Program

The complexity of the world in which we live, where every day brings new natural disasters and more people are forced to flee wars, and those displaced for various reasons, as well as those affected by countless diseases, means that the number of people needing help and protection is ever-growing, and that obliges us to keep more than ever in mind the mission of our International Federation: “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” (Article 4 of the Constitution of the Federation).This statement commits us to being able to assist those communities that need it most, both in times of peace and in war, in times of disaster and crisis. That is why we need strong National Societies, independent and self-sufficient, throughout the world, with influential relations at government and corporate level, able to ensure the wellbeing and enhanced means of subsistence which help to reduce poverty.

My motivation to be elected as Vice-President for the Americas of the International Federation lies in the achievement of the following goals:

ONE: Promoting strong and influential National Societies which are financially sound, to provide quality essential services, always guided by the principles of transparency, integrity and mutual support.

To achieve this goal requires a Governing Board that, at each of its meetings, can analyze the progress and difficulties of different National Societies and identify solutions to the existing challenges, offering the necessary support to the Federation Secretariat to achieve this goal and overcome the obstacles encountered along the way. It requires a Governing Board prepared, in the framework of the Federation, to influence the membership to ensure that, through financial sustainability, National Societies attain the highest possible levels of quality and, also, promote within the leaderships of National Societies, criteria of quality and efficiency in essential services, with staff with the level of knowledge necessary to fulfil this commitment.

TWO: The youth of the Red Cross and Red Crescent provide an example of leadership, innovation and inclusion to provide a safe space for present and future generations.

The number of young volunteer innovators and leaders who support change in the organization must grow and grow.

It requires a Governing Board that takes an interest in the development of youth, listening to and learning from the needs of youth, and offering solutions that benefit the future of humanitarian action from the perspective of youth. In the same way, it requires that, in meetings of the Governing Board, we devote an agenda item to understanding the challenges faced by the youth population in the world and ask the Federation Secretariat to suggest solutions through the youth programs. Only by understanding the dynamics of the youth population and acting to provide solutions, can we become an institution relevant to present and future generations.

THREE: The Federation should become a model organization in terms of how to respond to disasters and crises, and how to achieve greater resilience in normal times and post disaster.

We must transform ourselves into a leading, dynamic and effective organization in the sphere of disaster and crisis response, serving as an example to all humanitarian, government and corporate sectors, and being the most efficient with regard to rapid recovery and support for development, relying on strengthening volunteering and the commitment of all. We can only achieve this goal through perfect coordination. That is why we need to review how the components of the Movement work together in order to make significant improvements in this regard.

FOUR: Anyone with an interest in offering their services as a volunteer should find in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies a suitable place to provide their support.

To achieve this goal requires a Federation Secretariat which focuses its action on support to National Societies, identifying models and good practices that serve to provide more opportunities for access to volunteer work. At the same time, it should promote methodologies, initiatives and processes which can help National Societies to increase the diversity of volunteering and the options for voluntary services.

At Governing Board level, this will require defining ways of measuring the progress of each National Society in volunteering. The Governing Board should, every six months, devote a whole day of sessions exclusively to the development of volunteering and indicate specific paths on this subject for monitoring and implementation by the Federation Secretariat.

FIVE: Avoid leaving those who most need it without humanitarian assistance, since that is part of our humanitarian mandate.

To achieve this goal requires National Societies to expand their capacities in the geographical network of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Each local unit must have quality services, with recognition and acceptance by the population that they can provide primary humanitarian assistance themselves.

It also requires a group of National Societies to mutually support each other to build solid geographical networks which in turn help to strengthen the image of the Red Cross and Red Crescent nationally and internationally.

The greater the image and recognition of the quality of the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the greater the opportunities for the Federation to capture financial resources. It requires a Federation Secretariat ready to increase its efforts to strengthen Red Cross geographical networks, so that they can reach those most in need and thus make more efficient use of financial resources.

For its part, this requires a Governing Board which persuades the leadership of National Societies of the need to create strong and efficient geographical networks. At Governing Board level, it is essential to know about progress in developing geographical networks and defining actions to guide the Secretariat so that, through specific local development actions, the quality of support and number of beneficiaries of support from the Red Cross and Red Crescent is increased.

I would like to invite you to visit my webpage www.miguelvillarroel.com. You will find detailed information on my vision, working program, professional activity and humanitarian work in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies.

If I am elected Vice-President, I will take on the commitment of submitting the abovementioned points to the Governing and will make sure that proper consideration is given to such matters, with the sole purpose of achieving a stronger Federation based in the pursuit of excellence of our National Societies.

I respectfully ask you for your kind support for the IFRC Vice-Presidency in representation of the Americas. Please, rest assure of my deepest appreciation.