NAIROBI, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will next week host a high-level international conference bringing together over 1,200 delegates from around the world in Nairobi.

The 17th Session of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent and 2009 Council of Delegates will be held in Africa on Nov.18-25 for the first time in the history of the movement.

"This is the first time that such a conference will be held in Africa which is a testimony of the significance of the continent to the movement," Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Gullet said.

He said there are persistent negative images about Africa, including war, natural disasters, poverty and suffering. This is the time to showcase the true African spirit in a positive light.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is today the world's largest humanitarian network, with 186 Member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and nearly 100 million volunteers.

Gullet said the delegates are welcome to Kenya, which is one of the world's premier tourist destinations with diversity of culture, friendly people and great wealth of natural resources.

Under the theme "Our World Your Move", the meeting will discuss specific topics including humanitarian diplomacy, migration, global program for Africa, Strategy 2020 of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Internally Displaced Persons, Food Security, Global Alliance on HIV, global strategy on addressing the social culture of violence, disaster risk reduction, role of volunteers among others.

The movement is engaged with disaster management with the auxiliary responsibility of assisting Governments to carry out humanitarian work in times of peace and conflict.

It also manages natural disasters such as drought, famine and floods with its relief operations in emergencies strictly complying with the provisions of the code of conduct for disaster response, said Gullet.

Similarly, the movement carries out health and social services which focus on disease prevention and advocacy.

Under the water and sanitation program, the movement strives to improve access to safe and affordable water and sanitation.

The 16th session of the General Assembly took place in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2007.