A/HRC/27/57 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, works worldwide to provide humanitarian help for people affected by conflict, internal disturbances and other situations of internal violence, and to promote the laws that protect victims of war. As an independent and neutral organization, its mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949.20 C. International non-governmental organizations concerned with humanitarian aid and assistance 30. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have experience in providing humanitarian aid and assistance worldwide. Among the main international NGO coalitions and platforms currently working on the coordination of humanitarian aid worldwide are: (a) The International Council of Voluntary Agencies, a global network of nongovernmental organizations whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice;21 (b) ACT Alliance – Action by Churches Together, a coalition of more than 140 churches and affiliated organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people, regardless of their religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality, in keeping with the 22 highest international codes and standards; (c) InterAction, which has more than 180 member organizations working in every developing country. Members are faith-based and secular, large and small, with a focus on the world’s most poor and vulnerable populations. InterAction is the largest alliance of United States-based private voluntary organizations and partners identified as associate members.23 D. Africa: regional institutions and mechanisms concerned with humanitarian aid and assistance 31. Africa Humanitarian Action was established in 1994 and since that date has provided life-saving humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons and local communities across Africa.24 32. The Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2006–2015)25 sets out actions which are implemented by operational mechanisms at three levels: regional, subregional and national, as described below. 1. Regional level implementation and coordination 33. Regional level implementation and coordination is done by: (a) The African Union (AU) Commission, which facilitates and coordinates the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 20 21 22 23 24 25 10 See www.icrc.org/eng/who-we-are/index.jsp. See https://icvanetwork.org/mandate.html. See www.actalliance.org/about. See www.interaction.org/. See www.africahumanitarian.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135 &Itemid=352. Available from www.unisdr.org/files/13655_POAinEnglishadoptedinNairobi16April%5B1%5D.pdf.