On 23 May 2016 at the World Humanitarian Summit, Head of Policy Hugo Slim delivered the ICRC’s statement to the Summit, which focused on meeting people’s needs and supporting a variety of humanitarian actors.

Strengthening respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is the single most important way to improve the lives of civilians, the wounded, detainees and others not participating in hostilities,” Slim said.

He also emphasized the need to acknowledge the multiplicity and diversity present within the humanitarian sector: “There is not one humanitarian system but a lively ecosystem of distinct humanitarian actors. People in armed conflicts and disasters are not best served by a single humanitarian machine. Principled diversity that cooperates to meet people’s needs will serve them better.

Slim concluded by saying that the ICRC hopes the Summit would be practical and deliver operational results that make a real change in people’s lives.

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