23.05.2016 – The world is witnessing the highest level of human suffering since the Second World War. This is why, for the first time in the 70-year history of the United Nations, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has convened the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul on 23 -24 May.
The day is finally here. 5,000 participants from across all sectors of society are to embark on the first ever World Humanitarian Summit. The Summit is held at the highest political level possible, including Heads of States or Government, alongside global leaders from government, business, aid organisations, civil society, and affected communities and youth.
The Summit has three main goals:
To re-inspire and reinvigorate a commitment to humanity and to the universality of humanitarian principles.
To initiate a set of concrete actions and commitments aimed at enabling countries and communities to better prepare for and respond to crises, and be resilient to shocks.
To share best practices which can help save lives around the world, put affected people at the center of humanitarian action, and alleviate suffering.
The United Nations Secretary-General has called for humanity—people’s safety, dignity and the right to thrive—to be placed at the heart of global decision-making. To deliver for humanity, stakeholders must act on five core responsibilities:
At the Summit, global leaders will discuss how to effectively respond to major humanitarian challenges, and how to be better prepared to meet challenges of the future. Priority issues will be the management of forced displacement, empowering women and girls, strengthening global and local responses to crises and recurrent disasters, saving lives and humanitarian action. The summit will result in a Commitments to Action document including concrete actions in support for the Agenda for Humanity.
The World Humanitarian Summit, as Ban Ki-moon states, “must be for the people living on the frontline of humanity. They count on us and we cannot let them down”.
Impossible Choices
Our leaders have the power to close the gap between the world that is and the world that should be. Visit impossiblechoices.org, take the humanitarian challenge and ask your leader to take bold action to stop human suffering.
____________________________________
UNRIC’s related links
- facebook.com/WHSummit
facebook.com/UNOCHA
facebook.com/unitednations
- Instagram: @whsummit, @un_ocha, @unitednations
Photos
Two: @WHS
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485