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    2016 World Humanitarian Summit Political Communiqué

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    2016 World Humanitarian Summit Political Communiqué

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    2K views6 pages

    World Humanitarian Summit Political Communiqué

    Uploaded by

    WHS Political Communique
    2016 World Humanitarian Summit Political Communiqué

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 6

    1

    Political Communiqu for the World Humanitarian Summit1


    On 23-24 May 2016, representatives of the undersigned countries will meet in Istanbul at the
    World Humanitarian Summit. We thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations for
    convening this historic Summit and the Government of Turkey for hosting it. The SecretaryGenerals ambitious Agenda for Humanity seeks to address global concerns surrounding the
    humanitarian impact of multiple, seemingly intractable conflicts, climate change, and natural
    disasters that threaten lives today as well as those of future generations, rendering peace and
    prosperity elusive while setting back development gains in fragile countries.
    We, the undersigned, commit to holding ourselves accountable, to ensuring that our efforts create
    a world where we can more effectively address the needs of the 125 million people seeking
    assistance and protection, and to leaving no one behind, recognizing we are living in a world
    where 60 million people are today forcibly displaced from their homes. Specifically, we commit
    to supporting the five core responsibilities outlined in the Secretary-Generals Agenda for
    Humanity and use them as a rallying call for action, change, and accountability to better support
    those in need of humanitarian assistance.
    First, we commit to use global leadership to prevent and end conflicts. We will do more to
    prevent crisis situations from deteriorating further and focus more attention on tackling root
    causes of conflict. We welcome the Secretary-Generals call to end need, change lives, and
    commit to a new model of working that puts those affected by conflict and disaster at the center
    of planning and decision-making. We commit to empowering affected people to drive their own
    response to crises, in particular to strengthen the voice, choice, and control of crisis-affected
    women and girls, children and youth, older people, and people with disabilities. We will take
    concrete action to protect against sexual and gender-based violence and provide support to the
    survivors of such crimes when they do occur in crisis situations. With the humanitarian
    principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence as our point of departure, we
    commit to transforming humanitarian action so that it is fit to address the scale, complexity, and
    duration of the crises of the 21st century.
    Second, we commit to uphold the norms that safeguard humanity. We will renew and revitalize
    our commitment to upholding humanitarian principles and International Humanitarian Law. We
    aspire to a global order that is based on full respect for the norms enshrined in the Charter of the
    United Nations. We confirm also our respect for the norms and standards that safeguard
    civilians in conflict as well as the personnel who provide assistance. We reaffirm in particular
    the importance of respecting and protecting medical personnel and facilities in conflict zones.

    This Communique is not legally binding and does not affect the signatories existing obligations under applicable
    international and domestic law. Rather, the signatures below reflect the high-level political commitments of the
    Member States represented.

    Third, we commit to leave no one behind. We will promote a new approach to displaced people,
    which will enable them to receive protection and assistance close to their homes. Where people
    have to flee, we will help create and provide possible earning opportunities and education at all
    levels as well as health services for refugees and host communities. We reaffirm the institution
    of asylum and the principle of non-refoulement and also commit to relieve some of the pressures
    on host countries by expanding means of resettlement and admission for refugees. We commit
    to focus more on reconciliation between and among communities in conflict, and to support the
    emergence of safe, dignified, and durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons,
    while recognizing that voluntary return to the places of origin under stable conditions is the
    overarching goal. We commit also to working together to improve national disaster resilience
    and response efforts and acknowledge that disasters and the effects of climate change play a role
    in driving displacement. We will work to strengthen national and local capacities in these
    different contexts. We view these commitments as critical issues for all countries and all
    stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
    Sustainable Development.
    Fourth, we commit to shift from delivering aid to ending need. As we do this, we recognize the
    need for humanitarian and development work to be mutually reinforcing and interrelated. We
    come to Istanbul convinced that the new approach outlined by the Secretary-General to deliver
    assistance with individuals at the center of the response, the 2030 Agenda adopted by the
    General Assembly, and the new tools and opportunities created by technology require supporting
    and investing in a workforce trained to deliver results on the Agenda for Humanity and the 2030
    Agenda. We will work closely with academic and research institutions as well as networks
    around the world to develop tomorrows leaders within Member States and the UN system who
    will drive this transformational agenda.
    Finally, but not least, we commit to invest in humanity. We will provide financing and
    assistance differently, approaching it in a way that promotes and reinforces the coherent delivery
    of outcomes for affected populations. We recognize the need to make effective use of financing
    instruments such as pooled funds for humanitarian assistance. We recognize also the need to
    secure commitments to tackle unprecedented forced displacement and to match lifesaving
    assistance with longer-term support for livelihoods and education, also recognizing that the
    principle of responsibility-sharing in humanitarian response will lay the groundwork for more
    predictable and equitable responses. We will promote migration that is safe, regular, and
    orderly. We will strive to support those States most affected or vulnerable to climate change and
    climate-related disasters in accessing climate finance, taking into account their needs and
    priorities. We recognize the importance of initiatives being launched by the World Bank Group,
    regional and international development banks, and other international financial institutions as
    they refocus and apply new tools to better address protracted, recurrent, and predictable crises.
    We welcome in particular the World Banks new financing initiatives to support refugees and
    host communities in Jordan and Lebanon and note that these initiatives serve as models for other

    countries, recognizing the global public good that countries with large refugee populations
    provide across Africa and Asia, and we will explore additional financing with countries that have
    large refugee populations.
    We are confident that taken together, these efforts can collectively and jointly deliver on the
    Agenda for Humanity.
    Signed,
    Albania
    Andorra
    Antigua and Barbuda
    Argentina
    Australia
    Austria
    Azerbaijan
    Bangladesh
    Belgium
    Bosnia-Herzegovina
    Brazil
    Bulgaria
    Canada
    Chile
    Croatia
    Cyprus
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    Djibouti
    El Salvador

    Estonia
    Ethiopia
    Finland
    France
    Georgia
    Germany
    Greece
    Honduras
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Israel
    Italy
    Japan
    Jordan
    Kazakhstan
    Latvia
    Liechtenstein
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Malta
    Micronesia
    Monaco
    Montenegro
    Morocco
    Netherlands

    Niger
    Norway
    Oman
    Peru
    Poland
    Portugal
    Qatar
    Republic of Korea
    Romania
    Rwanda
    Samoa
    San Marino
    Serbia
    Seychelles
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Somalia
    Spain
    Swaziland
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
    Thailand
    Turkey
    Ukraine

    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


    United States of America
    Uruguay
    Zambia

    The European Union

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