Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has organized a workshop and roundtable discussion on humanitarian diplomacy.
According to Qatar News Agency, the event titled “Humanitarian Diplomacy: Sharing Experience and Building Collaborative Action” was a two-day regional workshop attended by humanitarian diplomacy specialists from Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, heads of IFRC delegations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, representatives of humanitarian partners, and officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regional delegation and representation mission in Qatar.
On the first day, the sessions revolved around mapping and building knowledge, capacity, and expertise in humanitarian diplomacy. The second day was dedicated to sharing insights among the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Secretary-General of QRCS, Faisal Mohamed Al Emadi, emphasized Qatar’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity, underscoring the nation’s advocacy for humanitarian diplomacy and bridge-building among nations, institutions, and communities.
Al Emadi also revealed ongoing arrangements with partners to draft a Universal Charter for Humanitarian Diplomacy, an initiative aimed at creating a global framework for effective humanitarian diplomacy. He stressed the importance of making humanitarian diplomacy an everyday practice rather than a mere slogan.
The event included a roundtable discussion on “Humanitarian Diplomacy: Principled Engagement for Long-Term Impact,” featuring panel discussions on the challenges and potential of principled humanitarian diplomacy. The discussions highlighted the importance of generating immediate humanitarian access and sustainable impacts, as well as reflecting on concrete tools, field experience, and evolving norms in this domain.
High-level participation came from numerous government, diplomatic, humanitarian, and international organizations, along with ambassadors and members of foreign diplomatic missions in Qatar. The meeting aimed to reinforce principled humanitarian diplomacy as a viable engagement method with conflict parties for improved civilian protection. It also sought to promote collaborative soft-law approaches and foster inter-organizational dialogue and synergy.
Al Emadi articulated that humanitarian diplomacy is a strategic necessity, essential for opening blocked channels and building trust between conflicting parties. He highlighted Qatar’s history as a mediator in crises worldwide, demonstrating the power of humanitarian dialogue to bypass political deadlocks.
Ms. Al-Saadi acknowledged Qatar’s leadership in humanitarian diplomacy due to its efforts in coordinating humanitarian relief and capacity building. Dylan Winder, Director of Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communications at IFRC, noted the shrinking space for humanitarian action and the pressure on fundamental humanitarian principles, emphasizing the collective effort required for humanitarian diplomacy.
In conclusion, participants issued recommendations, including respecting humanitarian principles, unifying voices through diplomatic forums, adopting preventive diplomacy approaches, promoting dialogue through peace conferences, and emphasizing the media’s role in mitigating stress during emergencies. These measures aim to protect journalists, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers while spreading awareness of humanitarian principles through education.