ADDRESSING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES: Mrs Suzanne Mubarak inaugurated the ninth Conference of Mediterranean Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Monday, an event that brought together 19 associations representing 100 members to discuss regional humanitarian needs in a politically turbulent region.
The conference agenda focussed on the challenges currently facing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as the role of humanitarian law in contemporary conflict. Attended by numerous Egyptian dignitaries and ministers, the conference also included a visit by ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger.
Mrs Mubarak spoke of the unfortunate circumstances in which the conference was taking place -- a time when conflict and dispute are rampant around the world. She spoke of the insecurity catalysed by regional chaos, contrasting it to the importance of human understanding, which is the basis on which the Red Cross and Crescent are built.
"Greater emphasis must be placed on humanitarian law in the region, and the society must hold on, and insist, on applying the four Geneva Conventions," Mrs Mubarak said. "Holding this conference is critical at this time as humanity is facing one of its most difficult periods in history."
The Red Cross and Crescent societies should work towards one main objective, Mrs Mubarak said, in order to be capable of effectively confronting the increasing frequency of global attacks on human rights, as well as to properly address the rights of mothers, children, and other victims of regional conflict.
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