The Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) approved a proposal of the Russian Red Cross (the RRC) to analyze the implementation of laws previously adopted by the IPA CIS in the activities of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at the level of the CIS countries. The RRC is to present the outcomes at the meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly next spring.
The meeting of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights, in which the Russian Red Cross became a participant, was held on November 10 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The Head of Delegation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Country Cluster Delegation for the Russian Federation and Belarus, John Entwistle, commented on the model (standard) laws that have already been adopted by the Interparliamentary Assembly with the participation of the IFRC. These are the laws “On the use and protection of the emblems of the Red Cross or Red Crescent”, “On the equal access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection in the CIS countries” and “On the promotion and regulation of international assistance in emergency situations and assistance in carrying out primary emergency relief”.
“The Interparliamentary Assembly and its commissions are unique legislative bodies that set standards of legislation for the entire CIS and converge international and national law. Therefore, I am pleased once again raise the importance of the model laws of already adopted by the Assembly and the importance of their adoption with each of the Member States. It is important that, with the support of the IPA CIS, they reach the national level and defend the rights of all people in need of protection and assistance”, – said John Entwistle.
According to him, once adopted at the national level, these laws will serve as guidelines to practical efforts to help people, and “it will be the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies who will lead the practical implementation of these laws in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement”.
“These days, National Societies take on a range of broad tasks involved in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable groups of the population. Through their auxiliary status, the National Societies support the public authorities in their humanitarian tasks, including through close coordination and seriously considering any official requests from the authorities to carry out humanitarian activities within their mandate”, – stated John Entwistle.
The Russian Red Cross, in its turn, proposed to analyze the implementation of already adopted model laws in the CIS countries, which had been drawn up with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, by the next meeting of the IPA CIS.
“National Societies in the CIS countries play an auxiliary role in the humanitarian and social areas in their countries, they work for the sake of the people. Humanitarian issues have been raised more than once within the framework of the sessions of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, and we believe it is practical to involve National Societies directly in meetings related to our activities. We are also ready to share our experience and provide help in the process of interaction with civil society”, – emphasized during the meeting Anastasia Teneta, Head of the International Cooperation Department in the Russian Red Cross.
The RRC proposal was approved by the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights. The analysis will be made available by the Russian Red Cross the coming spring.
The Head of the International Cooperation Department in the Russian Red Cross also expressed the interest of the National Societies in strengthening cooperation with the IPA CIS. As Anastasia Teneta noted, this issue was discussed at the Leadership Meeting of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the states of Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, held in early November in Moscow.
“The National Societies of the CIS countries unanimously supported the idea of strengthening the cooperation of each National Society with the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. Considering the 10-year experience of cooperation between the IFRC and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, as well as the successful election of the Russian Red Cross to the Governing Board of the IFRC, we now have the opportunity to strengthen the cooperation between National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with the IPA CIS. We hope that the interaction between the National Societies and the CIS within the IPA will contribute to joint efforts for the sake of the people”, noted the Head of the International Cooperation Department in the RRC.
Additionally, during a bilateral meeting with representatives of the IFRC and the RRC, the Secretary General of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Dmitry Kobitsky stated, that the participation of National Societies in the activities of the IPA CIS leads to strengthened cooperation and solving important concerns in the social sphere. According to him, the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly is ready to become a platform for an open dialogue, and interaction with the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will be the key to preserving humanitarian values.
The CIS Interparliamentary Assembly is an interstate body of the Commonwealth of Independent States. It carries out parliamentary cooperation of the CIS member states and develops joint proposals of the national parliaments of the Commonwealth countries on issues of mutual interest.
