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Self Report 2017

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

2A
Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

Individual Commitment

Core Commitment

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has caused high levels of civilian deaths, injuries, psychological distress, destruction of infrastructure, water and sanitation systems, and has been a key driver of displacement. As humanitarian actors and mine action operator working in post conflict and conflict areas, Handicap International (HI) provides protection and assistance to victims of explosive weapons. HI is engaged as a member of the steering committee of the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) which is calling for immediate action to prevent human suffering from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - HI teams provided response to victim of explosive weapons in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, Gaza, Iraq and in Syria and neighboring countries. HI teams supported long term recovery in post conflict areas in Africa, Asia, Middle East and South America.
    - HI launched a report documenting the correlation between the use of explosive weapons and displacement of population in Syria. It stressed that one of the reasons for refugees interviewed leaving their home was the use of explosive weapons. It attracted strong media and public interest. Findings were mentioned by officials during expert meeting on explosive weapons.
    - HI led a participatory process with civil society including survivors to develop recommendations on victim assistance for a future political declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas.
    - HI developed guidelines on an integrated approach to victim assistance, and is building the capacity of donors, affected states and the UN.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - HI mobilized media and the general public on the impact of the use of explosive weapons: 317,000 persons signed the petition against the use of explosive weapons in populated area.
    - HI monitored States positions on the issue and in particular their support on Victim Assistance (VA). Most of HI recommendations on VA has been supported by States working on the future political declaration.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    States needs to better understand the humanitarian and legal aspects related to the impact of explosive weapons with wide area effects on populated areas. Lack of understanding and ownership of the political declaration on the use of explosive weapons by States and lack of compliance with international humanitarian law rules are challenges, as is the lack of shared military practices on this issue. There are also challenges posed to humanitarian access and response.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    In order to reach out to more countries and increase the number of States involved in the political declaration process, HI will hold a briefing for African countries (involving the African Union) in second part of 2017. HI will continue to document the impact of explosive weapons, through a second report examining more deeply the evidence of the correlation between displacement and use of explosive weapons. HI will continue to provide assistance to those impacted by explosive weapons.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities', what would it be

    HI is calling states and other actors to publicly speak out, commit to develop a strong political declaration to end the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and support civilians exposed to the gravest risks.

  • Cross cutting issues

    Humanitarian principles IDPs People-centred approach Refugees

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    2C - Speak out on violations 2E - Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity 3A - Reduce and address displacement

3G
Address other groups or minorities in crisis settings

Individual Commitment

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Handicap International (HI) has been responding to humanitarian emergencies in both conflict and disasters contexts for 35 years, supporting vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, in term of participation, capacity building and technical support to humanitarian actors, and direct intervention provision of basic and specific services, as well as advocacy. Yet, field experience indicates that persons with disabilities remain often neglected in the contingency planning, assessment, design, and delivery of humanitarian relief, requiring stronger international commitment.

  • Achievements at a glance

    - HI is actively working to promote the Charter and reinforce the common dynamic around it. HI is co-chairing the IASC Task Team developing guidelines on inclusion of persons with disabilities and supports other initiatives to develope Minimum Standards on Age and Disability in collaboration.
    - HI is working to improve the reliability and usability of disability disaggregated data using the Washington Group of questions and testing the questions in emergency contexts.
    - Hi is involved in DRR to strengthen innovative and traditional early warning system to make sure people with disability will be reached, but also mobile data collection before, during and after disasters to know exactly which populations are at higher risks than others.
    - HI also engages local organizations in participatory process in all operations, and ensures mechanisms to empower affected populations. HI has programs on inclusion of persons with disabilities in crises and countries hosting refugees.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    There is increased awareness on the imperative to address the need of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action, observed through the increasing number of Charter endorsers and number of members of the IASC Task Team on inclusion of persons with disabilities. Actions in our field intervention such as stock pre-positioning, building capacities to disseminate an inclusive alert system, building inclusive contingency plans, prevention and mitigation structural and nonstructural measures, awareness raising on how to deal with disasters to at risk groups and people are some concrete examples of actions through which progress is being assessed.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - Mobilize and ensure mainstream humanitarian actors support persons with disabilities in their response, including UN actors. Securing endorser appropriation of the Charter and make the Charter a key reference of humanitarian actors’ policies and practices.
    - Ensure collaboration around future activities maintaining the ongoing multi-stakeholders dynamic to mainstream the topic at each level of humanitarian action.
    - Supporting states to implement the Sendai Framework, ensure that all DRR practices and policies are inclusive and that at risk groups including people with disability are participating in DRR efforts.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Take the opportunity of the first anniversary of the Charter to renew to ongoing momentum and make the community of endorsers come alive. HI is launching opportunities to promote and communicate around the Charter and its principles at the international level. Also, a participatory process for the guidelines development will be designed to foster engagement of relevant stakeholders. HI is conducting a review of practices in terms of participation of persons with disabilities and a publication will be available in 2017. HI will also produce a report and a guideline on how to use the Washington Group questions in emergency settings by 2018.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Address other groups or minorities in crisis settings', what would it be

    The Charter is the key political document which places people with disabilities at the heart of humanitarian decision-making and response process. Supporting its implementation should be a key priority for all humanitarian actors.

  • Cross cutting issues

    Disability Disaster Risk Reduction Refugees

  • Specific initiatives

    Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    4A - Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems 4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises