EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations’ Post

🤝Joint forces for added value: #Europe is working towards a common goal in international #cooperation. Expanding partnerships is a key concern of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of European Union 2024. Heidy Rombouts, PhD General of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium, explains in the #GIZakzente interview how #TeamEurope helps to improve international cooperation: https://lnkd.in/djGY9Z-v 

More effective diplomacy and good governance are at the heart of reducing humanitarian need. There must be a massive shift in the international community to focus on both of these issues, to think and act differently with new approaches, and to acknowledge that the way it works now isn’t working. https://lnkd.in/gUr4Myus

🇪🇺 2024 will be a year of change and transformation for the European Union! Together with #TeamEurope and the Practitioners' Network for European Development Cooperation we will continue to tackle major global challenges. At our Annual Reception in Brussels Heidy Rombouts, PhD, Director General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium, gave a keynote speech. She provided insights into the development cooperation priorities of the current Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU - and highlighted the importance of partnerships among European peers to help achieve the #2030Agenda. Let’s continue our work together #EuropeanDevelopmentCooperation #EU2024BE

⛑ Over the past decade, there has been an observed ‘return of the state’ in international affairs – but less so in humanitarian response. The internationally dominated humanitarian system, centred on United Nations agencies and large international non-government organisations, has traditionally sought to set itself apart from states, justifying the disconnect on the grounds of humanitarian principles, particularly the need for independence. 🌍 Now, with the global humanitarian system showing increasing strain and many states (both recognised or otherwise) increasingly acting more assertively in responding to crises, such a disconnect is both unsustainable as well as undesirable, write HPG's John Bryant and Alexandra Spencer.   📝 Reflecting on events in Afghanistan, Haiti, Ukraine and beyond, Bryant and Spencer ask whether and under what conditions domestic and international humanitarian actors can work more coherently with the state. Read on in this newly-published think piece → https://lnkd.in/eUJ8Rzpm   #HumanitarianResponse #HumanitarianAction #CrisisResponse

Perhaps one of the pieces I am most proud of is now out and accessible via audio on the 75th anniversary of the #GenevaConvention. “Where, then, does the international community stand in terms of sovereignty and humanitarianism? Will humanitarianism persist as a function of an international system of sovereign states? Or, will humanitarianism be necessary to violate state sovereignty through intervention in order to protect civilians from state violence? This answer to this question will have considerable implications for the future of the global humanitarian regime and its legitimacy as a reliable source of humanitarian assistance in future crises.”

Op-Ed: A Call for Peace in Ukraine The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to exact a devastating toll on its people, causing unimaginable suffering and deepening instability. As a passionate advocate for human rights and social justice, I have actively engaged in efforts to bring an end to this crisis. Recently, I received a response from the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, acknowledging the urgency of our calls for peace. In addition to individual advocacy, I propose a comprehensive 15-point plan aimed at achieving sustainable peace in Ukraine. This plan outlines crucial steps that must be taken: 1. Immediate Ceasefire and Humanitarian Access: We urgently need to halt hostilities and establish humanitarian corridors to ensure essential aid reaches those in need without delay. 2. Inclusive Dialogue and Mediation: Facilitating inclusive negotiations mediated by neutral parties is essential to foster a platform for constructive dialogue and reconciliation. 3. Justice and Accountability: Addressing human rights violations and war crimes through thorough investigations and fair trials is paramount to achieving long-term peace and reconciliation. 4. International Support and Monitoring: The international community must step up efforts to monitor compliance with ceasefire agreements and provide robust support for humanitarian operations. 5. Reconstruction and Sustainable Development: Investing in the reconstruction of infrastructure and communities is vital to rebuilding shattered lives and fostering sustainable development. It is imperative that we, as global citizens, unite our voices and demand immediate action from our leaders. The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine demands nothing less than our collective resolve to achieve a just and lasting peace. I urge everyone to join me in advocating for this comprehensive approach. Together, we can amplify our message and push for the necessary diplomatic and humanitarian interventions to end the suffering of millions in Ukraine. Let us stand together for peace, justice, and a better future for all. Dean Bordode - #PeaceForUkraine - #StopWarInUkraine - #HumanRights - #SocialJustice - #GlobalPeace - #EndConflict - #DiplomacyForPeace - #JusticeForUkraine - #HumanitarianAid - #StandForPeace - #UkraineCrisis - #WarCrimes - #CivilRights - #ConflictResolution - #InternationalRelations - #PeacefulResolution - #SupportUkraine - #RefugeeCrisis - #HumanitarianAssistance - #UnitedNations - #GlobalCommunity - #AdvocateForPeace - #Reconciliation - #Solidarity - #GlobalSecurity - #PeaceBuilding - #CrisisResponse - #PeacefulCoexistence - #HumanitarianSupport - #UnityForPeace - #PromoteJustice - #PeaceTalks - #RebuildingLives - #EndViolence - #SupportRefugees - #HopeForUkraine - #PeacefulFuture - #ConflictResolution - #InternationalAid - #HumanityFirst

Places of darkness and sorrow where the light of humanity still burns brightly… I highly recommend a careful reading of Martin Griffiths´ take on the current situation around the world, with its many lights and shades, and its countless shadows. One of the most seasoned humanitarians (and mediators) today, who despite the sad state of affairs has not lost faith in what can be accomplished when the international community bets on cooperation -and the common good- rather than on strategic competition. Where there´s a will, there is a way. Never give up. 👉A dire situation (globally): As Griffiths points out, “We once had a dream: a dream that we could come together to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.That we could develop friendly relations between nations, strengthen peace, and solve international problems.That we could have justice, respect for international law, and a world in which we upheld respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, and the dignity and worth of the human person, and you know, like I do, where those words come from”. “Yet over the past three years (...) I have witnessed, as you have, how persistent competition, animosity and aggression between nations has prevented that dream from becoming a reality for far too many people. How strategic competition has been the hidden – and not so hidden – hand behind the outbreak of seemingly endless conflicts. And how it has stymied efforts to prevent and resolve conflict.” 👉Grounds for hope: The development of humanitarian diplomacy (that appeals to the common good) with its three main elements: negotiations (as in Sudan), mediation (as in Black Sea Grain Initiative) and the promotion of humanitarian principles. #humanitariandiplomacy #conflictresolution #mediation, United Nations, United Nations OCHA

"More than 200 staff members of EU institutions and agencies have signed a letter expressing “growing concern” over the union’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, arguing that it runs contrary to its core values and aim of promoting peace." #EU #EuropeanUnion #Europe

In five years, the number of women and girls in conflict areas rose by 50%, reaching 614 million in 2022. They are crucial in preventing and responding to conflicts, yet they lack flexible and sustained funding. At the global level, the Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and country financing mechanisms under United Nations OCHA support local women-led organizations, which are vital for sustainable peace. ➡️ Read Bjorg Sandkjaer's Q&A: https://lnkd.in/dfUMfuiJ #WomenPeaceSecurity #HumanitarianAction Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In the below blog from the Development Policy Centre, I explore the three waves of foreign intervention paradoxes in #Afghanistan that led to unintended and sometimes harmful consequences. What lessons can we learn from these paradoxes? You can read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/gim9vBjg