Your Royal Highness, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
Together with my friend and colleague Tadateru Konoé of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
I would like to dedicate the award to the staff and volunteers of the Movement who have lost their lives in recent months trying to save the lives of others.
In Pakistan, Yemen and Syria, to mention just a few places, we have suffered losses that are tragic for two reasons.
First, because talented and selfless persons were taken from us far too soon. And second, because hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are now left without help as a result of these tragic losses.
I therefore call upon all armed forces and all armed groups, politicians and local leaders to allow not only Red Cross and Red Crescent workers, but everyone seeking to alleviate human suffering in an impartial manner, to perform their tasks in safety.
In particular, local nurses, paramedics and doctors must be allowed to carry out their neutral and impartial work free from pressure and free from attacks.
That is what is required to preserve some measure of humanity when disaster strikes.
Thank you.