INCLUSION AREA OF COMMON CONCERN
STRATEGIC SESSION

From Margins to Mainstream: Towards Inclusive Responses in Armed Conflicts

Background

Inclusive humanitarian responses are not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity in armed conflict situations. Armed conflicts, whether international or non-international, have a profound impact on entire affected populations. Conflicts around the world cause an unspeakable toll on civilian populations with a record number of deaths, not only because of military operations but also deprivation of essential services. They will continue to be the most significant driver of humanitarian needs in the near future, bringing about waves of displacement and impacting livelihoods in the long-term.

As conflicts devastate communities, they disproportionately affect marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, women, children, persons with diverse SOGIESC, and ethnic minorities. Many of these humanitarian consequences are due to insufficient respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), rules imposed on belligerents to preserve a minimum of humanity for the lives, physical and mental integrity and dignity of civilians and non-combatants. The 75th anniversary this year of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which seek to protect the victims of war and have been universally ratified, not only provides an opportunity to reaffirm commitments to these rules but also to engage on their effective implementation. Implementing IHL, and safeguarding people from harm, requires for humanitarian organizations also to strive for a recognition of the specific risks different groups of persons face and their distinct needs as well as concrete measures to implement IHL.

Failing to include different populations in humanitarian responses exacerbates their vulnerabilities, perpetuates cycles of exclusion
and discrimination, and undermines efforts to build sustainable peace. By upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (whose 75th anniversary has been celebrated a few months ago), as well as the humanitarian principles of humanity and impartiality, inclusive humanitarian action promotes a rights-based approach to humanitarian response, strengthens community resilience, and may contribute to more effective conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected areas that are rooted in the principles of equity, justice, and respect for diversity. This is done by recognizing the diverse needs, experiences, and capacities of all individuals affected by conflict, and by closely consulting and involving their representative organizations in the response.

Objectives:

- On the basis of the example of disability inclusion, this event will look at how marginalized groups are being included in humanitarian action in armed conflicts situations.

- Five years after the adoption by consensus in June 2019 of UN Security Council Resolution 2475on the protection of persons with disabilities in armed conflicts, and the launch of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, the session will assess the progress made through several follow-up actions and initiatives, as well as remaining gaps.

Format:

Panel discussion followed by Q&A

Speakers:

• Opening remarks:
  • Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director and Representative of OCHA Geneva and Head, Coordination Division
• Context-setting:
  • Ms. Nujeeen Mustafa, young person with a disability will speak about her experience in a situation of conflict (remote)
• Perspectives from an organization of Persons with Disabilities:
  • Ms. Gunta Anča, vice-president of EDF and head of The Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations (SUSTENTO), providing crucial support to Ukrainians with disabilities inside and outside of Ukraine (remote).
• Efforts towards more-disability inclusive implementation of IHL and humanitarian action - a view from the ICRC :
  • Mr. Michael Mwendwa, Institutional lead on implementation of ICRC's Vision 2030 on Disability
• Five years after SC Resolution 2475, what progress has been achieved? What are opportunities and remaining challenges?
  • Mr. Pascal Cross, Director, Development & innovation, HI (in-person)
  • Mr. Pehr Lodhammar, Chief Mine Action Programme Iraq, UN Mine Action Service (in-person)
  • Ms. Laura Bill, Deputy Special Representative, Office of Palestine, UNICEF (remote)
• Intersectional perspectives:
  • women with disabilities in armed conflict: Ms. Osnat Lubrani, Former Head of UN WOMEN Geneva Office and former UN Resident Coordinator & Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Fiji & 9 other Pacific SIDS and Kosovo (remote)
  • children with disabilities: Ms.Emina Cerimonic, HRW (remote)
• The political perspective (closing remarks)
  • H.E. Mr. Zbigniew Czech, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations Office at Geneva (in-person).

Outcomes expected:

· Identify possible recommendations and opportunities regarding engagement between OPDs and humanitarian organizations.

· Taking stock of progress on disability inclusion by humanitarian organizations

· Identify concrete actions to raise awareness and work towards a more inclusive interpretation and implementation of international humanitarian law.

The outcomes of this session will contribute, among others, to the continuation of the discussion, for example in the Spotlight Session organized by the ICRC at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Spotlight Session on IHL and disability inclusion, in October 2024.

Where: Face-to-face and hybrid at the CICG in Geneva (Ground Floor, Room "Pleniere C" )Online participation will also be provided - please register at the top of the page to receive the connection link.

Duration: 90 minutes

NOTE: PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FULL PROGRAMME OF THE HNPW2024 INCLUSION AREA OF COMMON CONCERN HERE.

Besides this Strategic Session, the HNPW 2024 also features, under the overall banner of the “Inclusion” Area of Common Concern:

# a video message from Ms. Viginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict on inclusion, delivered during the virtual HNPW Opening Session (29 April) - available [here ] .

# Between 29 April to 10 May:

- 25 sessions on various inclusion issues - full list is[here].Like in previous years, these sessions will focus or touch upon different aspects of inclusion. Most of them will allow for remote participation.

- 10 exhibitions, among which:

* The One-Stop Shop virtual exhibition about Inclusion Resources, displays materials from the various sessions as well as more general resources to raise awareness and foster inclusive humanitarian action for persons with disabilities, women and girls, youth, older persons, persons with diverse SOGIESC, PSEA and MHPSS.

* A virtual exhibition about the stories of persons with disabilities in armed conflicts, courtesy of Mr. Giles Duley, photographer and UN Advocate for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Armed Conflict.

* from 6 to 10 May 2024 (at the CICG): -a photo exhibition (on the first floor of the CICG) about disability inclusive and resilient communities, showcasing the photos that qualified for the OCHA/UNDP competition of December 2023.

and an exhibition stand (on the ground floor) about Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in emergencies