2023 Regional MENA Meeting

BACKGROUND ON HCiD STRATEGY

The ICRC’s HCiD Strategy is based on a Theory of Change (ToC) encompassing four operational objectives:

• Weapon bearers are respectful of health care services and enable their safe delivery
• States have adopted and implemented legislation for protection of health care from violence
• Health care providers are better prepared to prevent, mitigate and cope with the impact of violence
• General population in countries affected by conflict and other emergencies has increased its respect for health care

And reinforced by two cross cutting axes:

• Evidence-base generation
• Influencing and coalition building

MENA REGIONAL MEETINGS

The current strategy emphasizes the practical implementation and operationalization of concrete measures at the local and national level. In alignment with the strategic orientations, the HCiD Initiative has transitioned from holding annual meetings of global stakeholders to biannual regional ones. The regional focus (of which for the ICRC there are five) provides a forum that allows stakeholders to share experiences on approaches and develop and reinforce local, national and regional partnerships to prevent and address violence against health care. A “MENA” approach to the region is being taken over a NAME one in order to ensure that Arabic speakers from North Africa are given a full opportunity to be engaged in the meeting.

Partnership with the Communities of Concern and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are pillars in advancing this common agenda and the format of co-organization is being employed to foster regional ownership and engagement.

The first two meetings of the region in 2019 and 2021 garnered positive results, facilitating the sharing of experiences and reinforcing linkages and practice. Participant feedback noted an appreciation of the opportunity to share experiences, dynamics and cultural issues with stakeholders from neighboring countries. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the second meeting in 2021 was held online and this format will be used once again in 2023.

THE 3^rd MENA REGIONAL HCID MEETING

The Health Care in Danger Initiative is focused on reducing violence and mitigating the effects of violence in zones of conflict and other emergencies. The ICRC prioritizes the implementation of concrete measures to safeguard health care in conflictual contexts in the NAME/MENA region in line with its mandate. Many partners both within and outside the Movement are contributing to the protection of health care through a range of measures including by supporting the resilience of health care workers, leading awareness raising campaigns, advancing policy measures and carrying out humanitarian diplomacy. The ICRC is operationally present in some contexts, but the field of action is much wider, and the region has potential for broader engagement, sharing and upscaling good practices and reinforcing linkages.

The protection of health care against violence is universally relevant, and the ICRC seeks through these meetings to advance a common agenda and reinforce regional and global partnerships including two-way collaboration and exchanges of experiences. Tools and approaches developed to reduce violence and mitigate in one context can be inspiration and facilitate learning and adaptation in another. The first two Regional HCiD meetings established this event as a critical forum for exchange and catalyzed several critical actions. The third meeting will act to further consolidate ongoing practice and exchange.  The ICRC delegation in Lebanon has graciously agreed to co-organize the event, given the delegations strong experience in this area.     

Participants, including panelists and moderators, will be made up of invited stakeholders, the majority of whom will be identified by ICRC delegations. Delegations will be expected to contribute to support participation from key stakeholders. The meeting will be internal and neither the proceedings nor the content of the meeting report made public, in order to foster genuine dialogue between partners.

MEETING OBJECTIVES

• Facilitating the sharing of experiences and ongoing good practices and recommendations through presentations and interactions to forge links and strengthen partnerships
• Mobilizing actors working in and around the protection of health care in terms of practical action, research and partnerships
• Raising the profile of and generating new interest in the protection of health care as a critical field of work and a shared concern

PROPOSED FORMAT

The proposed format is in Arabic and English with simultaneous interpretation: two sessions per day running 90 minutes in duration with an additional 30-minute opening session on the first day and a 30-minute closing session on the last. The proposed format will consist of online panel presentations and discussions though alternate proposals and new ideas to make the sessions more interactive are welcome. Delegations are requested to mobilize local and national stakeholders, including those outside the Movement, to participate in the meeting. The HCiD Unit will work with the region and delegations to augment this participation.

The opening session will be used to frame the meeting and outline its objectives and the format. Each of the four substantive sessions will be presided over by a moderator and then feature three panel presentations (15 minutes each) followed by a question and answer period. The closing session will summarize recommendations and formally close. HCiD GVA is open to other and more innovative approaches to facilitate greater interaction and participation.