ACTIVITIES VOLUNTEERS CORNER

N E W S L E T T E R

page 7 page 4

nº 17 3rd

quarter 2013

Youth as agents of change: promoting a culture of non-violence and peace

How I met Nelson Mandela, Article by Marta Corachán,

Vice-president, CCM

Peace, the best possible horizon

Article by Federico Mayor Zaragoza,

Page 14

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

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CONTENTS

page

EDITORIAL

New challenges, increasing priorities: paving the

way towards the 12th Mediterranean Conference 3

ACTIVITIES

Youth as agents of change: promoting a culture of

non-violence and peace 4

Volunteering as a vector for social cohesion 5

Atlantis X, shaping RC/RC Mediterranean Youth leaders 6

Youth training on Migration 6

VOLUNTEERS CORNER

How I met Nelson Mandela,

Article by Marta Corachán, Vice-president CCM 7

PARTNERSHIP

19th General Assembly of the International

Federation of Red Cross Red and Crescent

Societies 8

RC/RC Global Youth Conference 9

“Think differently”: IFRC Report on the humanitarian

impact of the economic crisis in Europe 10

RC/RC Mediterranean Platform on Migration 11

Being a refugee with “Youth on the Run” in Italy 11

New RCEU publication : Shifting Borders-

Externalising migrant vulnerabilities and rights? 12

‘Stay Safe—Volunteer security course’ 13

OPINION

Peace, the best possible horizon.

Article by Federico Mayor Zaragoza 14

Editorial Board

CCM

Comas Uriz, Santiago

David, Isabelle

Fraile Rodríguez, Eduardo

García Roca, Àngels

Grieco, Emanuela

Llobet Méndez, Néstor

Pardo Fernández, Laura

With the collaboration of:

Alonso Moro, Maria Teresa

Spanish Red Cross

Mayor Zaragoza, Federico

Foundation Culture of Peace

Red Cross EU Office

Photos by:

Castriotta, Luigi Angelo

Italian Red Cross

Corachán, Marta

CCM

IFRC

Stamatakos, Panagiotis

Hellenic Red Cross

Cover Photo:

Qi-Kung session during the Workshop ‘Youth promoting a culture of non-violence and peace’,

Palma de Majorca, October 2013

© Luigi Angelo Castriotta, Italian Red Cross

Newsletter | nº 17 | 3rd

quarter | 2013

3

EDITORIAL

As 2014 approaches, Mediterranean Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies leave

behind a year marked by regrettable losses, and yet enormous endeavours.

While the effects of the economic crisis are spreading and turning sustainable

livelihoods into dire challenges across Europe - as the recent 'Think Differently'

Report from the IFRC Europe Zone Office illustrates - the ongoing conflicts and

unrest affecting the Middle East as well as Northern African countries are putting

National Societies' responses to a test, as those adapt themselves to meet

mounting needs in a constant process of innovation and reorientation of national,

as well as regional priorities.

In this context, and following the Red Cross/Red Crescent Statutory Meetings

during which the Cyprus Red Cross Society was formally introduced as the 188th

member of the International Movement, the Mediterranean Conference welcomes

its new partner into a phase that will stand as an opportunity for renewed and

reinforced cooperation in facing common challenges, while providing continued

response both to the priorities already stated in the Dubrovnik Declaration, as well

as to the new needs to be identified by National Societies through a survey which

will be re-launched at the beginning of 2014.

The contributions of the 26 Mediterranean National Societies will be crucial to

assist the Red Cross of the Republic of San Marino, and the CCM, in preparing the

12th Mediterranean Conference in 2015, under the auspices of a region finally

based on peace and equality.

New challenges, increasing priorities: paving the way

towards the 12th

Mediterranean Conference

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

4

ACTIVITIES

Youth as agents of change: promoting a culture of non-violence and peace

The 11th Mediterranean Conference of Red Cross and Red

Crescent (Croatia, March 2010) highlighted the need to

tackle the current and future humanitarian issues in our

region, constantly promoting the respect for diversity,

tolerance, peaceful coexistence and cooperation, focusing

-among others- on the important role of young people as

promoters of a global culture of non-violence and peace.

Considered to be the future -as well as the present- of the

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,

Youth become a dynamic resource in carrying out

humanitarian initiatives at national level and key agents of

positive change for their ability to quickly adapt to new

contexts and to replicate lessons learnt.

In this context, both the CCM and the Spanish Red Cross,

through its delegation in the Balearic Islands, organized a

Mediterranean Workshop on Youth with a special focus on

the empowerment of youth volunteers as promoters of a

global culture of non-violence and peace. The activity was

carried out from the 30th September to the 6

th of October in

Palma de Majorca through practical sessions and

dynamics which inspired dialogue, discussion and open

debates to find solutions to problems and tensions, both at

personal and as community level, and which built

participants' skills as agents of change by transforming

problems into creative and constructive solutions.

The Youth Workshop was inaugurated by the

representatives of the Spanish Red Cross in the Balearic

Islands, the CCM, the City Council of Palma de Majorca

and the Government of the Balearic Islands. Among the

key speakers was Professor Federico Mayor Zaragoza,

President of the ‘Culture of Peace Foundation’ and former

Director General of UNESCO. Through his inspiring

speech towards the promotion o a culture of peace, Mr.

Mayor motivated the public at large, made of 22 youth

volunteers from 13 National Societies and 12 international

facilitators and speakers from the National Societies of

Egypt and Italy, the IFRC P&V Department, the IFRC

Mena Zone, the CCM and the School of Non-violent

Communication.

During the Workshop participants were involved in six

thematic sessions, all facilitated in English, and worked

according to a non-cognitive approach consisting in

practical activities like role plays, exercises, real-life.

IFRC P&V: through the dynamics developed participants

could deepen their knowledge and understanding of the

seven Fundamental Principles and the underpinning

humanitarian values, learning new creative ways to

disseminate them.

Workshop on Peace Education: participants experienced

the difficulties and limitations in having prejudices and

stereotypes. They enjoyed the richness of differences and

valued the opportunity that difference gives us.

Workshop on Non-Violent Communication: participants

became aware of the importance of undertaking non-

violent communication with others and ourselves. They

could strengthen their knowledge about non-violent

communication and learn the methodology to apply it in

their work and daily life.

Workshop on Photography in Emergency: participants

had the opportunity to understand not only the

fundamental role that photography has in showing the

effectiveness of the RC/RC work and communicating, in

© CCM

© CCM

© CCM

Newsletter | nº 17 | 3rd

quarter | 2013

5

ACTIVITIES

case of emergency, the impact of the disaster

or of the armed conflict, but also the importance

to respect the dignity of the people portrayed

and to protect oneself while taking photos.

Seminar on Volunteering as a vector for social cohesion

Tackling the effects of the widespread economic crisis is

currently one of the greatest priorities for many National

Societies in the Mediterranean region.

Amongst such effects are the deteriorating life condi-

tions and the risk of exclusion of the most vulnerable

groups, let alone the effects on family relationships due

to patterns of dependence from the household which

had previously experience the emancipation of most of

the family members.

Yet, the current crisis is taking place in the new 'digital

era', a factor that can and ought to be used both as an

important means and a valuable opportunity to counter-

act exclusion.

But how can National Societies bridge the digital divide

for more inclusive communities? How can new tech-

nologies serve as a means for dialogue between gen-

erations, hence combating exclusion?

From a Red Cross/Red Crescent perspective, Volunteer-

ing is once again the best option, as it stands as the real

vector to connect generations and communities through

the new technologies, and improve the quality of life both

for youth and for the elderly, in a mutual exchange of

experiences and know-how.

In order to present the programmes and initiatives car-

ried out by the Spanish Red Cross in the implementation

of new technologies, and promote the exchange best

practices among Mediterranean National Societies, the

CCM together with the Volunteering and Youth Depart-

ment of the Spanish Red Cross are organizing an activity

on “Volunteering as a vector for social cohesion” to be

held in Madrid (Spain) in the first semester of 2014.

Location: Spain

Date: 1st

Semester 2014

Leadership Skills: Participants understood how leader-

ship is based on relationships through communication,

trust, and cooperation and learned to use creativity to

solve problems, to listen to their own and to the others’

feelings, to work and think as a team, and to have trust

within the group.

Furthermore a special session on the “Sharing of Best

Practices” was organized in which participants presented

programmes or activities that their own RC/RC Youth Sec-

tions implemented, and are still implementing, in relation

to the promotion of a culture of non-violence and peace to

compare and enrich the perspective and visions on these

themes, and possibly find new ideas and implement initia-

tives. In order to facilitate intercultural dialogue and the

exchange of experiences, several side events were also

displayed in the evening where the young volunteers were

Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change:

Participants worked on their communication

skills and learned how self-criticism, dropping

bias and inner change can lead us towards a

more inclusive and peace-based society under-

standing how critical thinking can prevent us

from falling into social dynamics built on preju-

dice and stereotypes.

able to get to know each other, sharing and enjoying

memorable moments.

The evaluation of the Mediterranean Youth Workshop

has been very positive: participants’ expectations were

completely met evaluating the general content of the

training as good or excellent, and the CCM objectives

were widely satisfied showing all participants great inter-

est and commitment to the programme and the single

sessions, also thanks to the dynamic approach given by

the facilitators in every session, that motivated and inter-

ested volunteers in acquiring new skills with regards to

the topic at issues.

For the complete Report: “Youth promoting a culture of

Non-violence and Peace”

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

6

ACTIVITIES

Atlantis X, shaping RC/RC Mediterranean Youth leaders

Atlantis has come to its 10th edition, and in order to

celebrate this anniversary and the birth of the idea of the

Red Cross/Red Crescent Mediterranean Youth Camp, the

activity will focus on Leadership and Youth empowerment,

topics on which the CCM has been working since its very

establishment together with partner National Societies.

The fundamental role of young people in developing

communities is also recognized by the IFRC Youth Policy:

“National Societies recognise and value the important role

and contribution of young people in addressing

humanitarian and development communication, social

media, and other technologies, intercultural ambassadors,

peer to peer facilitators, community mobilisers, agents of

behavioural change, and advocates for vulnerable people.

National Societies recognise the leadership role of young

people in tackling contemporary and emerging issues”.

Following the recommendations of the RC/RC

Mediterranean Conference, empowering youth volunteers

in being active participants in their National Society and

community, acquiring much needed skills in their every-

day work and personal capacities is a process that has

been carried out with great support from Mediterranean

Red Cross/Red Crescent which have often provided

expert trainers and facilitators.

Youth training on Migration

In a continued concern to raise awareness on the

challenges related to the migration phenomenon seen

from a comprehensive perspective, and with the aim of

contributing to National Societies' capacity building in

providing assistance and protection to migrants, the Italian

Red Cross - through its regional branch in Sicily - and the

CCM are planning an activity focused on "Youth and

Migration" to be implemented in the second semester of

2014.

Empowering Youth volunteers and consequently host

communities in acting as key agents of change in the

dialogue on migration, as remarked in the context of the

Statutory Meetings held in Sydney, stands as an important

tool not only to better assist and protect migrants, but also

as a relevant tool for humanitarian diplomacy.

Standing as a follow-up of the seminar on the

"Humanitarian Consequences of forced Migration"

celebrated in Rome in 2012, the activity will include a

training on the "Youth on Run" role play, an initiative of the

Icelandic Red Cross based on the idea of the Danish

professor Steen Cnops Rasmussen. The role play

consists in living 24 hours in the shoes of migrants, facing

all sorts of difficulties along the way.

The CCM together and partner National Societies will work

closely in the next few months in order to ensure the event

to be rich in content and keep contributing to the

empowerment and leadership skills of Youth sections for

the benefit of Mediterranean National Societies and

communities at large.

Further information in this respect will be available on the

next number of our Newsletter.

Date: 1st

semester 2014

The training will be complemented by the contributions of

experts from the International Movement of the Red Cross

and Red Crescent, as well as external actors.

Thanks to the recent training on the role play undertaken

by the Italian Red Cross, the game can now be adapted to

the Mediterranean context and disseminated at regional

level through the technical support and networking that

the CCM aims to provide.

Location: Sicily, Italy

Date: 2nd

Semester 2014

Source: IFRC Migration Unit, published on World Migrant Day

Newsletter | nº 17 | 3rd

quarter | 2013

7

VOLUNTEERS CORNER

How I met Nelson Mandela

NELSON MANDELA (1918-2013)

President of South Africa

From Apartheid to Democracy

A sight hurt by sunlight after 27

years of imprisonment

A sound smile and a wounded look. This is

how I met Nelson Mandela in the spring of

1996 in the presidential Palace in Cape Town.

A year before, as president of the Spanish

Red Cross in Catalonia, I received a call from

a colleague of an NGO based in Madrid, to tell

that the person in charge of an NGO in

Mozambique was about to visit Barcelona.

She was coming to our town, she did not know anyone and

I was asked to attend her. She was going to arrive on a

personal basis, as her daughter needed to have an eye

surgery in one of the clinics in Barcelona.

During her week stay in Barcelona, I became friends with

Graça Machel, the widow of the former president of

Mozambique, Somora Machel. Since that moment, our

friendship grew in time and Graça invited me to meet her in

Cape Town, where she would spend long stays when back

from Maputo, and where I would go regularly to visit my

son, who lived for almost 12 years in South Africa.

As my trip was approaching, I called Graça Machel and

she asked me to meet the week following my arrival in

Cape Town. “Come at 9 am to this address” she said, “and

we’ll have breakfast together”.

When I showed my son the address I had written down, his

reply troubled me: “Mom, this is the address of the

presidential palace, the Country’s President: Nelson

Mandela”. That was the day when the engagement with my

friend Graça Machel was made public, and that was the

day when the secret between us was revealed. My son

and I were received on the Palace’s threshold with a great

smile. By her side stood her partner: Mr. Nelson Mandela.

What could I capture from President Mandela during our

2hrs visit?

Certainly his sense of humour as he saw the surprised look

on my face when I arrived to the appointment. It wasn’t

only about having breakfast with a friend, but also an

interview with South Africa’s President.

Madiba, as the ones who loved him called him in his

country, was a man of peace and reconciliation, with the

ability to forgive and with the intelligence of a genius who

had suffered. I could also perceive a special charm in him,

which was made clear by his words when, at the end of our

meeting he revealed the two reasons for receiving me.

First of all, he wanted to thank me for attending what was

then his secret partner, Graça Machel, during her visit in

Barcelona.

Secondly, since at that time I was the President of the

Spanish Red Cross in Catalonia, and Vice-president of the

Spanish Red Cross, Mr. Mandela wanted to express his

most sincere gratitude to the International Red Cross and

Red Crescent Movement for the positive memories he had

nurtured in time of the visits paid by the Red Cross during

his 27 years of imprisonment in Robben Island. Not only

for the joy the RC delegates brought along through the

letters, details from family and friends, for their comfort and

help to what inmates needed, but also because, on the

day of the visit, the jailers took good care in cleaning, in

the food and in their manners, so that the day would seem

easier to bear.

During my visit, I could also treasure in his look the

oblivion of the scars, put aside by the memories of his

friends, the time spent together, mingling with his peers

and his family... wanting for his people that freedom and

justice he would later fight for. Brought up to meet other

people’s needs, he devoted himself with love and

compassion. I believe it was in his hometown Qunu where

he spent his late years.

He was a key man of his time, and lead the way. A way

made of steps that will not vanish; steps of freedom,

equality and kindness.

What a light of hope!

What an overwhelming dignity!

This is the memory I have of a kind, humble man who did

not spite “the others” and whose attitude towards the world

changed the course of History.

Marta Corachán

© Marta Corachán

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

8

PARTNERSHIP

19th General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of

the International Federation of Red Cross and Red

Crescent Societies. Member National Societies meet to

celebrate their achievements, discuss the humanitarian

challenges and decide the future strategic directions.

In its 19th edition the Assembly took place between the

11th and 17

th of November 2013 in Sidney (Australia) and

gathered more than 180 RC/RC National Societies, as

well as representatives of the IFRC and the ICRC.

In the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar,

President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC),

accepted the Red Cross Red Crescent Peace Prize on

behalf of the National Society.

Conferred in extraordinary circumstances, the Red Cross

and Red Crescent Prize for Peace and Humanity is a

Movement award to recognize efforts to build a more

peaceful world through humanitarian action and the

dissemination of the ideals of the Movement.

In this vein, the daily work carried out by over 3000 SARC

volunteers in the ongoing terrible circumstances made the

National Society worthy of the Award.

Furthermore, the IFRC, following the voting of the

Assembly, welcomed the entry of two new National

Societies: the Cyprus Red Cross, established in 1950 as

a branch of the British RC, and the South Sudan Red

Cross, that was founded in 2011 following the country’s

independence. The total number of RC/RC National

Societies has hence increased to 189.

The other main theme discussed during the Assembly

was the humanitarian situation in the Philippines after

Typhoon Haiyan. The IFRC launched an appeal to help

the country and praised the work of the Philippines RC for

the assistance given to all those who have lost their home

and are in desperate need of food, shelter and water.

Noteworthy were also the elections of the IFRC

governance, in which Mr. Tadateru Konoé (Japanese RC)

was re-elected as President. He underlined his objectives

and priorities, as the growth of stronger National Societies

and the protection of their independence and

effectiveness.

Furthermore the following were elected as vice presidents

of the IFRC: Mr. Abbas Gedi, (Kenia) for Africa, Mr.

Osvaldo Ferrero (Argentina) for the Americas; Dr. Baige

Zhao (China) for Asia-Pacific; Mr. Francesco Rocca (Italy)

for Europe, while five National Societies for each of the

regions, among others the Spanish RC, were also elected

to be part of the IFRC Governing Board.

The Spanish Red Cross was the deserving recipient of the

Use of IT in Mobilizing and Managing Volunteers category,

following the success of their online volunteer

management database. The same award was delivered to

the Iranian Red Crescent and to the Hong Kong Red

Cross.

Besides the awards and the elections, the General

Assembly tackled themes such as responsibility,

transparency, risks-management, the support to the

National Societies’ development, the fundamental

importance of Youth for the International

Movement as well as its inner

coordination.

Lastly, Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, former

Mayor of Hiroshima and antinuclear

advocate, presented the annual 2013

Red Cross Oration “A Nuclear Weapons

-Free World: A Perfect Vision with a

Deadline”. Drawing on the horrors of

Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Dr. Akiba

recounted the spirit of Hibakusha –

survivors of the bombs which

devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki

who have made it their life mission to

ensure that no one should suffer as they

did.

Related links:

http://www.rcrcmeetings.org/

© IFRC

© IFRC

Newsletter | nº 17 | 3rd

quarter | 2013

9

PARTNERSHIP

Red Cross/Red Crescent Global Youth Conference

By Maria Teresa Alonso Moro, National Vice-president,

Spanish Red Cross Youth

198 youth delegates coming from 116 National Societies

were given the opportunity to gather in Sydney

(Australia) in order to examine the common challenges to

elaborate a development programme post 2015.

We kept in mind the importance of working in the Global

Youth Conference to make valuable contributions in the

Statutory Meetings (General Assembly and Council of

Delegates) that took place after the Conference.

We reaffirmed our commitment to the fundamental princi-

ples, the Tarragona Declaration (2004), the Solferino

Youth Declaration (2004), the Youth Policy approved by

the IFRC in 2011), the results of the Global Youth Con-

ference celebrated in Vienna (Austria) in 2012, and the

Youth Engagement Strategy that was later presented in

the General Assembly and finally endorsed by the partici-

pating National Societies.

The content of the Global Youth Conference focused on

two pillars and for each of them we worked in different

groups, which made the process very interesting as I had

the opportunity to know the reality that my peers from

other National Societies are facing. In order to give a

content framework various presentations were delivered,

and we were also given the time to prepare and actively

participate in the General Assembly and in the Council of

Delegates.

Pillar 1: Defining the World after 2015

After analyzing the knowledge acquired through the Mil-

lennium Development Goals, we debated on what the

role of the International RC/RC Movement will be after

2015, and came to the conclusion that the humanitarian

priorities should be the following:

Building resilience in communities, including in

particular, addressing rising violence and armed

conflicts, all kinds of discrimination, inequity, pov-

erty, at both their root causes and immediate con-

sequences.

Providing accessible quality and relevant educa-

tion, including skills based education and training.

Overcoming the impacts of climate change and

increased natural disasters, and reaching environ-

mental sustainability.

Achieving gender and youth equality in the access

to education, employment and decision-making.

.

Pillar 2: RCRC Youth has an impact on the humani-

tarian context through the implementation of the

IFRC Youth Engagement Strategy (Y.E.S.)

The Youth Engagement Strategy aims at promoting an

approach that helps youth broaden and improve their

activities so as to achieve a greater impact both within

and outside their local communities.

161 National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Cres-

cent participated in the drafting process of the Strategy.

In order to achieve the priorities above mentioned, we,

the delegates of the Global Youth Conference, firmly

believe that all National Societies should incorporate in

their structure a Youth policy that is in line with the IFRC

Youth Policy (2011), and that all National Societies

should provide proper resources for the implementation

of the IFRC Y.E.S.

As a conclusion, I can affirm that the Statutory Meetings

have been a real example of the work that our organiza-

tion carries out across the world, “everyday closer to

people”.

Useful Resources: IFRC Y.E.S

© IFRC

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

10

PARTNERSHIP

IFRC Report on the humanitarian impact of the economic crisis in Europe: “Think Differently”

(the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer)

and the competition for shrinking resources could bring

about growing xenophobia, discrimination, social exclu-

sion, as well as abuse and domestic problems.

The mapping showed, compared to the 2009 report, how

millions of people have seen their human conditions wors-

ened:

More people are becoming poor, unable to buy food

and medicines, not having access to health care,

More of the middle-class are falling below the pov-

erty line unable to face all utility bills, and the poor

are getting poorer;

More people are finding themselves without a job or

with a job that cannot permit to sustain their family;

The gap within rich and poor is increasing and the

number of emarginated groups is growing;

National Societies have seen the number of people

who need their help increase dramatically, and al-

though they have raised their domestic pro-

grammes, some National Societies are not able to

support all those affected by the crisis;

The awareness that the problems caused by this

crisis will be felt for decades even if the economy

turns for the better

“Think differently” and act differently: understanding how

Societies can adapt to the new realities we are living and

thinking in an innovative ways to find sustainable and long

terms solutions to mitigate the humanitarian impacts of

this crisis, preventing it to turn into a moral and social cri-

sis.

Related links: http://www.ifrc.org/economiccrisis

On 10th October 2013, the International Federation of Red

Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), presented in

Rome “Think differently”, the second report on the hu-

manitarian impacts of the economic crisis in Europe.

Standing as a follow up on the first report presented in

2009, the second publication shows, thanks to the impor-

tant contributions from National Societies of the Europe

Zone, how in four years the humanitarian conditions in

European countries have not improved, but are actually

getting worse due to the ongoing economic crisis.

In the first report it was underlined how too little attention

was being paid to the humanitarian consequences of the

crisis while all energies were focused on stabilizing the

macroeconomic situation of the continent. Thanks to the

collection of responses, testimonies and social health-

wellness indices from European National Societies, “Think

differently” wants to illustrate the human face of the crisis

and highlight how the crisis is taking a turn for the worse

in the Europe zone, disproportionally hitting the most vul-

nerable citizens and impacting new groups of people who

had never been affected before.

At the beginning of 2013 the IFRC carried out a mapping

to get an overview of how the 52 National Red Cross and

Red Crescent Societies in Europe and Central Asia were

responding to the crisis. The results shock for their worry-

ing trends and challenges: millions of Europeans live with

insecurity and uncertainty about what the future holds. We

can start seeing a quiet desperation spreading among

Europeans in terms of depression, resignation and loss of

hope for their future.

Many National Societies remark that the economic crisis

is creating the conditions for a widespread social crisis,

whereby a growing gap in the distribution of resources

© Finnish Red Cross

Newsletter | nº 17 | 3rd

quarter | 2013

11

PARTNERSHIP

The Movement Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in

the Mediterranean, held in Barcelona on 19-20 March

2013, remarked the importance, following the previous

steps taken in the Meeting of Rome in 2012, to establish a

network for migration in the Mediterranean. As an out-

come of that meeting the Centre for the Cooperation in the

Mediterranean, in collaboration with the IFRC and the

ICRC, presents the initiative for a RC/RC Mediterranean

Platform on Migration. This initiative, which originates as a

follow up of the appointment of Mediterranean focal points

on migration issues, arises with the aim to improve the co-

ordination, cooperation and partnership between the RC/

RC Mediterranean National Societies, members of the

Mediterranean Conference, on the issues regarding the

delivery of assistance and protection to migrants, advo-

cacy and RFL services, promoting a constant flow of infor-

mation and the exchange of best practices among the par-

ties involved.

In detail, the Platform objectives will be:

The facilitation of the information flow between Na-

tional Societies through the focal points, appointed

by National Societies within their existing human

resources;

The mapping of RC/RC migration programmes at

regional level carried out by the CCM in coordination

with the other platform coordinators and parties in-

volved;

RC/RC Mediterranean Platform on Migration

The promotion and dissemination of the RC/RC

best practices on migration;

The exchange of experiences at Mediterranean

level through ‘twinning mechanisms’.

In this frame of action, the CCM has produced a video

reporting on the last Movement Meeting that underlined

the fundamental role of the focal points, as well as the im-

portance for a better coordination, cooperation and part-

nership in the Mediterranean region. In its closing, Mrs.

Marta Corachán, Vice-president of the CCM, introduced

the Platform’s project highlighting its fundamental role in

facing migration related challenges in our region and as-

sist and safeguard the conditions of vulnerable migrants

along their route.

Video on the Movement Meeting on the Humanitarian

Situation in the Mediterranean

Being a refugee with “Youth on the Run” in Italy

The path of a refugee is hard. There is physical strain

caused by hundreds of kilometres of walk before arriving

somewhere slightly safer. There is, as well, a mental drain

due to the conditions and the experiences a refugee lives:

to flee from your hometown without anything, to have no

food and nothing to drink, the uncertainty of what is going

to happen next, the fear of the next border control or the

following roadblock.

The role-play “Youth on the Run” is designed to

experience some of the situations a refugee lives, to better

comprehend them and empathize with their situation. The

Regional Branch of Emilia Romagna of the Italian Red

Cross organized the game on the 23rd

and 24th November

in Prignano sulla Secchia, Modena.

Two members of CCM participated and experienced,

along with over 30 Italian Red Cross youth volunteers, a

hint of what it is to be a refugee and an asylum seeker.

Frustration, loneliness and the sensation of feeling lost in

time and space are some of the emotions that the

participants shared during the debriefing that took place

after the game.

The role-play was conceived in the 90’s by the Danish

professor Steen Cnops Rasmussen who was worried

about the intolerance and racism against refugees and

migrants in general. “Youth on the Run” aims at raising

awareness on the situation of vulnerability that refugees

and asylum seekers face. The game has been used by the

Icelandic Red Cross for more than 25 years as a tool, and

has been disseminated to other European National

Societies, among which the Italian Red Cross is the first

National Society of the Mediterranean to implement the

role-play.

For further information on the game please contact the

CCM: mediterraneo@cruzroja.es.

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

12

PARTNERSHIP

Following the World Disasters Report 2012 – focus on

forced migration and displacement, the new Red Cross EU

Office (RCEU) booklet Shifting borders – Externalizing

migrant vulnerabilities and rights? sets the issue of forced

migration and displacement within the specific context of

European Union (EU) migration and border control

policies. It analyses a trend which has been picked up by

several European National Red Cross Societies as having

a significant impact on the vulnerability of migrants, and

consequently, on their own activities. It also aims at

providing practical backing for the 31st International

Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent call for

governments to ensure that migrants, irrespective of their

legal status, have access to the support that they need

and that they are treated at all times with respect and

dignity.

Externalization is the process by which certain States shift

responsibility for migration control to migrants’ countries of

origin and of transit. This RCEU publication thus takes a

closer look at the consequences of the externalisation of

EU migration controls on migrant vulnerabilities and rights

by breaking the process down into its main characteristics

and by identifying human costs associated to these.

Each chapter, while highlighting relevant IFRC Migration

Policy principles, presents related activities of National

Societies and emphasises the need for humanitarian

actors to take urgent and decisive action to protect the

dignity and rights of migrants in this adverse context.

New RCEU publication on the evolving vulnerabilities of migrants in and at the borders of the

EU: Shifting Borders – Externalising migrant vulnerabilities and rights?

Article by the Red Cross EU Office

The booklet Shifting Borders also examines initiatives of

other organisations engaged in reducing migrant

vulnerabilities.

This publication aims at supporting the work of

humanitarian actors in ensuring access to protection and

dignity for migrants in the current context. It intends to

move away from the prevailing political concerns which

tend to shape the debate, towards focusing on the acute

vulnerabilities of migrants in order to promote

understanding of the key issues at stake on this sensitive

issue.

The booklet was launched on 6 November during a

conference at the European Parliament entitled where

European National Societies, EU and national policy

makers, as well as civil society actors assessed the

humanitarian consequences of Externalisation and

analysed how current and future policy tools could address

related migrant vulnerabilities. Participants to the

conference recognized the relevance of the RCEU

recommendations to create legal avenues to access

international protection in the EU.

For more information and to receive printed copies of the

publication, please contact migration@redcross-eu.net

Panel discussion with MEP Wikström, Alexandra Segenstedt

from the Swedish RC and Roger Zetter from Oxford University

during the Conference "Shifting EU Borders and the access to

international protection" . © RCEU Office

Newsletter | nº 17 | 3rd

quarter | 2013

13

PARTNERSHIP

‘Stay Safe - Volunteer security course’ now available on the IFRC Learning Platform

Volunteers’ security is one of the growing concerns of the

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as

in many countries National Societies face big challenges in

safer access, safety and security in general.

According to the mid-year Report of the IFRC Security

Unit, recent reports indicate that 2013 will stand as the

year with the highest number of major attacks against aid

workers worldwide yet recorded. We continue to witness

changes in the global security environment resulting in a

general deterioration, and IFRC personnel and humanitar-

ian aid workers having to operate increasingly in insecure

or potentially dangerous environments. Sadly, at present

the total number of reported RC/RC staff and volunteers

killed globally stands at minimum 35, with many more sus-

taining serious injuries. The RC/RC staff were killed in

Syria (31), Afghanistan (2), Democratic Republic of Congo

(1) and Somalia (1).

The IFRC Security Unit

has in recent years

developed a number of

security initiatives and

tools under the “Stay

safe” concept. The se-

curity programme con-

tributes to reducing the

numbers of deaths,

injuries and impact

from disasters and in-

creases local commu-

nity, civil society and

Red Cross Red Cres-

cent capacity to ad-

dress the most urgent

situations of vulnerabil-

ity by creating an effec-

tive culture of security

within the IFRC and

National Societies.

This will further enable Red Cross Red Crescent person-

nel to operate safely and securely. In addition, it will sup-

port the IFRC in addressing more effectively the strategic

imperatives identified in Strategy 2020.

In order to provide minimum security preparation for Na-

tional Society Volunteers, leaders and paid staff, assist-

ing the National Societies in establishing an appropriate

security management system, the IFRC Security Unit with

the collaboration of the Volunteering department, have

produced a new online course: ‘Stay safe- Volunteer se-

curity course’. Stay safe for volunteers is a prevention

tool, which aims to enhance the security and well-being of

volunteers and National Society staff at National Red

Cross/Red Crescent Societies and the vulnerable people

we serve. The 2hrs 30 min course is free of charge and it

includes the following items:

Introduction to volunteer security

Preparing for volunteer work

Volunteer security during Natural Disaster response

Volunteer security during lower risk field assign-

ments

Volunteer security during conflict and crime field

assignments.

To register for the course log into the IFRC learning plat-

form at: http://www.ifrc.org and direct at: http://

www.ifrc.org/en/get-involved/learning/

For questions or comments, you can contact the support

team at: support.learning@ifrc.org

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

14

OPINION

The best horizon to be conceived as a common future for humanity is Peace building, that is, the

construction of a culture of peace and non-violence as personal and collective behaviour, both on a

global and local scale, so that humanity can actually find its real meaning and fulfil its evolution.

Peace has always been the most profound ideal for humanity. Like a chimera, it has been interpreted

in many occasions and by many cultures to justify the impossibility of achieving it in real terms.

The seeds of peace can be found in the heart and mind of all human beings. But throughout history,

in a masculine society, we resorted to force, to “preparing for war”. The seeds have been left in

unattended grooves, unable to germinate given the tremendous drought that we now have to, and

are able to mend.

Because the seeds are there.

Suddenly, all the citizens of the world, all the people have become, for the magic provided by the

means of communication, a crossroad of cultures and knowledge; being peaceful is not enough, we

have to be peacemakers. Actors, militants for peace. Committed. “You cannot build a different world

with indifferent people…”. This requires awareness, personal will, a deliberate attitude of daily life.

Peace is not only an ideal to be met, but an urgent voluntary task.

As Juan Vives mentioned: “the first perquisite for peace is the will to achieve it”.

The current technological “generation” and the social transformation that it entails reveal the current

reality, that it is necessary knowing in order to swap the relations of force that have characterized

human history with relations based on mutual understanding, dialogue and co-operation. Lets’ not

turn what Martin Luther King said into reality when he mentioned that “Our generation will not have

regretted both the crimes of the wicked, and the eerie silence of the kind”.

The Programme of Action for a Culture of Peace, approved by the General Assembly of United

Nations in September 1999, addresses “parents, teachers, politicians, journalists, religious groups,

intellectuals, those who carry out scientific, philosophic, creative and artistic activities, social workers,

those who carry out managing tasks at different levels as well as non-governmental organizations”…

There is no doubt, therefore, that peace is something that concerns us all, no exception made. We

cannot wait for it to be a decision of governors. Citizens’ power has to act promptly in order to

demand the great change, the great transition from force to word.

Moments of hope lay ahead, and they are fascinating, as in the words of Eduardo Galeano: “Utopia

is on the horizon. I move two steps closer; it moves two steps further away. I walk another ten steps

and the horizon runs ten steps further away. So what is the point of utopia? The point is this: to keep

walking”. Utopia moves as we forcibly move towards her. It can never be reached…but in the

process we have walked long distances. The culture of peace and non-violence has to be considered

as the foundations of the new civilization of the world for the 21st century that gives us the ethic

bases to carry out the difficult transition from specific realities to global realities, which are manifold

and diverse. Hoping that “a different world is possible”, the culture of peace is a horizon and an

achievable utopia altogether, a life mission, a public policy, a peaceful weapon, but first of all, it has

to be a real philosophy to inspire citizens’ behaviour in the 21st century.

Federico Mayor Zaragoza

November 28th, 2013

Peace, the best possible horizon

The Fundamental Principles of the International

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Humanity

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a

desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on

the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity,

to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its

purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the

human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship,

cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality

It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs,

class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of indi-

viduals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the

most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may

not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a

political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence

The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while

auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and

subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain

their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in

accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Voluntary service

It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire

for gain.

Unity

There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any

one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian

work throughout its territory.

Universality

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all

Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and

duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

With the support of:

Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean

Av. Portal de l’Àngel 7, 4th floor 08002 Barcelona

Tel: +34 93 302 15 85 | Fax: +34 93 302 20 75

mediterraneo@cruzroja.es

Follow us on :

www.cruzroja.es/ccm Centre for the Cooperation in the

Mediterranean

www. medyouthpotral.org

Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence Voluntary service Unity Universality