Inter-American Conference ends with commitment to scale up activities to improve the lives of vulnerable people

Red Cross National Societies in the Americas have pledged to intensify their efforts in order to better protect communities from disasters, ensure adequate access to health care and prevent discrimination against vulnerable groups, including migrants and people living with HIV.

At the end of a four-day regional conference in Ecuador, participants reaffirmed their commitment to making communities more empowered, healthier and safer by adopting the “Guayaquil Commitment”, which underscores the need to “address the underlying factors that lead to increased vulnerability”.

The declaration says the Red Cross in the Americas will pay “particular attention to awareness, adaptation and action related to climate change”.

“The Americas is one of the most disaster-prone regions on earth, affected on a regular basis by natural catastrophes, which are increasingly exacerbated by climate change, as well as poverty, inequity and unplanned mass urbanization,” said the secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Markku Niskala.

“We must scale up our efforts to ensure that vulnerable communities are prepared to meet these multiple challenges head-on.”

More than 300 representatives of all of the National Societies in the Americas, as well as the International Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other aid organizations took part in the 18th Inter-American Conference, which finished on 7 June.

Participants discussed a range of issues involving community risk reduction, health and the promotion of non-discrimination and respect for diversity. In addition to approving the Guayaquil Commitment, they also endorsed a plan which sets the Red Cross’ humanitarian agenda for the region over the next four years.

“Thanks to these successful discussions, we now have a firm consensus on the best way forward,” said Juan Cueva Ortega, the president of the Ecuadorian Red Cross, which hosted the event. “This includes increasing our efforts in the areas of HIV/AIDS, with a focus on prevention, care and treatment, as well as fighting stigma.”

He added that the Red Cross would work even harder to assist people affected by the poverty and inequity that continue to leave so many people vulnerable throughout the Americas.

Under the Inter-American Plan for 2007 to 2011, special attention will also be paid to better protecting, supporting and assisting migrants, regardless of their legal status.

The results of the Guayaquil conference will feed into discussions in November, when the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will take place in Geneva under the theme “together for humanity”.