Global Humanitarian Action Today: The Red Cross Perspective

Introduction

Dr Peter Maurer, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), delivered a public lecture entitled “Global Humanitarian Action Today: The Red Cross Perspective” on 20 November 2013 at Orchard Parade Hotel. The talk, co-organised by the Centre for International Law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Singapore Red Cross was moderated by CIL Chairman Professor Tommy Koh. Dr Maurer outlined ICRC’s role and activities, and shared his insights on the current and future challenges of humanitarian missions. Dr Maurer was on a two-day visit to Singapore at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K. Shanmugam under the International Organisations Distinguished Visitors Programme (IODVP).

What is humanitarian action today? The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is 150 years old this year. How has the world’s largest, oldest and most recognised humanitarian movement stepped up to keep pace with the world’s changing landscape and needs? What is the law applicable in crises, particularly in conflict situations and how has it been evolving? What are the critical developments that could undermine the peace & stability of the region? And how has the ICRC adopted global best practices in the face of a changing, increasingly challenging humanitarian environment?

The President of the ICRC, Dr Peter Maurer offered the ICRC’s perspective on some of the key regional and global challenges it faces today and how the institution is responding to them while remaining faithful to its principled and accountable approach. He explored the evolving complexity of the challenges facing those who wish to help and how the Red Cross Movement is organised and reacting to these challenges. He also shared with the audience the ongoing relevance of international humanitarian law as well as his own experiences in Asia’s hot spots and visits across the globe in the past 12 months.

In the News

18 Nov 2013 – Channel NewsAsia – President of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Singapore
21 Nov 2013 – Bernama – ICRC President Visits Singapore

About the Speaker

Dr Peter Maurer was born in Thun, Switzerland, in 1956. He studied history and international law in Bern, where he was awarded a doctorate. In 1987 he entered the Swiss diplomatic service, where he held various positions in Bern and Pretoria before being transferred to New York in 1996 as deputy permanent observer at the Swiss mission to the United Nations. In 2000 he was appointed ambassador and head of the human security division in the political directorate of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern.

In 2004 Dr Maurer was appointed ambassador and permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York. In this position, he worked to integrate Switzerland, which had only recently joined the United Nations, into multilateral networks. In June 2009, the UN General Assembly elected Dr Maurer chairman of the Fifth Committee, in charge of administrative and budgetary affairs. In addition, he was elected chairman of the Burundi configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission. In January 2010 Dr Maurer was appointed secretary of State for foreign affairs in Bern and took over the reins of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs, with its five directorates and some 150 Swiss diplomatic missions around the world. He succeeded Jakob Kellenberger as ICRC president on 1 July 2012.

Dr Maurer is married and has two children.