Doha Forum holds session on co-ordinated humanitarian diplomacy strategy

The Doha Forum 2024 held a session on *Could a Co-ordinated Humanitarian Diplomacy Strategy Transform Crisis Response Worldwide Saturday.A number of those concerned with humanitarian work spoke on goals and obstacles and stressed need to respect international law and international humanitarian law, reduce conflict, and deliver aid to the victims of these crises without restriction and obstacle.Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) chairman Yousef bin Ali al-Khater said that the session's topic is important for the global humanitarian community.He noted that the QRCS believes that addressing escalating humanitarian challenges requires a strategic, unified, and effective approach to humanitarian diplomacy that bridges gaps, fosters collaboration, and amplifies the voices of the most vulnerable.Al-Khater reviewed reports of humanitarian workers being targeted, limiting their ability to perform their mission to provide relief to vulnerable groups, indicating that these are the minimum standards of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions."We have launched our initiative at the QRCS to develop the ‘Global Charter for Humanitarian Diplomacy’, which represents a comprehensive practical framework to address the challenges facing humanitarian diplomacy,” he said.The QRCS chairman added that Qatar has played a pivotal role in supporting mediation and humanitarian negotiations, enabling humanitarian access to affected populations and strengthening global humanitarian diplomacy efforts.Al-Khater also emphasised the importance of respecting international humanitarian law, "which allowed us to play a leading role in supporting humanitarian diplomacy efforts at the global level, especially in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, and Palestine, and we seek to sustain this role by developing the Global Charter for Humanitarian Diplomacy”."We need this charter to uphold international humanitarian law, ensure access to the most vulnerable, defend their rights, negotiate effectively for humanitarian access, deliver aid, and protect humanitarian workers,” he stressed.Al-Khater said that the c harter aims to address challenges by fostering a shared understanding of the importance of humanitarian diplomacy, enhancing collaboration, and building capacities.He also stressed the need to establish mechanisms for effective partnerships between governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international organisations, and other stakeholders to strengthen collective action, build capacity, encourage training, research, and document best practices to equip humanitarian actors with the skills and knowledge needed for effective diplomacy.Al-Khater added that the QRCS is committed to advancing initiatives that enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian diplomacy, notably through its support for the development of the Global Charter on Humanitarian Diplomacy."This initiative is not just a procedural step, but rather a transformative move towards achieving greater co-ordination and deeper effectiveness in humanitarian diplomacy,” he said."To achieve this, the charter could contribute to allocating a world day for humanitarian diplomacy to effectively promote its importance and role, and a specialised international conference to develop effective initiatives, in addition to establishing a global center specialised in humanitarian diplomacy,” al-Khater added.