Monday 23^rd April 2012
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London

Organised by:

The International Committee of the Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society
The British Medical Association
The World Medical Association

The event is part of the ICRC's "Health Care in Danger" 4 years project in which WMA is partner as part of its ongoing commitment in condemning documented attacks on medical personnel and facilities in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.

The ICRC's "Health Care in Danger" project foresees a number of events over four years that will examine how to improve security and delivery of effective and impartial health care in armed conflict and other situations of violence. This symposium will provide the health community and other important stakeholders the opportunity for greater engagement in this global humanitarian issue. For more information about the project: http://www.icrc.org/eng/what-we-do/safeguarding-health-care/

The objectives of the event are:

To raise awareness of the issue of insecurity of health care in armed conflict and other situations of violence;

To permit an important section of the health community and other relevant stakeholders to generate recommendations for national and international policy-makers.

The symposium will be of interest to:

• Health-care professionals
• Medical associations, Royal Colleges and other health-orientated institutions        
• Health-orientated humanitarian non-governmental organisations
• Military medical personnel
• Academia / Think-tanks
• Programme advisers, health specialists, legal advisers and relevant policy officials working within government departments
• Media
• International lawyers
• Human rights organisations
• National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Three panel discussions will focus on the following questions:

• What are the responsibilities of the health community to work constructively for greater security of health care in armed conflict and other situations of violence? What form does this work take?
• What action can the health community recommend to governments and inter-governmental organisations with respect to improving security of health care in armed conflict and other situations of violence?
• How do medical ethics apply in armed conflict and other situations of violence? How do health professionals working in these contexts manage the dilemmas arising from being a witness to possible violations of international law?

All discussions will be held under held under the "Chatham House rule."

This symposium is sponsored by the British Medical Association and is free of charge.

Anyone interested in registering for this symposium should contact the Conference Unit of the British Medical Association: confunit@bma.org.uk

As the number of participants is limited, early registration is advised.

A pre-symposium information pack will be sent to all registered participants before the 13^th April 2012.