Freymond, "Humanitarian Policy and Pragmatism," Government and Opposition, 11 (Autumn, 1976), 425 Since the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were adopted in 1965 by the Twentieth International Conference of the Red Cross, they have provided a pragmatic operational framework for humanitarian work worldwide. We cannot allow you to come and provide services to us. What is the normative framework governing relief operations? The South Sudan Red Cross was made up of staff and volunteers who had worked for the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, which continues to operate in Sudan. New York (ICRC) - Today is an important day in the history of humanitarian action. Please contact our editor, Elizabeth Rushing (erushing@icrc.org), if you would like to contribute to this conversation. The reality is that aid organizations do take sides: they take the side of victims. is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings This support will indeed be crucial in our collective efforts to preserve space for impartial, neutral and independent humanitarian action. 06 July 2010. This will be used to analyse traffic to the website, allowing us to understand visitor preferences and improving our services. Who are they addressed to? Taking into account the complexity of the environment in which humanitarian action has to be carried out, the ICRC believes that the diversity of humanitarian agencies can be an asset if they are seen as complementary to each others. Many of the resources are taken from the 2015 edition of the Advanced Seminar in IHL for University Lecturers and Researchers. And then we want to hear from you. So the principles of humanity, of impartiality, of unity, of neutrality, and then independence making our own decisions in terms of determining the priorities of populations were all key in setting up the South Sudan Red Cross. We explained the law was passed by parliament; which represents the population of South Sudan. Donors should retain their identity as donor and not pretend to be humanitarian organisations. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. We hope that the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid will reiterate this stand, and that it will also set out a commitment to advocating strongly and consistently for the respect of international humanitarian law. in Law and an LL.M. That a tension exists between the simplicity of the humanitarian principles and the difficulties associated with their application is beyond dispute. @free.kindle.com emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. the contributions highlight three important dimensions of the principles guiding humanitarian action: (1) they function simultaneously as "tools to do the job" - providing a compass to navigate through difficult choices in situations of conflicts and violence (2) as "identity catalysts" - resulting from the experience of humanitarian workers, Analysis / Back to basics: humanitarian principles in contemporary armed conflict / Call for contributions / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict John Lobor, 13 mins read It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress. The decision whether to speak out must be weighed against considerations of access, security and acceptance. There is a broad consensus on the pertinence and utility of these principles among our main governmental donors, which include the European Commission and 11 EU Member States. This is what IHL calls "the principle of distinction". from the University of Cambridge. Current and future challenges (2013), Report and video recording of the ICRC event Principles in action: How do neutrality and independence contribute to humanitarian effectiveness? (2015), Personal stories about the Fundamental Principles, International Committee of the Red Cross, Donate to Israel and the occupied territory, Advanced Seminar in IHL for University Lecturers and Researchers, ICRC Q&A and lexicon on humanitarian access, Consent to humanitarian access: An obligation triggered by territorial control, not States' rights, The law regulating cross-border relief operations. We are led by world class physicians and prioritize delivering the best in . The fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence constitute the four common principles to international humanitarian law (IHL) and to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as to United Nations resolutions and other regional organisation such as the European Union and the African Union. We understand that the proposed European Consensus calls on the European Union to adhere to and promote the Military and Civil Defence Assets and Oslo guidelines, which state that Military and Civil Defence or Protection capabilities should be employed by humanitarian agencies as a last resort; that is - only in the absence of any other available civilian alternative. We also welcome strong indications by our donor that the ICRC shall not be penalized by new financing mechanisms, such as the CERF and pooled funding, which are targeting UN agencies and, potentially, their respective NGO implementing partners. How can the principles help foster respect for IHL? Organizations that are openly supportive of a party might not be able to work across front lines, but they may have better access to communities living on the territory under the control of the side that they support. Required and suggested readings: before watching the videos, lecturers and humanitarian professionals are invited to familiarize themselves with the topic by working their way through the required and suggested reading.2. And of course, as a country that was emerging from and about to enter a new armed conflict, the principle of neutrality was very important for us to press upon our volunteers to ensure that we are not perceived to take sides in the conflict or engage in political dialogue that might compromise the integrity and perception of the National Society. Principles of International Humanitarian Law | How does law protect in war? The company's filing status is listed as In Existence and its File Number is 0803789521. The relevance of the Fundamental Principles to operations: learning from Lebanon, The ICRC's approach to contemporary security challenges: A future for independent and neutral humanitarian action, The ICRC in Afghanistan: Reasserting the neutrality of humanitarian action. At the end of the series, users will be able to: 1. Lets start at the beginning. We explained that we can only have one National Society, and that the army of South Sudan had already been using the Red Cross as an emblem of the medical corps of the military. What about the principle of neutrality? The first four principles - humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence - have come to embody international humanitarian action. Render date: 2022-12-11T16:46:51.355Z For this post, as part of our series Back to basics: humanitarian principles in contemporary armed conflict, we sat down with John Lobor, the Secretary General of the South Sudan Red Cross Society, to discuss how the Fundamental Principles guided the South Sudan Red Cross in its initial setup and through the nascent countrys armed conflict. Humanitarian principles Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed whenever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to prevent and alleviate human suffering, wherever it may be found a seemingly indisputable intention. They said this is the same government that was attacking us. The same is true for the wider region of the Middle East still torn apart by tension and violence. ICRC statements, publications, event reports) about IHL and humanitarian principles and related topics. That means we had to recruit members and volunteers from the different communities of South Sudan. We were very cautious about our relationship, particularly during the conflict. Shortly following the creation of the South Sudan Red Cross, the country was plunged into armed conflict. Observing strict political neutrality, the ICRC has sought and established dialogue with all of the many armed groups in Darfur. A clear division of labour and complementarity between government donors and humanitarian organisations only enhances the effectiveness of humanitarian action. Afterwards, with ICRC support, we went to disseminate information particularly in areas under opposition control that the Red Cross is not politically aligned with the government. Further reading and resources: lecturers and humanitarian professionals are encouraged to further explore the topic via additional resources (e.g. Apply to Social Work Supervisor, Early Childhood Teacher, Sponsorship Manager and more! The principles are hierarchically organized and offer both an ethical and an operational framework. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. The ICRC participated in the discussions with donors and other humanitarian agencies which eventually led to the endorsement of the principles and good practices of Good Humanitarian Donorship by a large number of donors. And from 1995 to 1997 she was a research fellow at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge. Tags: contemporary armed conflict, humanitarian principles, ICRC, neutrality, Red Cross Red Crescent, Ukraine, 9 mins read Moreover, in specific situations - in the case of occupation, for example -, armed forces have a legal obligation (under international humanitarian law) to provide the essential goods and services for the survival of the civilian population under their control. Tensions run high during conflict anywhere, and many of your volunteers have likely been directly affected by the violence in South Sudan. 97, No. The Cycle aimed at fostering a global discussion around principled humanitarian action and their concrete implications on the ground. Such acts are sometimes perceived as a testimony of inexcusable detachment in the face of suffering and a failure of moral judgement, rather than a tool to enable action on behalf of all victims. We meet in the cluster meetings, shared information and so on. I value this space for discussion and welcome dissent it is healthy and critical to reflect together on how to ensure that we deliver the best humanitarian responses. How can anyone provide support to people who sympathize with the enemy? Having read the article of this interview, it is really eye-capturing and full of many experiences the NS volunteers, staff, and members have undergone since its inception back in 2011. Human nature is corrupt, and human values shape how we remain impartial. The ICRC's main donor governments recognized the need to maintain the ICRC's independence. Videos can also be watched and discussed in class, as an introduction to the topic triggering questions and debate.3. This is a welcome reminder of how important it is to preserve space for neutral and independent humanitarian action as practiced by the ICRC. Each of these different approaches have their place and fulfill a specific function. We will also feature other ICRC contributions on gender, neutrality, humanity and impartiality and the impact of misinformation and propaganda on the space for principled humanitarian action. Neutrality and independence, on the other hand, have no intrinsic moral value they are the practical tools for securing access to those affected by conflict or violence by creating and protecting a humanitarian space. To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org Analysis / Back to basics: humanitarian principles in contemporary armed conflict / Call for contributions / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict Ariana Lopes Morey. Analysis / Back to basics: humanitarian principles in contemporary armed conflict / Call for contributions / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict, The ICRC in Israel, Golan, West Bank, Gaza, Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library, Back to basics: humanitarian principles in contemporary armed conflict, Climate change, conflict and humanitarian action, Avoiding civilian harm during military cyber operations, Humanitarian engagement in social protection: implications for principled humanitarian action, Race, equity, and neo-colonial legacies: identifying paths forward for principled humanitarian action, Challenging patriarchy: gender equality and humanitarian principles, ICRC Religion and Humanitarian Principles. These principles rely on the assumption that even war has limits and that belligerents will allow for the provision of principled humanitarian assistance in a safe and unimpeded way, as long as humanitarians avoid interfering in the dynamics of the conflict. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory. The principles are hierarchically organized and offer both an ethical and an operational framework. How do humanitarian principles support humanitarian effectiveness? The Head of State just signed it because he happened to be the Head of State at that particular time. It is not enough to call upon great humanitarian principles. Hostname: page-component-5959bf8d4d-m7vrx The Security Council adopted a legally binding resolution on Friday that protects humanitarian activities from all current and future financial prohibitions established by United Nations sanctions regimes. Today, despite very difficult circumstances, we continue to do our utmost to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi population. This obviously only works if belligerents and armed groups can trust that the ICR C is pursuing an exclusively humanitarian mission. We maintain that these principles are still relevant and that it is imperative more than ever - to preserve space for neutral and independent humanitarian action. Without them, it is said, aid workers can neither be legitimate, nor effective. While humanity and impartiality are principles that most, if not all, humanitarian actors adhere to, independence and neutrality are more complex. The basic principles of IHL These are the three basic principles of IHL: 1- Distinction: The principle of distinction requires those who wage war to distinguish between people who take part in the hostilities and those who do not (or no longer) take part in them. You are well aware that the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, indeed strongly believes in the importance of these principles. When the volunteers arrived, they were unfortunately attacked by some of the internally displaced people (IDPs) there, and two of them were severely beaten. An organizations ability to provide support also depends on its ability to strike a balance between competing priorities, needs and perception in order to preserve trust and acceptance. The principle of neutrality is key, particularly if you are close to the conflict. Voluntary serviceIt is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain. Eastern Equatoria, Torit county, South Sudan. Yet, humanitarian action was born not from an abstract idea but on the battlefield. What is expected of them is that they respect the organisations'need to apply these principles. Today, we feel that our identity as a truly independent actor in this complex post 9/11 environment is well recognized by all major stakeholders in Afghanistan as confirmed by our facilitating role in recent releases of hostages. Speaking with parties to conflict does not mean supporting them. Introduction to IHL and humanitarian principles. In the long run, this will probably open up possibilities for us to engage with them if need be. ImpartialityIt makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. Find out more about saving to your Kindle. As with many conflicts in the past, the Ukraine crisis has revived heated discussions on the humanitarian principles and their relevance in contemporary armed conflict. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings. understand how the ICRC applies humanitarian principles in practice. We also had to keep in mind the principle of unity there can only be one National Society, Red Cross or Red Crescent, within the Republic of South Sudan, and it must be open to all. We explained that the two emblems, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement, have the same weight and the same meaning. This was a very critical period for the South Sudan Red Cross; we were afraid that this would affect the unity of the National Society. @kindle.com emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply. After a long discussion, they came to understand, and apologized for what had happened. What are the respective aims of IHL and the humanitarian principles? Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings. What's more, various non-humanitarian actors use the label humanitarian to describe their activities. Teaching tools: ICRC tools on how to teach IHL as well as specific, ready-to-use teaching materials on IHL and humanitarian principles are available. Analysis / Back to basics: humanitarian principles in contemporary armed conflict / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict milie Charpentier, 10 mins read Because of the centrality of the humanitarian principles in the ICRCs action and the role that the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has played in shaping these principles, we see the need to create a space for a conversation on humanitarian principles, starting today. UniversalityThe International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide. The text of a speech delivered by the director-general of the ICRC, Mr Angelo Gnaedinger, at the conference Humanitarian Aid in the Spotlight: upcoming challenges for European actors held in Lisbon on 12 October 2007. While humanity and impartiality are principles that most, if not all, humanitarian actors adhere to, independence and neutrality are more complex. We hope that the European Consensus will recognise this by encouraging all humanitarian actors to document their distinctive comparative advantages in responding to particular situations and needs. Total loading time: 0.288 IHL and humanitarian principles: Future challenges and perspectives (3), ICRC booklet The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, E-briefing on Principles guiding humanitarian action, ICRC workshop on humanitarian principles and action, International Review of the Red Cross, Principles guiding humanitarian action, Vol. Let me assure you: the ICRC is not overlooking the fact that there can be situations where humanitarian organizations are not in a position to carry out their activities, and the military might be compelled to build a bridge, drill a well, or otherwise provide logistical means to bring urgent assistance to those in need. They were devised to win the trust, or at least acceptance, of all: neutrality commands that we not take sides, and independence means determining needs and making operational decisions autonomously, irrespective of any other considerations. The series help lecturers improve their knowledge of topical issues and provide teaching materials, thereby enabling them to cover these topics or issues in their courses or training sessions. When we got the report the next day, I went together with a colleague from the ICRC. With such an informed public I don't need to expand on the principles themselves. Does IHL refer to the principles? The first four principles humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence have come to embody international humanitarian action. The secession of South Sudan from the north in January 2011 paved the way for our new National Society in the south. For the same reasons, they should also avoid fully integrating humanitarian action into their political, military, or economic response to crises. We are convinced that it is this strictly neutral approach that allows us to continue our work in Darfur, where we provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of IDPs and isolated civilians in Gereida and many other places. 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