Participation of the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC) Delegation in the Third International Forum of the Social Peace building Center (SPBC)” Baghdad Dialogue on Enhancing the Role of Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies(RC/ RC.NS.) and the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Baghdad – 3 and 4 October 2026
Baghdad – 3 and 4 October 2026
The ICIC Delegation participated in the proceedings of the Third International Forum of the SPBC , hosted by the Iraqi Red Crescent Society( IRCS) in Baghdad on 3 and 4 October 2026, under the title: Baghdad Dialogue on Enhancing the Role of Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies in Building Social Peace and Implementing International Humanitarian Law. The ICIC was represented at this forum by:
1- His Excellency Ambassador Ali Mahmoud Buhedma, ICIC President .
2- Dr. Mohamed Hamad Elasbali, ICIC Executive Director .
The forum embodied the institutional partnership between the ICIC and IRCS, through their cooperation in establishing the SPBC , as one of the joint specialized organs between the two sides, and in working to enhance the role of RC/ RC.NS in building social peace and disseminating the culture of IHL.
The forum was attended by representatives of RC/ RC.NS from Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Mauritania, the Comoros, Somalia, and the Maldives, alongside RC/ RC.NS from Argentina, Chad, Mali, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Senegal, the Arab Organization of Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as experts, academics, and humanitarian institutions.
The ICIC played an active role in the scientific preparation of the forum, by contributing to the preparation of the concept note , the agenda, the research papers, and the final documents. The ICIC delegation also participated in presenting and discussing topics related to the humanitarian role of RC/ RC.NS, the implementation of IHL and the protection of human beings, and chaired the session dedicated to discussing the guiding manual for RC/ RC.NS contribution to building social peace.
The dialogue focused on six main themes: the relationship between humanitarian work and building social peace, the specificity of RC/ RC.NS and their fundamental principles, the dissemination of IHL , the enhancement of dialogue, coexistence, and community cohesion, the role of youth and volunteers, and the protection of the most vulnerable groups. Participants emphasized the importance of employing the humanitarian and societal capacities of RC/ RC.NS to build trust and reduce hate speech and discrimination, without assigning political or security roles to them.
The proceedings of the forum resulted in the adoption of three main documents]:
- Baghdad Declaration : “RC/ RC.NS as Humanitarian Bridges for Building Social Peace,” as a reference document defining the areas of humanitarian and societal contribution of national societies.
- The Guiding Manual for National Societies’ Contribution to Building Social Peace]: [a proposed practical reference for developing programs and initiatives in this field.
- Baghdad Dialogue Report and Recommendations : to document the discussions, experiences, outcomes, and recommendations.
The forum also provided an opportunity for exchanging expertise among national societies, enhancing communication and cooperation on topics of common interest, and opening prospects for developing humanitarian initiatives that contribute to strengthening social cohesion and disseminating a culture of dialogue, coexistence, and respect for the rules of international humanitarian law.
The ICIC emphasized the importance of building on these outcomes, in cooperation with the IRCS , the SPBC, and the participating RC/ RC.NS , and of following up on the forum’s outputs and activating its recommendations through practical programs and initiatives and sustainable partnerships, in a way that enhances the role of humanitarian work in protecting human beings and contributing to building social peace.
