In February 2016, the United Nations Secretary General released his Report on the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS). The report calls on States, United Nations agencies, civil society and all parties to conflict to ensure greater respect, protection and assistance for people affected by the consequences of armed conflict and disaster. It outlines an Agenda for Humanity, which States and other actors are encouraged to endorse at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23 and 24 May.
The UN and the ICRC are part of a larger international humanitarian response to armed conflict and disaster. We share many concerns and work to similar goals on several humanitarian issues. Yet our governance, mandates, scope, approach and humanitarian activities are distinct from one another, and the WHS is a good opportunity to sharpen our mutual understanding of how we can cooperate and complement one another, and how we must remain distinct.