Statement by HE Mr Gary Quinlan Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations General Assembly regarding strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance, as delivered 15 December 2010.
(as delivered)
Madame President,
Today’s debate is a good and essential opportunity to review the challenges the UN system has faced in responding to humanitarian crises during 2010, and to reflect on how we need to work together to strengthen the international humanitarian system in 2011 and beyond.
Nineteen years ago, the General Assembly adopted resolution 46/182 on the coordination of humanitarian assistance. The resolution sets out the vital principles and priorities which are as important today as they were in 1991, including the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
Over the last two decades we have worked together as an international community to improve the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian response.
Real progress has been made over the last few years. The cluster system is beginning to demonstrate its value, as highlighted by the Cluster Evaluation finalised earlier this year – although we have to recognise we have not done enough, and must continue our efforts to ensure that clusters work effectively on the ground.
The Central Emergency Response Fund, the CERF, is now well-established as an essential mechanism to facilitate quick, timely response. As announced yesterday, Australia will continue to increase our contributions to the Fund over the coming years.
We have also seen increasing investments in national disaster preparedness and coordination mechanisms, enabling more rapid and effective response, led by national governments themselves. The international community, and the United Nations, need to take further steps to recognise and support these national capacities wherever possible.
Progress has been made, but coordination of humanitarian response continues to be one of the most challenging tasks facing the UN system and us as Member States. Globally, humanitarian needs continue to rise, and we are all increasingly aware of the linkages between climate change and more frequent, more severe weather events.
The scale and magnitude of the crises this year in Pakistan and Haiti, in particular, have demonstrated the importance and need of further strengthening the effectiveness and accountability of our humanitarian response. We must continue to take account of the lessons learned from Pakistan and Haiti, in order to strengthen our response in the future.
Madame President,
Such crises also remind us that while the immediate causes of humanitarian crises may be all too clear, more needs to be done to recognise and address the links between humanitarian crises and development. We must coordinate development efforts and humanitarian action to address the underlying issues that fuel cycles of armed conflict and vulnerability to disasters.
We also need to increase our focus on disaster risk reduction and preparedness. Australia - with Mozambique - chaired the launch earlier this week of an important new UN/World Bank report, “Natural Hazards, UnNatural Disasters” on the economics of disaster risk reduction.
This report outlines results of accumulated and new research demonstrating that prevention pays, if done right, and that prevention need not cost more. It sets out a compelling case for action to manage the risks of the future, to reduce the human and economic costs of disasters. It is of real utility for informed policy choices by governments, humanitarian and development partners, and the private sector.
The third session of the Global Platform on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Geneva from 8 to 13 May 2011, will be an important opportunity for the international community to focus on strengthening disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
Madame President,
In times of crisis, people who live already precarious existences due to poverty and discrimination are easily pushed to the edges of survival by a humanitarian crisis. It is the most vulnerable in society who experience the greatest hardships and exclusion from humanitarian and development efforts. This includes, in particular, women and girls who are placed at greater vulnerability.
It also includes persons with disabilities who make up to 20 per cent of the poorest individuals in developing countries and are the largest, most disadvantaged minority in the world. For every child killed in conflict, three are injured, resulting in permanent impairments that can lead to disability.
Women and girls with disabilities experience multiple discrimination which places them at higher risk of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment and exploitation than their counterparts and women without disability.
This is unacceptable.
We take our obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly article 32 on international cooperation, seriously and we are working with humanitarian partners to ensure persons with disabilities are included equally in and benefit from all aspects of humanitarian policy, planning and response.
Australia urges Member States, the humanitarian community and the UN system to align with the principles and objectives of the CRPD in all aspects of humanitarian assistance.
Madame President
We are pleased to support the adoption today of a number of resolutions, including on emergency and reconstruction assistance to Haiti, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and other countries affected by Hurricane Tomas; and Assistance to the Palestinian people. We are a co-sponsor of all these resolutions.
In respect of the Palestinian people, I’m pleased to note the announcement by Australia’s Foreign Minister, in Ramallah yesterday that Australia will increase our assistance for the Palestinian people.
We will provide three years of predictable funding totalling up to $18 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This investment builds on the $88 million Australia has provided to UNRWA since 2000.
We will also provide up to 50 post-graduate scholarships over the next five years, to meet Palestinian priorities. These scholarships are aimed at giving more Palestinians the skills needed to run an effective future Palestinian state. A state we expect to come into existence over the next year, before UNGA 66.
And we will provide an extra $20 million this year to help the Palestinian Authority through a World Bank Trust Fund.
Madame President,
In closing, Australia would like to acknowledge the courage and commitment of humanitarian aid workers who work tirelessly in some of the most remote and dangerous parts of the world to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need. Their protection is of paramount concern and we express our great appreciation for their work in ever more challenging environments.
We also reaffirm our support to Under-Secretary-General Amos and the OCHA team as they continue their vital work to build a more effective and accountable humanitarian system.
Australia lives in the midst of one of the most disaster-prone parts of the world and disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance has always been one of the most compelling priorities for Australia’s international assistance. It will be an even bigger priority for us in the future. It has to be.
Thank you.