It has been decided that the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit would be held in Turkey in 2016.Turkey’s proposal to host the Summit in Istanbul has been approved following the assessment of all the candidates by the United Nations. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced his decision to hold the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, on 26 September 2013, during the meeting of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly.

The World Humanitarian Summit, planned to be held in Istanbul in the first half of 2016 will aim to determine the future agenda in the fields of international humanitarian law, humanitarian intervention and assistance, as well as to establish norms strengthening international law and practice in this domain.

The 2016 World Humanitarian Summit will constitute a historically important step to address the common concerns and aims of the international community, on a par with important global meetings like the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.

UN Secretary General Ban emphasized that Turkey’s important contributions, particularly in the humanitarian field at international, regional and national levels as well as Istanbul’s historical characteristics and logistical capabilities played a role in the decision to hold the Summit in Istanbul.

Turkey will hold the World Humanitarian Summit in consultation and cooperation with the UN and the governments interested in this subject. The Summit will also be organized with the participation of actors playing a role in the humanitarian field, including the media, civil society, academic institutions and the private sector.

The approval of Istanbul’s bid to host the World Humanitarian Summit is a new example demonstrating Turkey’s rising stature in the international area.