From December 4-12 2019, the Statutory Meetings of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will bring together Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders from virtually every country in the world, as well as the International Federation, and the ICRC. Collectively known as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it is the world’s largest and oldest humanitarian network, consisting of 192 National Societies, more than one million members and 14 million volunteers worldwide. Also joining the meetings are States Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Together they discuss and tackle today’s most pressing humanitarian issues, as well as set the future direction of the Movement. In this episode of the podcast, we have Celine Leonet, ICRC’s Cooperation Delegate in Washington. We discuss the history of the meetings, some of the themes to be addressed there—including the future of International Humanitarian Law, the humanitarian consequences of climate shocks and hazards, and the impact of declining trust on humanitarian action—and why it all matters. Hosted by Niki Clark and Will Pons.

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