IPE December 2016
IPE Newsflash – Connect. Inspire. Engage
International Volunteer Day 2016, 5 December
On International Volunteer Day, we give thanks to every one of our volunteers, whose dedication and talent is an inspiration to us all. This amazing collection of people represents our 17 million volunteers, individuals prepared to step up when their community needs them. President Konoé calls on all to commit to supporting the people who give so much of their time and energy to make their communities safer, stronger and more resilient. Read our amazing volunteer Micheline's blog.
10th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
On 2 December IFRC and ICRC held a joint event in Geneva where our special speakers, Ancil Torres (Trinidad & Tobago), Sonia Torres (Pakistan) from the Torres Foundation for the Blind including Dominic Brathwaite, a youth volunteer from Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross who joined in virtually outlined challenges and opportunities of people with disabilities in getting involved in disaster risk reduction and recovery.
On International Migrant's Day, 18 December 2016, Elhadj As Sy, IFRC Secretary General, delivered a message to children around the world, urging them to "put aside negative perceptions about people migrating, and instead, to welcome them into their communities, treat them with kindness and understanding, and find inspiration in fellow community members who embrace newcomers, rather than reject them". Please find his video message in English, here.
IFRC Youth links
Humanitarian Education Learning Portal
Youth and volunteering – FedNet
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BOCA toolkit
Red Cross Red Crescent Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA) process has been initiated so that branches can continually assess and develop their capacities to meet contemporary humanitarian challenges by assessing local service needs and developing the capacities to deliver them in a sustainable locally resourced manner. Access the toolkit here.
The BOCAC Lab Hub
Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (BOCAC) Lab Hub Inspired by OCAC, BOCA could also be the platform with which National Societies could develop their branch certification system. The Lab Hub has been set up in Bangladesh to institutionalise the BOCAC process as an important part of Branch Development Frameworks for National Societies by prototyping different parts of the process.
Unseen Unheard: gender-based violence in disasters: Asia Pacific Case Studies
IFRC has recently published 'Unseen Unheard: gender based violence in disasters. Case studies from Asia Pacific'. This resource follows on from the global study, Unseen Unheard: gender based violence in disasters which saw research being conducted in 9 countries globally, and included Bangladesh, Myanmar and Samoa from the Asia Pacific region. The Asia Pacific case studies provide an overview of gender-based violence (GBV) within each country context, and steps taken to prevent and address GBV. Link to the case studies.
Youth voices in the 7th Asia Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR)
About 150 major natural disasters affected millions of people worldwide in 2015 alone. Globally half of the affected people are children and youth. Their voices were reflected during the 7th AMCDRR (2-5 November 2016) through the youth delegates interventions together with the National Society senior leadership. You can see further details from the photo album and document storage.
Young Humanitarians in Action!
Read about how the Youth got together for Humanity after the Nepal Earthquake 2015 and how NRCS engaged them in its operation. The earthquake affected thousands of people, damaged ancient monuments, historical palaces, unique temples including towns and villages. It was a challenging situation for the young volunteers of Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS).
Newly established committee to further strengthen Japanese Red Cross youth
The Japanese Red Cross Youth Committee is comprised of ten young and energetic members who are determined to ensure the strong and steady growth of the Japanese Red Cross youth movement. The goal of the committee is to activate Japanese Red Cross youth in new and interesting activities and motivate them to make a real difference in humanitarian work. "We strongly believe that Red Cross can be led, not only by staff members of the National Society, but also by volunteers. We hope that the challenge that this committee has been given will bring us innovation in near future."
Training in Modules and Guidelines for 'Junior Club of Volunteers'
Timor-Leste Red Cross has developed its first consolidated National Modules and Guidelines for Junior Red Cross clubs and already achieved recognition on its success from school principals at primary to senior high schools, as well as youth leaders, volunteer coordinators and the Dili branch. Visit here to see various JRC/RCY modules existing across Asia Pacific.
What does One Billion Coalition for Resilience mean for Youth?
Earlier this year, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) joined the "One Billion Coalition for Resilience" to scale up community and civic action to strengthen individual and community resilience. In line with this, the inaugural Members' Conversation was held to engage members and volunteers in open conversations to share ideas and ideals on building community resilience together.
Themed "RESILIENCE through Singapore Red Cross and ME", the event enabled members to leverage Slido.com and canvas painting to share their ideals.
(Scan the QR code to watch a video recap of the event.)
Violence prevention and response
Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
Inter-agency Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action has been launched. The IFRC is a member of the steering group.
Child Protection Minimum Standard 8
New inter-agency video highlights prevention and response to physical abuse in emergencies.
Integrating violence prevention
IFRC and Canadian Red Cross hosted the Americas Region webinar on integrating violence prevention and response into emergencies. Play recording (1 hr 6 min) (Spanish) Webinar PowerPoint. 328 people from 25 National Societies participated.
Public Awareness and Public Education for Disaster Risk Reduction "PAPE"
Harmonized messaging is a key aim in risk reduction awareness raising to enable the scaling up of efforts and to ensure consistent actions by at-risk individuals and communities. To support this, a package of promotional materials has been developed on Public Awareness and Public Education (PAPE) for Disaster Risk Reduction, comprising a guide and key messages, including examples of how this is being used.
Armenia Red Cross
Armenia Red Cross works to protect child migrants through child friendly spaces.
Maldives Red Crescent
Maldives Red Crescent protects girls and boys from violence.
#YDEP15years
Watch the Norwegian Red Cross celebrate 15 years of their Youth Delegate Exchange Programme (YDEP). Celebrate with them!
ECOSOC INTERNATIONAL NGO DAY 2016 on SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Read IFRC statement on NGO Day on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
What's happening in 2017
We are glad to share with you a global calendar of Movement activities. Please update the calendar with regional or global events that your National Society is organizing. We will be glad to promote the activities.