Highlights of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s participation at the WHS

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After 2 years of worldwide consultations, 9000 participants came together in Istanbul between 23 – 24 May 2016 for the first ever World Humanitarian Summit to reshape the field of humanitarian action.

Altogether 173 United Nations Member States, 55 Heads of State and Governments, some 350 private sector representatives, and over 2000 people from civil society and non-governmental organizations took part in the two-day summit.

Reaffirming the principles at the heart of humanitarian action – humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence – was one of the main goals of the participation of the Sovereign Order of Malta. Since the onset of the WHS process, launched by the UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon, the Order of Malta has been actively engaged in the consultations, and by organizing the symposium “Religions Together for Humanitarian Action” at the UN headquarters in Geneva in May 2015, it took the lead in emphasizing the special role of faith-based actors in providing humanitarian assistance. A theme that was widely acknowledged during the summit in Istanbul, and that took a prominent role becoming the focus of a number of events such as a Special Session and a Side Events, to which the Order of Malta’s contribution was key.

During the WHS the Grand Chancellor spoke both at the Plenary and at the WHS Special Session on Religious engagement- the contributions of faith communities to our shared humanity. Concerned with the declining disregard for humanitarian principles, the Grand Chancellor addressed the issue at the summit,

“I call on faith-based organizations to promote the rules of international humanitarian law and invite the international community to discover the benefits of faith-based actors, to make better use of their unique qualities.”

The Special Session focused on the role of faith based institutions and organizations in promoting peace and providing relief in areas of conflict. The Sovereign Order of Malta participated at the event along with other leaders of religious communities and representatives of different faiths.

The Outcome document that emerged reflects the process initiated by the Order has led to a general acknowledgement of the pivotal role played by Faith-based institutions,
During the two-day summit, the Order of Malta together with Malteser International, its worldwide relief agency, participated in side events and contributed to the discussions by endorsing the key commitments of the WHS and by renewing its humanitarian mission to save and assist people in need and to use its diplomatic network to promote dialogue and compliance with the international humanitarian laws.