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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.

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1B
Act early

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to act early upon potential conflict situations based on early warning findings and shared conflict analysis, in accordance with international law.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
  • Commit to make successful conflict prevention visible by capturing, consolidating and sharing good practices and lessons learnt.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Preventing conflicts is much more efficient and effective than acting upon them. This is true for all dimensions (human and financial). Spain made the prevention of conflicts one of its priorities during its mandate as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2015-2016.

  • Achievements at a glance

    During its presence at the UNSC Spain promoted the adoption of Resolution 2325, which renewed Resolution 1540, in order to modernize the UN non-proliferation system. Spain supports KAICIID as a tool for the promotion of tolerance and dialogue. Spain has also taken numerous steps to counter hate speech. In addition, Spain is an active partner of the Group of Friends of Mediation in the UN, EU and OSCE.

    The Water Strategy for 5 + 5 countries, aims to prevent conflicts, promote development and contribute to the respect of the human rights related to water and sanitation. An action plan for the implementation of the strategy has been endorsed in 2016. Spain has promoted together with Morocco the Initiative for the promotion of mediation in the Mediterranean in which 31 countries and 5 international organizations take part. Spain also designated an Ambassador at large for Preventive Diplomacy.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - More and more countries are interested in taking part in the seminars we organize on preventive diplomacy and mediation.
    - Coordination and exchange of information through the different departments and ministries.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - Budgetary constraints.
    - A certain lack of vision by some decision-makers who prefer not to invest today in prevention and spend later on once the conflict has broken out.
    - Improve coordination and information management between ministries and other entities involved such as local authorities.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain intends to articulate an early warning network on conflicts with the inclusion of embassies and technical cooperation offices on the field. It will also organize workshops on conflict analysis with the participation of international experts. Spain will include a training module on preventive diplomacy for young diplomats in its diplomatic school.

    Spain is taking different steps in various fields, such as counter-terrorism, mutual understanding, tolerance building, inter-religious dialogue or climate change (fight against desertification, water and conflicts) in order to prevent conflicts.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Act early', what would it be

    Preventing conflict is far preferable to dealing with its consequences.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1B - Act early

1C
Remain engaged and invest in stability

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to improve prevention and peaceful resolution capacities at the national, regional and international level improving the ability to work on multiple crises simultaneously.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
  • Commit to sustain political leadership and engagement through all stages of a crisis to prevent the emergence or relapse into conflict.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
  • Commit to address root causes of conflict and work to reduce fragility by investing in the development of inclusive, peaceful societies.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Due to its history and diplomatic ties, Spain has an added value in mediation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding among different regions such as Latin America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

    Spain launched, together with Turkey, the Alliance of Civilizations at the 59th UNGA in 2005, which has proven to be an effective instrument for the prevention of conflicts and tolerance. Spain also co-facilitated, together with Turkey, the Baku declaration adopted at the UNAOC Global Forum, which took place in Baku in April 2016. Previously, in July 2015, Spain facilitated the second UNGA Resolution on the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In 2016, Spain has strengthened the preventive capacities of the UNSC and has made mediation one of its top priorities. In this regard, an expert workshop on mediation and a meeting of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group were held in Madrid in May 2016. In addition, in May 2016 Spain hosted the first Conference on Preventive Diplomacy in the Mediterranean.

    In November 2016, Spain held a Summit of Religious Leaders for Peace in the Middle East, where 24 leaders of Jewish, Muslim and Christian confessions participated. The outcome of the Summit was a statement urging Israeli and Palestinian political leaders to work together to agree to a solution that recognizes the right of the two entities to coexist with dignity and created a standing committee to put into practice the principles of the statement.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Spain is assessing the impact of its work in the UNSC together with New Zealand and will produce a document informing on the main achievements during their mandate. In addition, the Humanitarian Aid Office of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) is coordinating with the different departments of the Spanish Administration contributing to the Spanish WHS commitments.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - Convincing ministries and parliaments of the need to allocate budget to prevention in order to invest in prevention and avoid tackling the consequences.
    - Engage women in all processes and steps, since research reveals they contribute to diminishing conflicts.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Spain will hold a Conference on Preventive Diplomacy in Sub-Saharan Africa in March 2017 in “Casa África” (House of Africa), in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
    - Together with the Alliance of Civilisations Spain expects to hold the second international conference on religious minorities in 2017.
    - Spain is also organizing a Conference on Youth and Security with the OSCE in Málaga in May 2017; and a seminar on the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Spain's adherence to the Council of Europe in June in Madrid.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Remain engaged and invest in stability', what would it be

    Engagement through all the cycle of the humanitarian crisis, before and after the crisis peaks, is key to sustain peace and security.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability ☑ 1D - Develop solutions with and for people

1D
Develop solutions with and for people

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain commits to intensify efforts to increase the 6% of Official Development Assistance currently allocated to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.


  • Financial
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Invest in Humanity

  • Spain commits to renew the National Action Plan (NAP) on women, peace and security by elaborating a new NAP based on recommendations by the High Level Examination of the application of Resolution 1325. Spain will also assume the obligation of elaborating monitoring reports of the new plan every two years. The monitoring reports will include specific mention of actions implemented under the Action Plan of Women and Peace-construction of Spanish Cooperation.


  • Operational
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    One of the priority areas of Spain during its mandate as a non-permanent UNSC member in 2015-2016 was the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. In this regard, the President of the Spanish Government chaired an open debate at the Security Council on a high-level review of Resolution 1325 in October 2015. Our country promoted thus the adoption of Resolution 2242, unanimously approved by the UNSC which established a roadmap for the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in the coming years, identified new areas of action and launched an informal group of experts.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In 2016 Spain co-chaired the informal group of experts (IGE) established by resolution 2242. The IGE has met regularly to discuss the WPS approach in Mali, Iraq, Central African Republic and Afghanistan. In addition, in September 2016 during the UNGA, Spain organized the launching of the Focal Points Network on WPS.

    Within the scope of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, a Dutch-Spanish Bilateral Initiative have provided gender training to civilian and military personnel. Spain also has supported UNSC Resolution 2272 on zero tolerance to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations. Spain is currently working on the development of the National Action Plan on WPS II and has organized a workshop with relevant actors to discuss a first draft making the process as inclusive as possible.

    Spain funded in 2016 the African Union Gender Peace and Security Programme (GPSP) with €240,574.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The Humanitarian Aid Office of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) is coordinating with AECID’s Gender Unit as well as with different departments of the Spanish administration that are contributing to the Spanish WHS commitments in order to measure the progress made so far and identify challenges and future common goals.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The economic crisis and the subsequent decrease of humanitarian funding during the last years has been an important hurdle.

    More donors are needed in the GAI in order to have a greater catalytic impact on the ground (there are just 6 donors nowadays).

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will develop the Women, Peace and Security National Plan II and will host the first meeting of the Focal Points Network on WPS in Alicante in 2017 to exchange good practices for the implementation of resolution 2242. The meeting will specifically focus on the fight against terrorism and the role of women as mediators in conflicts.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Develop solutions with and for people', what would it be

    Peace without a sound participation of women and girls at all levels and stages is not possible or feasible.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1D - Develop solutions with and for people ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

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

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain commits to adopt and implement a government strategy and/or policy on the protection of civilians, and promote similar strategies and/or policies with other States.


  • Policy
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Spain will support impartial humanitarian actors' efforts to engage in dialogue with, and operate in areas controlled by, non-state armed groups by providing training by 2018.


  • Training
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    In response to the UN Secretary General's request, through Resolution 2240 (2015), Spain participated in the EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA operation of the European Union and took the commitment of "interrupting the business model of illicit human trafficking networks in the South Central Mediterranean, in accordance with international law".

    Spain included the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in the UNSC agenda with an “Arria formula” meeting in December 2015, together with Chile. In addition, Spain worked with the R2P Secretary General Special Adviser and the Secretary General Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention and promoted their participation in specific sessions of the UNSC.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Spain supported the dialogue with and among non-state armed groups through its contributions to ICRC and NGOs working on war zones. Spain systematically includes the topic of protection of civilians, respect for human rights and IHL in the training given to personnel deployed prior to and during peacekeeping operations and political missions. Protection of civilians has been included in trainings provided by Spanish Security Forces to foreign personnel, be it civilian, military or police forces.

    At the UN level, Spain's contribution to the Panel for the revision of PKOs developed in 2015 underlined the importance of protection in the field of PKOs and we have given special attention to the mandate of protection of civilians in different PKOs.

    The above-mentioned SOPHIA operation has rescued 33,296 immigrants in 330 SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) cases. Spain has rescued a total of 9,366 migrants in 62 SOLAS events.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Violations of the codes of conduct are not always easy to identify.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - Many of the ICRC's activities face implementation difficulties. In Syria, for example, dialogue with the actors in the conflict has been difficult, making it challenging for partners like the ICRC to carry out certain activities.
    - It is difficult to obtain information on any commitment made by non-state armed groups.
    - Improved coordination between ministries and all parties involved. Improved information management.
    - Victims should be more outspoken about human rights violations. Appropriate channels for complaints should be put in place.
    - Evaluation methods should be put in place.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain has the intention to convene an inter-ministerial meeting on the Responsibility to Protect as the next step after having exchanged inter-ministerial information via email upon request by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • 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

    We need to make all persons involved in the matter (be it decision-makers at Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, be it troops) conscious and aware of the importance of protecting civilians. Evaluation systems should be put in place.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

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

2B
Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain commits to actively promote the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence in humanitarian action by funding NGOs that respect these principles.


  • Financial
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Spain commits to use its leverage and influence, including during its mandate at the Security Council, to prevent and end any arbitrary withholding of consent to impartial humanitarian relief.


  • Advocacy
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Spain will support the implementation of Security Council resolution 2286 aimed at strengthening the protection of health care in armed conflict.


  • Policy
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to ensure all populations in need receive rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Commit to promote and enhance efforts to respect and protect medical personnel, transports and facilities, as well as humanitarian relief personnel and assets against attacks, threats or other violent acts.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    The horror of civilian victims, especially in Syria, led Spain to draft and promote together with Uruguay, Egypt, Japan and New Zealand, UNSC resolution 2286 in May 2016, on medical assistance in armed conflicts. Close cooperation with ICRC and MSF was developed in order to draft the text. The resolution steps up protection for healthcare personnel and medical facilities in conflicts. Spain has been the penholder of the Syrian humanitarian dossier in 2015-2016, together with New Zealand, Egypt and Jordan at the UNSC. In this role, Spain tried to operationalize the briefings and consultations.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Since the Spanish’ accession to the International Syrian Support Group (ISSG), it has insisted on the necessary coordination between this Group and the UNSC, in particular on issues related to humanitarian assistance. During the UNSC Spanish presidency in December 2016, Spain supported the adoption of resolution 2328 for the evacuation of civilians from Aleppo under the neutral supervision of the UN. In addition, last December, resolution 2332 was adopted regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria and the renewal of relief delivery authorizations until January 2018. Finally, in the same month, resolution 2336 was adopted in support of Russia-Turkey efforts to end violence in Syria.

    The protection of medical personnel and humanitarian access has been consolidated as a priority in Spanish humanitarian strategic documents, especially in Syria and Iraq. Spain has also promoted humanitarian access in different fora for humanitarian crises such as Palestine, Yemen, Sahrawi refugees, Nigeria and Mali.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - Spain will organize a side event one year after the adoption of SCR 2286 (2016) in order to discuss the challenges that the implementation of that resolution entails in particular conflict settings such as Syria.
    - Monitoring and follow-up through different forums where messages related to access and protection of medical missions are integrated.
    - Notwithstanding the progress achieved at a normative level, the very high number of civil casualties, signal there is still much to be done on the ground.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The effective implementation of this resolution is hijacked by the political situation of each country in particular.

    The veto at the UNSC may stop progress. The initiative to reduce the use of veto at the UNSC when it comes to atrocity crimes should prosper. However, difficulties remain.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Spain will continue its efforts on the promotion of humanitarian access in Syria and other contexts through participation in the different fora and meetings.
    - It will also foster the implementation of resolution 2286 through the newly created Group of Friends in Geneva and informal discussions in NY. Spain will informally engage in any initiative on verification mechanisms.
    - Keep supporting the UNSG Special Adviser for the R2P.
    - Encourage the UNSG to make use of Article 99 of the UN Charter.
    - Advance the participation of the Safe Schools Initiative and encourage other states to join this initiative.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions', what would it be

    The difficulties of humanitarian advocacy in this area that requires funding, human resources and political commitment, three factors that are not always prioritized. 

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2B - Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions

2C
Speak out on violations

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    To end repeated violations of international humanitarian law and abuse thereof there is a need for strong political commitment and Spain is ready to support any initiative towards this end, as the Spanish ratification of the Rome Statute. Spain made humanitarian issues and the respect for international humanitarian law one of its priorities during its mandate as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2015-2016.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Since the end of 2016 Spain is an elected member of the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission, a permanent body of the First Additional Protocol of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on the protection of victims of international armed conflicts to conduct investigations into events that constitute a serious breach of international humanitarian law. In addition, the re-election of Professor Escobar to the International Law Commission is an example of the increasing prestige of the Spanish school of international law and of Spain's firm commitment to promoting international law and the word of the commission. Spain has just been accepted, along with Costa Rica, as a member of the LGBTI Core Group of countries in the UN. Finally, Spain proposed at the WHS to create the position of UN special envoy for the protection of journalists in conflict, a proposal that was backed by “Reporters without borders”.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Coordination and exchange of information through the different departments and ministries.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Political constraints, since some countries have not signed or ratified the Rome Statute. Moreover, the lack of social pressure by civil society in certain countries to eliminate violations, be it because of censorship, be it because of fragile civil societies.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    The Spanish members of the International Law Commission and the International Fact Finding Commission will actively work within these bodies until 2021.

    In 2017, Spain will intensely pursue its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period of 2018-2020. In this sense, it has set out its ten human rights proposals for 2018-2020.

    Spain will keep supporting the prosecution of war crimes in Syria and has backed initiatives in this regard in the framework of the UNGA and the Human Rights Council.

    Spain also intends to adhere to the UN working group on children and armed conflicts.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Speak out on violations', what would it be

    Accountability by the perpetrators of these violations, mobilisation of civil societies. Only by speaking out on violations and making their perpetrators accountable will we be able to reduce them.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2C - Speak out on violations

2D
Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain will contribute EUR 1 million in 2016 to the new Global Acceleration Instrument (GAI) and to the UN Women Fund to combat sexual violence and will increase its percentage of humanitarian aid given to women, peace and security.


  • Financial Contribution
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to sign on to the Call to Action and its Roadmap by 2017 and make commitments commensurate with their mandates, capacities, and resources, principally under Outcome 1: humanitarian actors adopt and implement institutional policies and standards to strengthen gender equality, prevent and respond to GBV, and enhance accountability for taking action.


  • Policy
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Spain has subscribed and commits to implement the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes and calls upon the permanent members of the UN Security Council to refrain from exercising Security Council veto power in the face of mass atrocities.


  • Policy
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Spain will enhance cooperation with the International Criminal Court by 2020.


  • Partnership
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts, including through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Unfortunately, the respect and protection of civilians in armed conflicts is not assured and due to the change of nature of armed conflicts, civilians are in many cases trapped in sieges and their humanitarian conditions are used to pressure the enemy. In this context, the respect for IHL remains more relevant than ever.

    Spain has supported gender mainstreaming in the prevention and response to GBV and has regularly funded the ICRC Special appeal on Sexual Violence. In 2016, 1% of the Spanish humanitarian funds were allocate to GBV humanitarian projects.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Spain has supported the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the UNSC. Spain was the focal point of the caucus of the Security Council members that are parties to the Rome Statute and promoted the cooperation between the UNSC and the ICC. Spain expressed its regrets to the announcement of the withdrawal from the ICC of Burundi, Gambia and South Africa.

    While presiding over the Security Council in December 2016, Spain drafted and promoted the adoption of resolution 2231 to combat human trafficking in armed conflict, a ground-breaking resolution that includes significant new measures related to the fight against sexual violence in conflicts.

    In the field of the fight against impunity, Spain has proposed the establishment of an International Court against Terrorism.

    It also promoted the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    - Integrating protection indicators into the humanitarian context strategies such as the number of people informed and / or trained in IHL. AECID also reviews annual reports on ICRC appeals and holds regular meetings with humanitarian partners.
    - We are contributing to every debate on data and indicators which can help to reach improvements in this field (at the EU, OCDE, etc)

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - Improved coordination between ministries and all parties involved. Improved information management.
    - Political constraints, budgetary constraints, lack of accountability by violators.
    - Sometimes the vetoes at the Security Council might hint to the violation of “the norms that safeguard humanity”.
    - One of the main challenges in terms of gender seems to be how to translate the political rhetoric into the ground. There is a need to increase gender experts as well as financial resources in the implementation of gender policies in humanitarian aid and in WPS.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - Spain will promote the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
    - Spain will continue to work bilaterally and alongside the European Union on the universality of the Rome Statute.
    - Spain will continue to support the work of the SRSG for Sexual Violence in Conflict and Children and Armed Conflict with non-state armed groups.
    - Spain will adhere in the first semester of 2017 to the Call to Action initiative and will continue to fund the ICRC Sexual Violence Special Appeal. Spain will also endeavour to fund GBV humanitarian projects.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability', what would it be

    Accountability by the perpetrators of violations, mobilisation of civil societies. Only by speaking out on violations and making their perpetrators accountable will we be able to reduce them.  

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

2E
Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain commits to engage constructively in an intergovernmental process to find agreement on the functions and features of a potential forum of States on international humanitarian law and ways to enhance the implementation of international humanitarian law, in conformity with resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2015


  • Partnership
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Spain will join a global effort/campaign to mobilize States, civil society and global leaders to enhance respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law.


  • Operational
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Due to the violation of basic principles and purposes of the UN Charter in the 21st century by some members of the international community, Spain made humanitarian issues and the respect for international humanitarian law one of its priorities during its mandate as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2015-2016.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Spain has participated in the informal and formal meetings in Geneva on the intergovernmental process on strengthening respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), as set out in Resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. In this forum, Spain committed to engage constructively in the intergovernmental process to find agreement on the functions and features of a potential forum of States on IHL and ways to enhance the implementation of IHL. In this regard, Spain calls for the holding of regular meeting of States and experts on the implementation of IHL.

    Also, at the UNSC and during the 70th anniversary of the UN Charter, Spain promoted the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 70/3 to commit to the San Francisco Charter and its values, purposes and principles that constitute the UN’s foundation.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The number of referrals to the International Court of Justice may be a proxy to assess progress.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Political and budgetary constraints.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will continue to promote the respect of the UN Charter and its values, purposes and principles, and strengthen all means to hold its violators accountable.

    Spain will keep participating in all the informal and formal meetings in Geneva to support the intergovernmental process on strengthening respect for IHL, as set out in Resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity', what would it be

    The world can only be in peace and secure if the values, purposes and principles of the UN Charter are respected and if the perpetrators of the violations thereof are made accountable.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2E - Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

3A
Reduce and address displacement

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to a new approach to addressing forced displacement that not only meets immediate humanitarian needs but reduces vulnerability and improves the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugees and IDPs. Commit to implementing this new approach through coherent international, regional and national efforts that recognize both the humanitarian and development challenges of displacement. Commit to take the necessary political, policy, legal and financial steps required to address these challenges for the specific context.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Commit to promote and support safe, dignified and durable solutions for internally displaced persons and refugees. Commit to do so in a coherent and measurable manner through international, regional and national programs and by taking the necessary policy, legal and financial steps required for the specific contexts and in order to work towards a target of 50 percent reduction in internal displacement by 2030.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Acknowledge the global public good provided by countries and communities which are hosting large numbers of refugees. Commit to providing communities with large numbers of displaced population or receiving large numbers of returnees with the necessary political, policy and financial, support to address the humanitarian and socio-economic impact. To this end, commit to strengthen multilateral financing instruments. Commit to foster host communities' self-reliance and resilience, as part of the comprehensive and integrated approach outlined in core commitment 1.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Commit to actively work to uphold the institution of asylum and the principle of non-refoulement. Commit to support further accession to and strengthened implementation of national, regional and international laws and policy frameworks that ensure and improve the protection of refugees and IDPs, such as the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol or the AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala convention) or the Guiding Principles on internal displacement.
  • Leave No One Behind

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    The global refugee crisis unfolding across Europe, the Middle East and Africa challenges the world and Spain is not an exception, in particular in view of its geographical location. Spain is aware of the magnitude and urgency of current emergencies and is willing to contribute to reduce the suffering of people that have been forcibly displaced.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In 2016 Spain has allocated half of its humanitarian budget to protracted crisis in support of refugees and IDPs. At the same time, Spain increased the budget dedicated to international protection and asylum in the two ministries dealing with the dossier: 2522% increase in the case of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security and 105% in the case of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    In compliance with the decision on this matter taken within the EU (Justice and Home Affairs Council, September 2015), a total of 1140 refugees have received protection in Spain since the beginning of 2016 (851 relocations, 289 resettlements).

    In February 2017, the Government of Spain, together with 17 the regional governments, approved a coordinated response plan for the situation of refugees in Europe and in countries of origin and contributed in response to a call by UNHCR and other UN bodies with 2.5 million.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) is coordinating with the different directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Employment and Interior dealing with the Spanish WHS commitments.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    In protracted crisis of political origin, like the Palestinian context, difficulties were faced to guarantee stable funding to make threatened populations’ resilience stronger. Political and financial commitments are hard to maintain.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will actively contribute to the process of defining and negotiating the two Global Compacts (migrants and refugees).

    In the next two years Spain will allocate at least 25% of its humanitarian funding to the Syria and Iraq’s crises in support of refugees and IDPs. Also, in response to the migrant and refugee crisis in Europe and as part of EU's emergency relocation and resettlement schemes, Spain has committed to resettle 1,449 and relocate 9,323 refugees.

    Spain will also advocate for the expansion of the Kampala Convention to all IDPs around the world.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Refugees

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑3A - Reduce and address displacement

3D
Empower and protect women and girls

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain will contribute EUR 1 million in 2016 to the new Global Acceleration Instrument (GAI) and to the UN Women Fund to combat sexual violence and will increase its percentage of humanitarian aid given to women, peace and security.


  • Financial Contribution
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

  • Spain will contribute EUR 50,000 to the gender unit of the Department of Political Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat.


  • Financial Contribution
  • Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to continue and tailor to crisis settings their support to the implementation of the targets for the 2030 Agenda on maternal, newborn and adolescent health to ensure safe delivery, emergency obstetric, ante-natal and post-natal services in crisis settings, improved access to information, voluntary family planning, and basic items for safe delivery and sanitary supplies, necessary medical and psychological services for SGBV survivors as well as improved capacity of health systems and workers with immediate effect, particularly through the Spanish medical emergency teams ready to be deployed at the onset of a crisis.


  • Operational
  • Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to adapt the IASC, ECHO or other gender and age markers, and create and apply a Spanish gender marker to 100% of humanitarian funding allocations by 2018. By applying the gender marker Spain assures that funding is allocated only to funding actions that explicitly include a gender analysis by 2018. Spain also commit to monitor and evaluate the impact of their interventions in gender equality and include information in its annual report regarding improvements on this matter.


  • Operational
  • Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to increase support to collective financing mechanisms that enable women's empowerment in humanitarian action by 2018.


  • Financial
  • Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to increasing current levels of funding to women's groups. Spain also commit to ensuring that women access equally cash assistance programmes, sustainable and dignified livelihoods, vocational and skills training opportunities throughout humanitarian programme cycle by 2020.


  • Financial
  • Leave No One Behind Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

  • Spain commits to joining the Secretary General's Every Woman Every Child Everywhere (EWECE) initiative and corresponding roadmap, by 2017, to work to end all preventable deaths of women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.


  • Policy
  • Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to renew the National Action Plan (NAP) on women, peace and security by elaborating a new NAP based on recommendations by the High Level Examination of the application of Resolution 1325. Spain will also assume the obligation of elaborating monitoring reports of the new plan every two years. The monitoring reports will include specific mention of actions implemented under the Action Plan of Women and Peace-construction of Spanish Cooperation.


  • Operational
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Leave No One Behind

  • Spain commits to request the Secretary-General to mandate that all Secretary-General Reports and any briefings to the Council from a UN or non-governmental agency include sex and age disaggregated data and take into account findings and recommendations on women's rights and gender equality by human rights bodies and mechanisms.


  • Advocacy
  • Leave No One Behind

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Empower Women and Girls as change agents and leaders, including by increasing support for local women's groups to participate meaningfully in humanitarian action.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome documents of their review conferences for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    One of the hallmarks of the Spanish Cooperation is the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality and in this sense gender has been a priority in the last three Spanish Cooperation Masterplans. The Spanish Cooperation has developed a Gender Strategy and a Women and Peace Building Strategy. In addition, Spain has been a driving force for the I & II EU Gender Action Plan – GAP.

    In 2016, 6.07% of the humanitarian projects funded by the Spanish Humanitarian Action had a code of 2a or 2b as per IASC gender marker and 1% has been allocated to women’s group.

  • Achievements at a glance

    The 2016-2017 strategic humanitarian documents set the need to include gender issues in humanitarian projects and to prioritize funding of 2a and 2b coded IASC gender marker projects.

    AECID launched in 2016 the START (Spanish Technical Aid Response Team) project, which will allow Spain to deploy a team of health professionals in less than 72 hours in any part of the world where there is an emergency. The START team will be able to provide sexual and reproductive health services during its deployment. The Standard Operation Procedures of the START has been gender sensitized too.

    Spain has contributed with €750,000 to the Global Acceleration Instrument (GAI) and is part of its executive board. Spain has also contributed to the UN Action Plan against Sexual Violence in Conflict, with €200,000 and to the Peace Operation Training Institute with €50,000.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The Humanitarian Aid Office of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) is coordinating with AECID’s Gender Unit as well as with different departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Health and Social Affairs, Interior or Defense in order to measure the level of progress of WHS commitments.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    - One of the main challenges seems to be how to translate the political rhetoric into implementation on the ground. There is a need to increase gender expertise as well as financial resources in the implementation of gender policies in humanitarian aid and WPS.
    - More donors are needed in the GAI (currently only 6 countries) in order to have a catalytic impact on the ground.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will join the Secretary-General's Every Woman Every Child Everywhere (EWECE) initiative in the first half of 2017

    Spain shall endeavour to improve the level of funding to women’s groups and to humanitarian projects coded 2a & 2b as per the IASC gender marker.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Empower and protect women and girls', what would it be

    The humanitarian community must assume gender equality as a main pillar of the humanitarian work, ensure the meaningful participation of women and girls in the whole humanitarian cycle – design, implementation and evaluation of projects - and promote their leadership at decision making levels.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls

4A
Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain commits to increasing current levels of funding to women's groups. Spain also commit to ensuring that women access equally cash assistance programmes, sustainable and dignified livelihoods, vocational and skills training opportunities throughout humanitarian programme cycle by 2020.


  • Financial
  • Leave No One Behind Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
  • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
  • Commit to increase investment in building community resilience as a critical first line of response, with the full and effective participation of women.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
  • Commit to ensure regional and global humanitarian assistance for natural disasters complements national and local efforts.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Spain had been engaged in past years in the GFDRR in the frame of the Hyogo Action Plan and had developed bilateral level programmes to strengthen national and regional capacities in risk prevention in ALC countries. There is also a long tradition of technical cooperation between Spain and Latin American countries in the field of climate change trough the RIOCC regional iberoamerican network of Climate Change offices. There was a need to link this expertise with a different way of managing humanitarian response to natural disasters, and to apply Sendai Framework of Action.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Spain supported community resilience through the ARAUCLIMA programme, which strengthens the capacities of women in order to participate equally in the processes of community governance promoting production and management activities for water resources conservation and adaptation to climate change in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

    AECID has also reinforced the national response capacities in the Philippines supporting the department of health in the areas of logistics, WASH and health.

    Moreover, AECID underpinned Ecuador’s emergency response after the earthquake in April 2016, focusing its support in the Emergency Medical Teams Coordination Cells (EMTCC) and in coordination mechanism established by the Ministry of Health.

    Spain also assessed and supported national and local spatial planning policy in Ecuador, in the aftermath of the last earthquake, as part of the long-term recovery actions, with the Ecuador's Municipalities Association, which is expected to have strong impact in decreasing disasters exposure.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The humanitarian strategy of the Spanish Cooperation is under evaluation.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    A bigger effort to change practices in emergency is needed. Reinforcement of national and local mechanisms and capacities means that the role of other actors or countries should be to train or share knowledge instead of direct response.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain is planning to support the region of Latin America to build emergency preparedness capacities, particularly on the organizations and deployment of emergency medical teams. An agreement has just been signed with Argentina and other agreements may follow.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems', what would it be

    A community-based emergency system, how imperfect and simple it is, may be much more effective in saving lives than a more sophisticated and technological one but difficult to manage for affected people. Humanitarian actors need some sense of humility to recognize the value of local systems and build on them.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Accountability to affected people ☑ Disaster Risk Reduction ☑ Gender

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Charter for Change

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

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

4B
Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
  • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
  • Commit to improve the understanding, anticipation and preparedness for disaster and climate-related risks by investing in data, analysis and early warning, and developing evidence-based decision-making processes that result in early action.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    The new global 2030 Agenda has emphasized the urgency of taking measures against climate change and mainstreaming resilience building in all Sustainable Development objectives. The WHS allowed for adoption of commitments in line with the global framework, enhancing instruments and practices, such as cash transfers, which had been incorporated in the SC programmes. However, there was no systematic approach to reduce disaster and climate related risks.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Spain adopted a strong commitment to cooperate with the international community in risk preparedness through financial support to WFP for the establishment of a platform for emergency stocks in las Palmas de Gran Canarias. This platform is facilitating an earlier answer to many humanitarian crises in West Africa.

    Spain has actively participated in the process to Sendaï and is currently contributing to the implementation of this agenda both at the national and international level. It also supports the adaptation of the different UN agencies to the Sendaï Framework as was the case with the adoption in February 2017 of the new environmental policy by the WFP EB.

    In relation to SIDS, Spain has contributed with € 1,000,000 to their risk reduction policies as signatory of a MoU promoted by Italy to bring them support.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Indicators from the Sendai Framework have been incorporated to the goals of the 2030 Agenda, so progress will be assessed accordingly with the national monitoring of the 2030 Agenda.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will participate in the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Mexico to monitor progress and identify measures to advance the implementation of the Sendai Framework. In the frame of the next Master Plan of SC, targets should be set in order to follow implementation of these commitments.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Anticipate, do not wait, for crises', what would it be

    Funding for data collection and establishment of information systems to make possible anticipation of crises is urgently needed in many developing countries. The problem is that this kind of investment straddles humanitarian and development programmes. 

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

4C
Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Prior to the WHS and the related commitments, the Spanish OAH had been working on the need to introduce a new way of thinking and delivering aid in order to be more effective when dealing with recurrent situations of food security crises in African countries. A joint group made of humanitarian and development actors was created to work on better coordination and ways to improve anticipation of crises and risk prevention. This group led to the elaboration of guidelines on how to build resilience of affected communities, which stressed the relevance of climate-related risks.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In October 2013, AECID organized in Dakar,Senegal a workshop entitled “From vulnerability to overcoming crises: communities´resilience “, gathering humanitarian and development actors to consider how to respond to food security crises in Africa.

    Spain participated in the drafting of the EU Plan of Resilience (2013-2020) and right now is working at the EU level on ongoing Council conclusions on the development-humanitarian nexus divide.

    Though the Spanish IV Master Plan, reduction of vulnerabilities and crisis prevention has been defined as a strategic orientation of the SC, this approach due to its multisectoral character has not been fully integrated into SC programmes. Progress has been made in understanding the nexus between humanitarian and longer-term recovery programmes, but there is still much to do.

    Resilience and improved living conditions have been added to the protection approach when dealing with vulnerable groups under threat of forcible transfer, such as Palestine.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    An evaluation of how different aid programmes contributed to building resilience to the food crisis in Niger was undertaken in 2015.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The biggest challenge is to make actors from different sector expertise understand that they must take a holistic approach to risk management and make their different policy measures converge towards building resilience in the long-term. SC actors are not used to thinking in terms of collective results, any actor sticks to his own development results framework linked to sectoral policies.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will include resilience building as the main strategic framework in the next Master Plan of Spanish Cooperation 2017-2020, which is under preparation in 2017. This strategic approach will be supported by the Government adoption and publication this year of the SGCID document on Guidelines for Building Resilience for Human Welfare.

    Spain will seek to encourage cash transfers and/or vouchers, since we consider that this modality of assistance facilitates the empowerment and respect the dignity of refugees and IDPs and improves their self-reliance.

    AECID is also considering adding a resilience indicator to its work and programming cycle.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides', what would it be

    More and more people are faced everyday with natural or man-made disasters which jeopardize their means of living: what is relevant is not who provides money, but if the kind of aid provided make these people able to resist and recover as soon as possible from a critical situation.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Cash ☑ Disaster Risk Reduction ☑ IDPs ☑ Refugees

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4A - Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems ☑ 4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

5B
Invest according to risk

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Spain believes that the development of resilience is a cross-cutting issue, directly oriented to the maintenance of the good health of the ecosystems where most of the vulnerable communities live and linked to the fight against climate change and desertification. Spain aims to strengthen the capacity building of the most vulnerable countries to climate change with integrated plans for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

    Spain is a strong supporter of global humanitarian assistance through OCHA as far as it is the way to attend emergency situations in countries and contexts where the SC is not present.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In order to deliver predictable, flexible, urgent and life-saving assistance, AECID launched in 2016 the START (Spanish Technical Aid Response Team) project, which will allow Spain to have health professionals ready to deploy in less than 72 hours in any part of the world where there is an emergency.

    AECID START Project is part of the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) initiative led by WHO and the European Medical Corps of the European civil protection mechanism. Spain is also supporting the PAHO regional office for the Americas. AECID has been supporting WHO EMT initiative since the very beginning in three ways: as a donor, with technical support to the verification process and with the creation of a hospital EMT 2.

    The START Project team has also participated in several exercises and a training in the Americas Region, particularly in the two Regional Training for EMT coordinators and EMTCC.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The Humanitarian Aid Office of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) is coordinating with the different parts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior dealing with the Spanish WHS commitments.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Adaptation to the Minimum Standards of Quality defined by WHO and assumed by the organizations, medical teams and governments that participate in the initiative means a big investment in quality equipment, technical guidelines development and standard operating procedure definitions.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    The EMT of the Spanish Cooperation is part of the global registry process to be verified by WHO during autumn 2017.

    Spain is also planning to support Latin America to build emergency preparedness capacity, particularly for the organization and deployment of emergency medical teams.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Invest according to risk', what would it be

    Building resilience means to be able to think about what will be going on after the emergency services have left, and how affected populations will recover their livelihood. Engagement on a long term period is necessary to make sure that people do not fall back into extreme poverty.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises ☑ 4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

5C
Invest in stability

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Spain commits to intensify efforts to increase the 6% of Official Development Assistance currently allocated to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.


  • Financial
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts Invest in Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    One of the priority areas of Spain during its mandate as a non-permanent UNSC member in 2015-2016 was the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. In this regard, the President of the Spanish Government chaired an open debate at the Security Council on a high-level review of Resolution 1325 in October 2015. Our country promoted the adoption of Resolution 2242, unanimously approved by the UNSC which established a roadmap for the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the coming years, identified new areas of action and launched an informal group of experts.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In 2016 Spain co-chaired the informal group of experts (IGE) established by resolution 2242. During the 2016 UNGA, Spain organized the launching of the Focal Points Network on WPS. Spain has designated a National Focal Point (the General Director for the UN and Human Rights), as well as set up a National Focal Points Network on WPS. In addition, the Dutch-Spanish Bilateral Initiative have provided gender training to civilian and military personnel involved in missions in conflict and post-conflict situations. Spain also supported UNSC Resolution 2272 on zero tolerance to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations.

    Spain is currently working on the development of the National Action Plan on WPS II and has organized a workshop for relevant actors to discuss a first draft, making the process as inclusive as possible.

    Spain funded in 2016 the African Union Gender Peace and Security Programme with €240,574.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    The Humanitarian Aid Office of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) is coordinating with AECID’s Gender Unit as well as with different departments of the Spanish administration that are contributing to the Spanish WHS commitments in order to measure the progress made so far and identify challenges and future common goals.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The economic crisis and the subsequent decrease in humanitarian funding during the last years has been an important hurdle.

    More donors are needed in the GAI in order to have a greater catalytic impact on the ground (there are just 6 donors nowadays).

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Spain will develop the Women, Peace and Security National Plan II and will host the first meeting of the Focal Points Network on WPS in Alicante in 2017 to exchange good practices for the implementation of resolution 2242. The meeting will specifically focus on the fight against terrorism and the role of women as mediators in conflicts.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Invest in stability', what would it be

    Peace without a sound participation of women and girls at all levels and stages is not possible or feasible.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1D - Develop solutions with and for people ☑ 3D - Empower and protect women and girls