Advancing Protection of Health Care: Expert Meeting on the Regulation and Perception of Distinctive Emblems and Other Signs and Symbols Used to Identify Health-care Facilities, Vehicles and Personnel

This report summarizes the expert meeting on the regulation and perception of distinctive emblems and identification symbols for health-care facilities, vehicles, and personnel, held on 17–18 June 2024 at the Norwegian Red Cross headquarters in Oslo. Hosted by the Norwegian Red Cross, it brought together participants from 18 countries, including legal experts, academics, and representatives from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and health organizations. Discussions focused on the role of domestic legislation in safeguarding health care and the challenges surrounding the regulation and perception of protective emblems in armed conflict. The report outlines policy recommendations to strengthen legislative frameworks, monitoring mechanisms, and authorization policies for emblem use, fostering further exchanges and advancing protection measures for health-care facilities, vehicles, and personnel.