White Helmets Initiative
White Helmets
Update
January 2005
The present report is for the use of White Helmets Commission officials, diplomats and any other official related to the White Helmets Initiative.1
I.SUMMARY OF INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Agreement with OAS
On March 25th 1998, an agreement was signed between the Government of Argentina and the Organization of American States on donation and use of specific contributions by the ArgentineRepublic to the White Helmets Special Fund.
On July 1st, 1999, a Regional Technical Cooperation agreement was signed between the OAS General Secretariat and the IADB. Within the agreement framework, the IADB resolved a non-reimbursable contribution of U$ 750,000, or its equivalent in any convertible currency, for the execution of White Helmets Volunteers operations within the continent. This is an important first step towards the integration of a fund, administrated by the OAS, to finance humanitarian actions through White Helmets.
Secretary General of the United Nations visits Argentina.
During his speech before the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) on 16 July 1998, Mr. Kofi Annan praised the contribution of the White Helmets Initiative in Emergency assistance. He visited CAECOPAZ (ArgentineTrainingCenter for Peace Operations), where he met with the former President of the White Helmets Commission. On that occasion, Mr. Annan praised Caecopaz facilities, which he considered very convenient not only for the Blue Helmets training and White Helmets Volunteers induction sessions, but also for the benefit of the NGOs that work with the United Nations.
Agreements with UNESCO and WFP
The head of the Secretariat for International Humanitarian Assistance and the White Helmets Commission signed inter-institutional collaboration agreements with the UNESCO (with headquarters in Paris) and the World Food Program (WFP, with headquarters in Rome) on September 22nd and 24th, 1998, respectively. These agreements ratify the growing recognition achieved by the WHI throughout the United Nations System and the express decision to complement the already existing organizations within the international humanitarian assistance scenario.
At the end of April 1999, UNHCR and WFP sent an appeal through UNV concerning the serious humanitarian situation in the Balkans. The WHC identified volunteers corresponding to the profiles required by these organizations; four of them went with UNHCR and two with WFP (with WFP financing).
AGFUND and White Helmets
Since 1999, the necessary documentation is being exchanged with the Arab Gulf Foundation for United Nations Development in order to reach an agreement to finance White Helmets operations in places and activities of mutual interest.
V Ministerial Meeting of the Peace Zone and South Atlantic Cooperation
During this meeting it was agreed that Argentina would chair the Peace Zone and South Atlantic Cooperation until the year 2000, when a new meeting was to take place in Benin. One of the most significant outcomes was the incorporation of the White Helmets Initiative in point 11 of the Action Plan. It should be noted that a special mention was made by Brazil in support of the White Helmets Initiative during the plenary debate.
Agreement with the Ministry of Defense
Within the operational framework of the Commission, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry, through the Joint General Staff, will coordinate the identification of human resources (volunteers from the Armed Forces), and -through the Argentine Joint PKO Training Center- provide the instruction of these volunteers according to required technical and professional aptitudes. Final clearance is to be given by the WHC. Within this agreement framework, a White Helmets demining project was launched in January on the Nicaragua-Honduras border.
UNV Security Enhancement Workshop
This regional initiative was the latest in a series of security enhancement workshops undertaken by the UNV Program during 1998 in collaboration with UNDP, UNSECOORD and UNHCR. The workshop helped secure a better knowledge of field security issues and the logistics coordination requirements in each case.
Federal Emergency Plan
This Head of Emergencies Cabinet initiative is being financially backed by the Interamerican Development Bank (IADB). Since December 1998, the White Helmets Commission has taken part in meetings with other concerned government areas to review a draft Plan. U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are assisting in the task.
White Helmets indicated its ability to mobilize highly qualified volunteers and proposed sharing its database of volunteers and human resources with the Emergency Cabinet (GADE).
As a result of these meetings, a Federal Emergency System Decree Project has been drawn up.
In this system, the White Helmets Commission is included as a “base organization”, and its President can be called upon by the Head of Cabinet to take part in the GADE when deemed necessary.
Visit of the President of Germany
Mr. Roman Herzog visited Argentina on March 3rd, 1999. The White Helmets issue was included in his work agenda through previous contacts made by Commission officials with German authorities from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of External Cooperation.
White Helmets introduction to the European Parliament
Invited by the Human Rights Sub-Commission, of the European Parliament’s Commission on Foreign Affairs, Safety and Defense, the White Helmets Commission introduced the Initiative in Brussels in mid March, 1999. This presentation served to expand information on the Initiative regarding such topics as: the prospects and mechanisms for cooperation proposed by the WHI, the scope of the UN General Assembly Resolutions, volunteer selection mechanisms and the criteria for deciding on its involvement in certain areas. Similarities between the Parliament’s initiative to promote the establishment of a “European civilian peace corps” and the White Helmets, in its deployment of humanitarian assistance activities in reconstruction and conflict prevention, were noted by a European Parliament official.
Seminar on peace keeping and humanitarian assistance
White Helmets participated in this Seminar, which took place in New Delhi from the 16th to the 19th of March, 1999. The need to strengthen collaboration between countries was analyzed, with an emphasis made on political, diplomatic, military and humanitarian aspects. Work groups were formed to study the African case, and the WH delegation reported on the Initiative’s experience in humanitarian demining in Angola. Argentina’s increasingly active participation in Peace Operations was also mentioned, as was White Helmets, following the UN General Secretary’s request.
UNV/WHI Program Review
The Government of Argentina and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) agreed on a Review of the joint UNV/WHI program and cooperation framework. Two international consultants from Uruguay and Denmark carried out the Review from March 8th to April 23rd, 1999. Both consultants traveled to diverse White Helmets missions around the world, conducting extensive interviews with program beneficiaries, local authorities, volunteers and officials from national and international organizations. The Mission finalized its consultations by meeting the UNV Executive Coordinator in Bonn and taking part in a review session of draft findings and recommendations.
The United Nations Volunteers Management Team (headed by UNV Executive Coordinator, Mrs. Sharon Capeling-Alakija), a high-level representative of the White Helmets Commission and the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Argentina attended the meeting, in which the consultants gave mission details, discussed ideas and answered questions. White Helmets received recognition as having shown the potential of a full-fledged valuable and cost-effective mechanism to support the operational capacity of the United Nations system. The UNV/WHC program was appreciated by all parties concerned.
The Final Report provided inputs for the United Nations Secretary General’s report on the White Helmets Initiative to the 54th Session of the UN General Assembly, in September 1999.
White Helmets Seminar: Looking into the future
The Argentinean Council for International Relations (CARI) and the UNDP organized a White Helmets seminar on September 10th, 1999. Its objective was to present the results of the Joint UNV/WHI Evaluation Program to political, social, economic, religious, academic and cultural leaders of Argentina. During this meeting, updated information was provided on the activities that were being carried out and were then under implementation. The future of institution was also analyzed.
Important lecturers from the United Nations system and the White Helmets Commission took part in this widely attended Seminar.
New White Helmets Structure
Due to the changes within the National Government in December 1999, and by Presidential Decrees No 270/000 and 288/2000, the White Helmets Commission is now a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2001 International Year of Volunteers
The White Helmets Commission was appointed Focal Point for the 2001 - International Year of Volunteers. In coordination with the local UNDP/UNV office, a preparatory meeting for the conformation of the Argentine National Committee was carried out in May 2000. The meeting was attended by Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations involved in social, cultural, health, university, environmental and emergency volunteer activities that have worked alongside UN agencies and other international organizations collaborating with their experience.
The Executive Board included representatives of the Ministry of Interior´s Volunteers Programme, the Adventist Development and Aid Resources Agency (ADRA); the Social Sector Forum (conformed by 135 NGOs); the Deputy Ombudsman of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires; the United Nations Association for Argentina (ANUA); the National Center of Community Organizations (CENOC); and the White Helmets Commission.
The IYV 2001 was officially launched on December 5th 2000.
Consulting Group of the OAS/IADB/WH Program
At the end of November 2000, the OAS/IADB/WH Program Consulting Group meeting took place in Washington DC.
Along with the President of the Commission, the Deputy General Secretary of the OAS, representatives of the Interamerican Agency for International Cooperation and Development and directors of the IADB were present at the meeting.
Officials convened to analyze, among other items, the Program’s advances, next fund disbursements, the results of the first meeting and all chosen projects.
United Nations System Meetings
During the launching of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers by the General Secretary of the United Nations, White Helmets held meetings with representatives of United Nations System Agencies to adjust mechanisms and increase the United Nations Agencies participation in White Helmets Initiative missions and projects, and finance UN/WHI volunteers in the field of humanitarian assistance.
Meeting of the Consultative Group for the reconstruction of El Salvador (Madrid 2001)
White Helmets attended the meetings convened by the IADB in Madrid on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March.
During those meetings, assistance offered in the past to El Salvador from the White Helmets Commission was analyzed and future projects concerning this country were discussed.
After the exposition, the participants -including representatives of the IADB and of El Salvador’s government- recognized, underlined and praised the work done by Argentina through the White Helmets.
Meetings in Switzerland
In June 2001, a work meeting was held with the Delegate of Humanitarian Aide of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, concerning the possibility of carrying out joint actions in humanitarian matters, preferentially in Latin America and the Caribbean, within the framework of the White Helmets Initiative, with the opportunity of participating in the OAS/IADB/WH fund.
Meetings in Italy
The White Helmets Commission held a work meeting, in June 2001, with the General Director for Cooperation and Development of the Italian government. Italian participation in the OAS/IADB/WH fund was agreed on, in the capacity of extra-regional observant.
Meetings in France
In June 2001, the White Helmets Commission held a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of France to analyze the evolution of the joint project in Haiti and the possibility of a French contribution to the OAS/IADB/WH fund.
Meetings with FAO – WFP
In June 2001, a meeting with the General Director of the FAO and the Deputy General Director of the WFP was held to review the mutual relationship and study the possibilities of increasing joint activities.
White Helmets MERCOSUR
The White Helmets Commission organized a Work-shop Seminar “Cascos Blancos en el Mercosur, una Voluntad Humanitaria Regional” between the 28th and the 31st of August, 2001. Delegations of each member-state of the MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and its associated partners (Bolivia and Chile) were present and took part in the seminar’s activities. Workshops were organized by specialties (Psychological Attention in Disasters, Coordination of Focal Points, Surveying of Structures and Logistics Coordination) and at least one member of each delegation was a professional whose expertise is related to the chosen topic.
A large part of the activities took place in CAECOPAZ (Argentine Training Center for Joint Peace Operations), and notions on issues concerning humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping operations were also explained.
Thus, the starting point of a joint effort aimed at extending humanitarian aide regional cooperation has been made possible.
Another expected outcome of this action plan is to create specialized emergency assistance teams throughout the region, immediately available when the need should arise.
Resident Representatives of United Nations System and OAS agencies in Buenos Aires, Argentine Foreign Office and Armed Forces officials, and the Chief of the UNV Humanitarian Assistance Office in Geneva have spoken and taken part in the Opening Session of the Work-shop Seminar, presided by the Secretary of Foreign Relations.
UN Secretary General Report to UNGA 56
Secretary General Kofi Annan´s favorable report on the progress made by the White Helmets was presented to the UN General Assembly 58 late December 2003.
As a result of the mentioned Report, Resolution A/58/118 was approved during the UNGA 58 with the support of over 70 countries, widely acknowledging the White Helmets Initiative within the international humanitarian assistance framework.
Agreement with UNICEF
A Memorandum of Understanding between White Helmets, UNV and UNICEF to coordinate actions in emergency operations is under way. A draft version is currently being studied by the appropriate legal departments and is expected to be signed sometime in the following months.
Agreement with the IACD and White Helmets Presentation before OAS
An Agreement on Humanitarian Assistance between the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development and the White Helmets Commission of Argentina was signed late April 2003. This Agreement will permit a closer collaboration with the Organization of American States, as White Helmets becomes a permanent consulting organism on humanitarian assistance and development.
A presentation of White Helmets was made later by its president to the Permanent Council of the OAS.
During the visit, meetings were held with UNDP Regional Offices, and with AIDB and OAS representatives to further discuss the latest developments in OAS/AIDB/WHI-financed missions.
Seminar on Effective Management in Risk Situations
From September 30th to October 28th 2003, and in collaboration with political, military and educational authorities and NGO representatives, White Helmets held a Seminar on “Effective Management in Risk Situations: A Transdisciplinary View by Institutional and Technical Sectors”. Its main objective was to create awareness among national professional-level executives on emergency or disaster-related situations.
White Helmets in the Youth Projects Exposition. The White Helmets Commission of Argentina took part in the Youth Projects Exposition, held in the University of Buenos Aires School of Economics, on May 22, 2004. The White Helmets Stand helped to create awareness of the Commission’s activities in the mentioned field.
Training of Solidary Youth Leaders
With the objective of “strengthening NGO community and solidary tasks and establishing the incorporation of volunteering mechanisms from new social partners”, the White Helmets Commission has been carrying out diverse training modules for youth leaders. In collaboration with CAECOPAZ authorities, three training modules for youth leaders were carried out in CAECOPAZ facilities (November 2003, April 2004 and December 2004). Another module was implemented in June 2004 for youth leaders of Argentina’s northern provinces. The positive results of these courses determined the implementation of further training modules in the argentine provinces of Salta (July 2004) and Cordoba (September 2004).
White Helmets mentioned by the Argentine Senate
In July 2004, the presidency of the national Senate declared of parliamentary interest the launching of the Binational Project along the Argentine-Paraguayan Border, on March 21st 2004, with White Helmets taking part in the regional struggle against the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
White Helmets and the United Nations General Assembly
Taking into account a new Resolution by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the White Helmets and their participation in activities concerning humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development, the President of the White Helmets Commission of Argentina, Ambassador Gabriel Fuks, spoke before the plenary meeting of the 58 UNGA. The Resolution, A/RES/58/118, of 17 December 2004, endorses United Nations support of the White Helmets Initiative and recognizes its value in the framework of the world organization.
OAS Resolution on White Helmets
Taking into account a new OAS Resolution on White Helmets, a team of White Helmets Officials traveled to Washington D.C. and held a series of meetings with authorities of the hemispheric organization. Up to that moment, OAS had approved three resolutions on the WHI: (i) AG/RES 1351 (XXV-0/95) of June 1995; (ii) AG/RES. 1403 (XXVI-0/96) of July 1996; (iii) AG/RES. 1463 (XXVII-0/97) of June 1997. The latest General Assembly Resolution, approved in June 2004, was based on a decision, CP/CG-1573/04 rev. 1 (May 17, 2004) which, among other items, invites Member States to expand the WH Initiative, urges the General Secretary to support activities that help in the regional development of the Initiative, and asks the White Helmets Commission to provide technical assistance to all those member countries that request it. This resolution confirms the positive value given to the apolitical, neutral and impartial character of the WHI humanitarian assistance implemented throughout the continent.