies, with clearer legal frameworks in place. The resolution on locally led action will, we hope, empower national societies by providing more training and resources, giving volunteers greater autonomy to lead humanitarian efforts in their communities. Likewise, the focus on anticipatory action for climate-related disasters should ensure that teams are better equipped to take preventative measures, such as early-warning systems and preparedness activities, which will reduce the impact of floods, storms, and other extreme events.  

Rey: Every decision and resolution at the conference is for the people living through the harsh realities of conflict, disaster, and emergencies. It's important to reaffirm our commitment to principled humanitarian action. Neutrality allows us to reunite families separated by conflict and disasters, and impartiality means that we can help those most in need, regardless of who they are. By standing up for these principles we can create the necessary conditions for volunteers, staff, and for all humanitarian workers to do their jobs safely and effectively, reaching those who need help the most.  

For more information about the 34th International Conference and the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, visit https://rcrcconference.org/.