The International Council of Nurses (ICN), representing the over 28 million nurses globally, supports WHO’s commitment to addressing underlying drivers of health needs
in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings and recognizes the contribution
of health programmes to this.

Inequalities and social breakdown can lead not only to poor health, but to tensions
and conflict in people’s lives and communities. Through its Nurses for Peace
initiative, ICN has identified and promoted nursing roles that directly contribute to
peace building. Nurses’ holistic approach to address root causes of ill health brings
people together, building partnerships and relationships that are the foundations
of health, community cohesion and peace.

ICN also strongly condemns violence against health care and urges Member States
under IHL to take immediate action to protect health personnel and infrastructure
in conflict settings