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Organisation
Participation facilitated by World Vision
International organisation
Speaker session
Protection in urban warfare: Reducing risk to civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers in conflict
Aquarium
This session aims to raise awareness of the humanitarian consequences of urban warfare, including of the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA). It will discuss how to address the complex protection challenges of civilians and civilian infrastructure. In this context, it will debate the best practices to protect civilians and key infrastructure, both through preparedness and response. The session will also present concrete steps that need to be taken by various actors (states, donors, international organizations, civil society) in order to use the momentum created by the Political Declaration on EWiPA in November 2022 and contribute to its meaningful implementation, with regards to several aspects such as collecting data on harm, victims’ assistance, addressing the reverberating effects and protecting civilians through adapted military practices.
Omar Mekky
ICRC Regional Coordinator Arab Speaking countries
Biography
Dr. Omar Mekky
Regional Legal Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa, ICRC.
Omar joined ICRC in 2011 to be responsible of the dissemination and implementation of IHL across the MENA region. Beforehand, he served as a public prosecutor and a Primary Court Judge at the Egyptian Judicial Authority. He, also. holds a PhD in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva
Speaker session
Protection in urban warfare: Reducing risk to civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers in conflict
Aquarium
This session aims to raise awareness of the humanitarian consequences of urban warfare, including of the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA). It will discuss how to address the complex protection challenges of civilians and civilian infrastructure. In this context, it will debate the best practices to protect civilians and key infrastructure, both through preparedness and response. The session will also present concrete steps that need to be taken by various actors (states, donors, international organizations, civil society) in order to use the momentum created by the Political Declaration on EWiPA in November 2022 and contribute to its meaningful implementation, with regards to several aspects such as collecting data on harm, victims’ assistance, addressing the reverberating effects and protecting civilians through adapted military practices.
Pekka Haavisto
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Biography
Pekka Haavisto is the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Haavisto has wide experience in foreign policy, for example from UNEP Task Forces on environmental impacts of war in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, occupied Palestinian territory and Sudan. He has been also EU’s Special Representative for Sudan and Darfur and UN Special Advisor in the Darfur peace process.
Organisation
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Speaker session
Protection in urban warfare: Reducing risk to civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers in conflict
Aquarium
This session aims to raise awareness of the humanitarian consequences of urban warfare, including of the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA). It will discuss how to address the complex protection challenges of civilians and civilian infrastructure. In this context, it will debate the best practices to protect civilians and key infrastructure, both through preparedness and response. The session will also present concrete steps that need to be taken by various actors (states, donors, international organizations, civil society) in order to use the momentum created by the Political Declaration on EWiPA in November 2022 and contribute to its meaningful implementation, with regards to several aspects such as collecting data on harm, victims’ assistance, addressing the reverberating effects and protecting civilians through adapted military practices.