Preparatory process

The Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (the Standing Commission) acts as the trustee of the International Conference between International Conferences. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are co-organisers of the Conference.

The Joint Organising Committee (JOC) is entrusted by the Standing Commission with the overall organisation and preparations of the International Conference, including the agenda and programme. It submits official documents to the Standing Commission for approval.

The draft provisional agenda approved by the Standing Commission accompanies the formal convocation. Members of the International Conference can submit their observations regarding the draft agenda to the Standing Commission.

The Council of Delegates of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, comprising all Red Cross/Red Crescent components but excluding States Party, meets prior to the Conference. In addition to attending to matters internal to the Movement, it adopts the agenda for the Conference as well as proposes its officers. The Council is preceded by the General Assembly of the IFRC, comprising 186 National Societies. It deals with matters internal to the IFRC.

A specificity of the International Conferences of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is the participatory nature of the preparatory process involving government representatives as well as those of National Societies. In order to ensure that the Conference will deal with issues that meet the needs and expectations of both governmental and National Society delegations, consultations are carried out using:

The questionnaire on the implementation of the resolutions and pledges of the last conference is sent to:
• National Societies and governments
• Regional conferences/meetings with the National Societies
• Bilateral and multilateral meetings between the co-organisers and States,
  their regional groups and National Societies
 

The Group of Ambassadors (comprises a number of Permanent Representatives to the International Organisations in Geneva) is created as an ad hoc advisory body to the Standing Commission and to the co-organizers of the Conference on political and other issues that may arise during the preparations and the International Conference.

Criteria for its composition are fair geographic distribution, balance of rotation and continuity and chairmanship/leadership roles in regional organisations and groupings.

The members of the Group are requested to consult with colleagues in the diplomatic community and within the international fora or organisations they represent or chair and to promote the aims and objectives of the International Conference; to advise on issues pertaining to participation and substance and to provide advice to the organisers on possible problems of a political nature before and during the Conference contributing thereby to achieving the expected results on humanitarian issues of concern to all Conference participants.

Please, also see terms of reference and composition of the Group of Ambassadors created for the 31 IC.