24/25/2004

The 2nd International conference for humanitarian NGOs was held within increased needs for humanitarian and beneficiary support. Actually, wars, conflicts, occupations and natural disasters produced more poverty and misery among new human masses in the world. The conditions of the refugees in Palestine, Africa or Asia deteriorated. Thousands of people in Darfoor and south of Sudan suffer from forced immigration, hunger and illness. Also, due to the policy of Sharon and the continuous installation of the wall, in spite of its illegality, thousands of Palestinians were forced to depart their own land. In addition, more homes were demolished and more Palestinians eliminated.

 At the same time, as a result to the occupation of Iraq by USA and the collapse of the Iraqi state, most public services, which originally had deficiencies, were paralyzed. Therefore, it became a very difficult mission to help the citizens and provide them with needed medicine and other urgent necessities. In fact, many humanitarian NGOs emerged after the fall down of the old regime and had a great role to help and sustain the society through all the complicated obstacles.

 Moreover, many parts of the world suffered from natural catastrophes, where humanitarian NGOs dedicated great efforts and participated in all rescue activities. In spite of these grand efforts and big role of humanitarian NGOs, many countries and oppressive governments impeded the activities of these organizations and prevented some of them from reaching the site of conflict or contacting the victims. Such conditions created more complicated atmosphere for humanitarian activities.

 Therefore, the conferrers recommended the following:

1. To activate the means of protection for humanitarian NGOs according to International law, international treaties and agreements and UN decisions. This demands a diligent work to inform the humanitarian NGOs about their rights and the present forms of protection, which already exist in the treaties, to defend their role and activities.

2. To suggest new clauses, which concern the protection of humanitarian activists and NGOs, to enrich and support the existing legal group.

3. To extend the work of the International bureau in order to assist the various activities of the humanitarian NGOs through facilitating communication and guidance to receive support.

4. To demand the international society and the organizations of United Nations to refuse the categorization of any organization or individual within certain criteria that impedes them from practicing their humanitarian role according to decisions or political accusations imposed by any part; and to adopt instead, only, the legal decisions as the main source to reach a judgment in this concern.

5. The conferrers urge the United Nation to establish a legal committee for investigating the truth, which judges any accusation against an organization or individuals, by members of UN organizations or others.

6. The conferrers call for more international interaction and partnership among the humanitarian NGOs and with the confidential sources of finance, which objectives are directed for humanitarian purposes, regardless of race, color or religion.

7. The conferrers demand the pronouncement of national legislations to protect the humanitarian and human rights' activists and facilitate the activities of humanitarian NGOs.

8. The conferrers recommend from all the humanitarian NGOs to adopt complete transparency and commitment to international and local laws.

9. The conferrers call the international society to apply Geneva treaties and international agreements for the protection of humanitarian NGOs and activists from all inconveniences, attacks and terrorist acts against them.

10. The conferrers incriminate all violent acts against civilians, humanitarian NGOs and activists, as well as, all types of terrorism, including state terror.

11. The conferrers call for the end of all forms of occupation and stress the citizens' right of self-government; furthermore, they call for a clear recognition between terrorism and the legal resistance against occupation.

12. The conferrers call for the international society to solve the internal conflicts peacefully and reach final reformations for the benefit of the citizens according to the items of the international law so that to avoid human catastrophes in the world.

13. The conferrers demanded guaranties for humanitarian NGOs to have the liberty of movement to enable contacts and assistance for affected parts of the conflict in the same way like the Red Cross or Red Crescent moves.

14. The conferrers call for extending the base of the humanitarian NGOs' representatives over the world to represent the International bureau for humanitarian NGOs.

15. The conferrers call for intensifying the work of the International Bureau for Humanitarian NGOs.

16. The conferrers call the International Bureau to stress the efforts to proclaim an International Declaration relates to the rights and duties of the individuals and gropes, who are indulged with humanitarian activities.

Members of the new International Bureau, who were elected in the 2nd International Conference for Humanitarian NGOs - Geneva:  

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