From 1983 to 1986, the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues (ICIHI) produced a series of ground-breaking books and reports on a wide range of humanitarian issues, including modern wars, refugees and famine. The conclusions and recommendations of the Commission were brought together in its final report, “Winning the Human Race?”
In 1986, ICIHI’s Secretary General, Zia Rizvi, observed that the purpose of the Commission was to 'promote greater awareness of the human dimension in the countless problems which confront the global community.' Thirty years later, in 2017, the turbulence being experienced in many parts of the world means that the Commission’s purpose and findings are just as relevant today.
We invite you to attend a one-day conference on 14 November 2017 at Chatham House, 10 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LE to review the legacy of ICIHI and to remember Zia Rizvi, who passed away in 2016.
High-level speakers as well as experienced humanitarian officials, analysts and advocates will take stock of the work undertaken by ICIHI, assess the Commission’s impact and examine the international community’s evolving response to the key humanitarian issues of our day.
The opening session of the conference, chaired and introduced by its Honorary President, Lord Owen, will feature opening remarks by its Honorary Patron, Prince Hassan bin Talal, and a Keynote Speech by Lord Malloch-Brown, the former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Provisional programme
09.30 – 10.15: Opening session: the ICIHI in perspective
Speakers: Lord David Owen (Chair), Prince Hassan bin Talal, Baroness Frances D’Souza and Lord Mark Malloch-Brown (Keynote speech).
10.15 – 11.30: Panel 1: Contemporary armed conflicts: humanitarian action and the laws of war
Speakers: Sara Pantuliano (Chair), Antonio Donini, Emanuela-Chiara Gillard, Lina Khatib and Norah Niland.
11.30 – 11.45: Coffee break
11.45 – 13.00: Panel 2: Refugees and the dynamics of displacement: strengthening the protection of uprooted people
Speakers: Gonzalo Vargas Llosa (Chair), Martin Barber, Jeff Crisp, Lucy Hovil and Pia Oberoi.
13.00 – 14.00: Lunch
14.00 – 15.15: Panel 3: Famine: why food insecurity persists
Speakers: Alex Thier (Chair), Josette Sheeran, Saba Al Mubaslat, Lewis Sida and Robert Bailey.
15.15 – 16.30: Closing Session: the past, present and future of humanitarianism
Speakers: Lord Mark Malloch-Brown (Chair), Lord David Owen, Prince Hassan bin Talal, Eleanor Davey and Ben Ramalingam.