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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

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility
  • Iceland commits to encourage the Secretary-General to use his prerogative under Article 99 of the Charter to brief the Security Council proactively on emerging issues.
  • Policy
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

  • Iceland will support the United Nations in convening a World Prevention Forum by 2020 to identify how Member States, the UN Secretariat, the Security Council and regional organizations can work more effectively together on conflict prevention and resolution.


  • Policy
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

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?

    The recommendations of the HIPPO report highlight the importance of conflict prevention and early action to find political solutions. The Secretary-General has the power under Article 99 to bring the attention of the Security Council and the vocal support of member states will aid him in this.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Iceland has encouraged the Secretary-General's use of Art 99, including in the following: Joint Nordic statement in the Security Council 19 January 2016, "we support his [the Secretary-General's] focus on the political settlement of conflicts in his report on the implementation of the HIPPO recommendations." The Joint Nordic statement in the Security Council 21 February 2017 stating that "The Secretary General’s good offices and patient support has now made us see real prospects for lasting progress [in Cyprus]. We commend and support you, Mr. Secretary General, for your focus on diplomacy for peace."

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

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • Achievements at a glance

    Iceland has spoken out and condemned serious violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law, including in the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review during the reporting period. Iceland has also held number of speeches holding States to account if they are not fulfilling their international obligations.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Iceland commits to continue to speak out and condemn serious violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law, including in the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review, and to hold States to account if they are not fulfilling their international obligations. Iceland will also work actively to support UN, regional and national mechanisms to ensure accountability of perpetrators and where necessary urge action by the United Nations Security Council and referral to the International Criminal Court.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2C - Speak out on violations

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

  • Achievements at a glance

    Iceland played an active part as cosponsor of GA resolution of 9 December 2016 on the situation in Syria, which included the wording "expressing outrage at the escalation of violence."
    • Statement by Foreign Minister at 71 General Assembly fall 2016.
    • Joint Nordic Baltic Statement in GA debate on SG Report on Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development.
    • Joint Nordic statement in Security Council “Protecting civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations” 10 June 2016.
    • Joint Nordic statement in Security Council Trafficking in persons in conflict situations 20 December 2016.
    • Iceland cosponsored and will contribute financially to the mechanism on Syrian war crimes (GA resolution 71/248).
    • Iceland actively supported and cosponsored the GA resolution 71/248 on establishing a mechanism on war crimes in Syria and GA resolution 71/203 on the situation of human rights in Syria.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Iceland commits to continue to speak out and condemn serious violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law, including in the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review, and to hold States to account if they are not fulfilling their international obligations. Iceland will also work actively to support UN, regional and national mechanisms to ensure accountability of perpetrators and where necessary urge action by the United Nations Security Council and referral to the International Criminal Court.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

2D
Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility
  • Iceland commits to develop a toolkit for the engagement of men and boys as part of the solution to prevent and respond to gender based violence by 2018.
  • Operational
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Iceland declares its support for the Code of Conduct on mass atrocities and the political statement on the suspension of the veto in case of mass atrocities.
  • Policy
  • 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?

    Iceland’s development policy is rooted in the fundamental rights of all people as set out in the Charter of the United Nations, emphasizing tolerance, justice, solidarity and cultural diversity. Iceland emphasizes human rights, gender equality, democracy, peace and security and respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law.

  • Achievements at a glance

    The Icelandic Government, in cooperation with the UN Women National Committee, has developed a toolkit to engage men and boys for gender equality, including efforts to address gender-based violence. The Barbershop toolkit is designed to provide a platform for dialogue among men about gender, addressing stereotypes and masculinities.

    Iceland was an early sponsor of both initiatives on the Security Council veto and atrocities and has referred to them regularly in statements, including in a joint Nordic statement of 7 November 2016 on reform of the Security Council.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    The toolkit was launched in March 2017 in New York and is now available on the UN Women HeForShe website: www.heforshe.org/barbershop
    Iceland will hold number of Barbershop events in 2017 in various countries and promote use of the toolkit as well.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender ☑ Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑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
  • Iceland will help efforts to mobilize States, civil society and global leaders to enhance respect for international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.
  • Advocacy
  • 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

  • Achievements at a glance

    Iceland makes an effort to speak out in support for respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Statement by Foreign Minister at 71 General Assembly in fall 2016.
    • Joint Nordic Baltic Statement in GA debate on SG Report on Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development.
    • Joint Nordic statement in Security Council “Protecting civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations” on 10 June 2016.
    • Joint Nordic statement in Security Council Trafficking in persons in conflict situations on 20 December 2016.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Continue speaking out in support of
    • Iceland cosponsored and will contribute financially to the mechanism on Syrian war crimes (GA resolution 71/248).
    • Iceland actively supported and cosponsored the GA resolution 71/248 on establishing a mechanism on war crimes in Syria and GA resolution 71/203 on the situation of human rights in Syria.
    • Joint Nordic statement in Security Council on 15 March 2017 on Trafficking in persons in conflict situations: forced labour, slavery and other similar practices.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

3D
Empower and protect women and girls

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility
  • Iceland commits to ensure that its financial support for any humanitarian program designed for the entire population can demonstrate how they meet women and girls needs, equally with those of men and boys, by 2020.
  • Financial
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Iceland commits to maintaining its current level of 25% of ODA/humanitarian support for gender equality and women and girls empowerment programming in humanitarian settings, in line with the peace and security commitment.
  • Financial
  • Leave No One Behind

  • Iceland 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.


  • Policy
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Iceland commits to working for at least 30% women in formal leadership roles, including in UN support teams, where they can meaningfully participate in all peace processes, including mediations.
  • Policy
  • 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?

    Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme throughout Iceland's development cooperation strategy and Iceland places high importance on promoting gender equality and women´s empowerment in developing countries and post-conflict societies through all of it's work in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Regarding education, Iceland will continue to be a leader on this front.

  • Achievements at a glance

    More than 80% of Iceland's bilateral aid is reported as targeting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Framework agreements with both UN humanitarian agencies and NGOs for financial support require a specific clause on gender and how assistance must meet women and girls needs, equally with those of men and boys. Iceland also supported work within WFP to implement it's gender strategy, both through gender experts in the field and developing training for WFP's staff. Whenever possible, Icelandic authorities address the issue of women’s participation and women’s leadership roles. This includes both official statements in International fora and bilateral dialogue with other states. Iceland has done this on many occasions during the reporting period.
    In terms of advocacy on women in leadership roles please see the following: Statement by Foreign Minister at 71 General Assembly and joint Nordic statements on many occasions.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    - A planned evaluation of gender in Iceland's development cooperation will help understand the impacts of mainstreaming activities to date and how best to target future efforts.
    - The toolkit on how to engage men and boys in gender equality work was launched in March 2017 in New York and is now available on the UN Women HeForShe website: www.heforshe.org/barbershop
    - Continue work within the UN on the advancement of gender equality and implementation of UNSCR 1325.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Accountability to affected people ☑ Gender

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2D - Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

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?

    Climate change and efforts to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate related risks, need to be a top priority for the international community. As a signatory to the international agreements such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Iceland has a responsability to take actions accordingly.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Iceland will commit a total of US$ 1 million to the Green Climate Fund for the period of 2016-2020. In 2016 Iceland also signed a three-year agreement for US$ 200,000 funding for SE4ALL. Iceland continues to work in cooperation with the World Bank (ESMAP) and the Nordic Development Fund in the field of harnessing geothermal energy in Eastern Africa. Iceland is also working on capacity building through the UNU-programs (UNU-Geothermal and UNU-Land restoration programs).The UNU programmes offer six months post-graduate training for practicing professionals from developing countries.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4C - Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides ☑ 5B - Invest according to risk

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?

    Iceland is ready and willing to take concrete actions in order to work towards reforming the international humanitarian system and creating better alignment in its own work towards that end. With a new development cooperation strategy being formulated, this is the right time to act.

  • Achievements at a glance

    In Iceland's Development Strategy for 2017-2021 the emphasis is on strengthening alignment between bilateral and multilateral aid policy while also improving co-ordination between development co-operation and humanitarian assistance. In December 2016 Iceland's provided US$ 600,000 from it's bilateral cooperation for nutrition emergency response to the El-Nino induced drought in Southern Africa. Iceland is also helping build the resilience of vulnerable populations through support to social sectors at district level.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Iceland will continue to look for practical ways to increase the synergies between its bilateral development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Accountability to affected people

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Commitment to Action: Transcending the humanitarian - development divide

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

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

5A
Invest in local capacities

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Iceland will make greater use of funding tools, such as UN-led country-based pooled funds (CBPFs), within its total humanitarian assistance budget.


  • Financial
  • Invest in Humanity

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Iceland’s humanitarian strategy is driven by international humanitarian law and the Good Humanitarian Donorship principles. Iceland also emphasizes the importance of following the evolution of global humanitarian policy and as such be an effective donor in the UN-led humanitarian architecture. Following best practice, and given that actions speak louder than words, Iceland seeks to increase its support to humanitarian pooled funds, to add to its predictable core or lightly earmarked funding to its multilateral partners.

  • Achievements at a glance

    During the reporting period Iceland has contributed to country-based pooled funds as a part of its funding for the Syria crises, as well as made increased funding available for CERF.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The importance of visibility of such funding must be underlined, as well as information on the results, increased efficiency and accountability of humanitarian aid for affected populations. Country-based pooled funds must prove their effectiveness in bringing funding to local NGOs.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Iceland plans to increase funding further in 2017 for country-based pooled funds.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Accountability to affected people ☑ Central Emergency Response Fund ☑ Country-based pooled funds

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

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

5C
Invest in stability

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility

  • Iceland commits funding to support the UN's conflict prevention capacities, in particular conflict analysis and the good offices function and will advocate for the use of regular budget funds for conflict prevention.


  • Financial
  • Invest in Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Preventive diplomacy should take much more prominent place in the activities of the United Nations system. Iceland believes it is important to strengthen conflict prevention capacities of UN.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Foreseen allocation to UN's Department of Political Affairs in the 2017 budget plans.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Iceland is monitoring developments on this front within the UN system and contributing to the discussion as appropriate.

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1B - Act early ☑ 1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability

5D
Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to enable coherent financing that avoids fragmentation by supporting collective outcomes over multiple years, supporting those with demonstrated comparative advantage to deliver in context.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
  • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
  • Invest in Humanity
  • Commit to broaden and adapt the global instruments and approaches to meet urgent needs, reduce risk and vulnerability and increase resilience, without adverse impact on humanitarian principles and overall action (as also proposed in Round Table on "Changing Lives").
  • Invest in Humanity

5E
Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

Individual Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Commitment Type
  • Core Responsibility
  • Iceland will increase its contribution to the CERF to help ensure its expansion to 1 billion USD by 2018.
  • Financial
  • Invest in Humanity

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to increase substantially and diversify global support and share of resources for humanitarian assistance aimed to address the differentiated needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises in fragile situations and complex emergencies, including increasing cash-based programming in situations where relevant.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
  • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
  • Invest in Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Unprecedented human suffering and the dire need for increased global humanitarian funding to meet the ever-increasing scale and intensity of emergencies and life-saving assistance, call for concerted measures, increased efficiency, transparency and a more coherent humanitarian response. Iceland is a strong believer in the importance of CERF's mandated role in this regard and supports the call for a stronger CERF. As a good humanitarian donor, Iceland aims to promote and to commit to increase more predictable, multi-year, unearmarked humanitarian funding.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Iceland signed a framework agreement for the period 2017-2021 with the World Food Program in the last quarter of 2016 for ISK 50 million for each year in unearmarked funding. Iceland also tripled i's funding to CERF in 2016.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    The biggest challenge, aside from limited resources, to increase predictable, multi-year, un-earmarked funding to humanitarian organizations is to secure political will for such funding. The importance of visibility of such funding must be underlined, as well as information on the results, increased efficiency and accountability of humanitarian aid for affected populations.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Framework agreement to be signed with CERF for the period 2017-2019 for ISK 50 million for each year, which is an increase of over 400% since 2015. Multi-year agreements for the same time period also to be signed with OCHA and UNHCR with significant increases in predictable funding for organizations.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Accountability to affected people ☑ Central Emergency Response Fund

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑5D - Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing