The Red Cross and Red Crescent Mediterranean Conference is a concrete possibility to implement the principle of respecting diversity, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and cooperation between the RC/RC National Societies who have different histories, cultures and ways of functioning. It convenes 25 National Societies who have an historical or geographical link with the Mediterranean. The first Med Conference was held in 1980 in Belgrade. Since then a number of 11 Mediterranean Conferences have been celebrated. The last one was organized and hosted by the Croatian Red Cross in Dubrovnik, from the 17th-19th of March 2010, under the slogan “Mediterranean: Values in Action”.

Delegates from 22 Mediterranean RC/RC National Societies attended this Conference, as well as representatives from the IFRC, the ICRC, the European Institute of the Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration, the RC/RC Climate Centre, the City Council of Dubrovnik and invited National Societies.

Considering the recommendations from the previous Med Conference, the Steering Committee agreements and the CCM action plan, the XI Med Conference focused on four panels: the challenges of protecting and providing assistance to migrants, the problems related to climate change and environment, the social effects of world economic crisis, the role of youth in the future of the Mediterranean.

The NNSS which have participated in the Conference emphasized their commitment to: support young people in the revision of Youth Policy and its adaptation to the Strategy 2020; encourage the implementation of the YABC approach; secure respect through diversity and social inclusion; fully play the role of auxiliaries to public authorities in order to better protect migrants, regardless of their status; integrate risks related to climate change in their action plans through partnership with the RC/RC Climate Centre and actively support the CCM.

The CCM, as a Permanent Office for the follow up of the resolutions of the Mediterranean Conference, gave support to the Croatian Red Cross in organizing the Conference, providing technical aid and facilitating partnership contacts.