APPF24-RES-25
24th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF)
Vancouver, Canada January 17-21, 2016
APPF24/RES/25
(Sponsored by Canada)
The 24th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum;
Underscoring that the overall number of people around the world who are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection has nearly doubled in the past decade;
Concerned that many of today’s armed conflicts are characterized by widespread brutality, as well as a disregard for human rights and basic rules of international humanitarian law;
Considering that an estimated 60 million people – half of whom are children – have been forced from their homes as a result of conflict and violence, a level of global displacement not seen since the Second World War;
Underlining the large-scale, complex and far-reaching nature of many contemporary crises, and the protracted situations of displacement that frequently result from them;
Mindful that, in the Asia-Pacific region, humanitarian crises often arise because of natural disasters, which are increasingly frequent and severe;
Drawing attention to emerging humanitarian risks, such as those that may result from climate change and environmental degradation, resource scarcity, pandemics, rapid and unmanaged urbanization, and mass migration;
Recognizing the instrumental role of international, non-governmental and civil society organizations, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in assisting people affected by crises;
Aware of international, regional and national efforts to strengthen the impact of humanitarian assistance, and to improve the coordination of that assistance with reconstruction and development activities;
Cognizant that targeted efforts to strengthen the resilience of individuals, communities and institutions can help to enable them to withstand, adapt to and recover quickly from crises;
Reiterating that humanitarian actions must take into account the needs of vulnerable groups, including women and girls, children and youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, minorities and the poor;
Underscoring that women and girls are disproportionately affected by crises, and that humanitarian action must be designed in a way that empowers women as equal partners and leaders;
Determined to ensure that protection is prioritized in all humanitarian settings, includingwith respect to the prevention of all forms of sexual- and gender-based violence, therisk of which is especially acute in the context of migration, and to ensure that victims have access to necessary medical, legal and psychosocial services;
Acknowledging the financial contributions made by governments – including those in the Asia-Pacific region – in response to international humanitarian appeals;
Concerned about the significant proportion of humanitarian needs that remain unmet around the world;
Stressing that world leaders have pledged to ‘leave no one behind’ in the realization of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a commitment that encompasses all people in situations of displacement and crisis;
Welcoming the UN Secretary-General’s decision to convene the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2016;
Emphasizing the imperative of a collective commitment to humanitarian action;
Recognizing the guiding humanitarian principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence;
Reaffirming the importance of full and consistent respect for international humanitarian law;
Convinced that parliamentarians must provide political will that can generate adequate, timely and effective responses to humanitarian crises, and promote the peaceful resolution of conflict through political means;
RESOLVES TO: