As approved by the Governing Board, the first IFRC Secretary General Strategic Objective 1.1. is to “establish in dialogue with Movement partners, a contemporary review of the interpretation of the Fundamental Principles, in the context of current and projected world challenges and expectations, leading eventually to the production of an updated commentary.” To launch this initiative, a two-day workshop was convened to discuss whether and what kind of revisions could be useful or relevant to the 1979 Pictet commentary in light of significantly changed humanitarian, geo-political and other contexts.
The workshop took place on December 15 & 16th, in Geneva with 25 attendants including heads of department, an ICRC representative, key National Society representatives including Gustavo Lara Tapia (Director General of Dominican Republic RC), Muftah M. Etwilb (Director of International Relations, Libyan RC), Ajay Madiwale (Humanitarian Policy Advisor, British RC), and two representatives from advisory bodies, Marja Naarendorp (Chair of Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy Advisory Body) and Mads Espersen (Member of the Youth Commission).