The Istanbul Humanitarian Summit is an annual event, launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, to provide a platform for politicians, international organization leaders and relief workers to discuss the best strategies for handling current humanitarian crises. It features authoritative speakers from around the world and aims to reshape the way aid is delivered. During the event, political leaders are invited to announce the actions they will take to relieve the suffering of millions afflicted by conflicts, disasters and poverty.
The event, which was held in Istanbul on 23-24 may 2016, was attended by 9,000 participants from 173 member states, including 55 heads of state and government, private sector representatives, and members of civil society and nongovernmental organizations. Participants called for a new approach to address the needs of internally displaced persons and refugees and reaffirmed their commitment to uphold and respect international protection standards. Furthermore, new initiatives were launched to reduce gender inequality on a global scale and to promote quality education. Notably, a fund for Education in Emergencies was launched to support the delivery of education to all children in emergencies and protracted crises by 2030.