Wk 12 - Humanitarianism Flashcards
Creation/role of the ICRC (x3)
Henri Dunant witnessed the 1859 battle of Solferino
Horrified at no medical treatment for wounded
Argued for volunteer relief workers = ICRC
Only NGO to be a custodian of international law - are included in the Geneva Convention
Medicins sans Frontieres was formed when… (x3)
ICRC followed mandate, didn’t publicise the atrocities of the Nigerian Civil War 1967-70
Bernard Kouchner accused them of complicity
Left to form Medicins in 1971
What factors have led to new definition/challenges for humanitarian action? (x4)
Media awareness (CNN or BBC effect) – orgs chase crises that attract media attention
Growth of HR
UNSC into complex emergencies – HR in peacekeeping; growth of humanitarian intervention
States now major funders
Based on Geneva Convention/need for space detached from conflict, what are four key principles of humanitarian action?
Principle of humanity: general commitment to prevent/alleviate suffering
Impartiality: assistance based solely on need
Neutrality: orgs duty not to take part in hostilities
Independence: orgs free from political/religious/other influences
Traditional humanitarianism was… (x4)
eg (x1)
Traditional assistance rooted in Geneva convention:
Moral imperative to reduce suffering,
Focussed on need only,
Separates humanitarian from political actions
Eg MSF that takes no govt funding, but ICRC does
New humanitarianism shows… (x1)
eg (x1)
A shift toward protection/HR agenda
CARE: rights based approach, livelihood security and broader to dignity/participation
New issues of the Rights-Based Approach of new humanitarianism (x5)
Creation of war economy - legal and illegal contributions
Providing legitimacy to combatants - working with consent
Controlling the population - assistance as lure
Accountability
Protection - even of those who’ve committed atrocities
Four ways that humanitarian agencies provide protection for civilians
Conducting any activities aimed at ensuring their legal rights (ICRC)
Protection by presence: eg hope that MSF camp will deter attacks
Assisting with goal of limiting risks/violence
Advocacy
What is the humanitarian placebo effect? (x3)
Aid increasingly used in lieu of more robust options –
Allows states to be seen to be doing something, but
Avoid political/military commitments to roots of crisis
What are the four levels of assistance planning/provision in the UN?
Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC): reports to the Sec-Gen, chairs interagency committee in NYC that helps draft policies
International Standing Committee (IASC
Individual agencies: UNHCR, WFP
Field level: Resident Coordinators, often UNDP staffer, so you also get Humanitarian Coordinators
What is the role of the UN’s Emergency Relief co-ordinator? (x2)
Reports to the Sec-Gen
Chairs interagency committee in NYC that helps draft policies
Coordination of humanitarian assistance is more important than leadership, as shown by which 3 types of coordination structure?
By command: in bigger missions, or with peacekeeper presence – not common
By consensus: leadership as a function of capacity to respond/mobilise – also uncommon
By default: no formal entity, minimal info/labour exchange, overlapping finances, services, total chaos – the dominant model
What 3 issues remained prominent in the UN’s coordination of aid after 3 ‘generations’ of efforts?
No locus of responsibility,
Predictability or
Authority
What is the cluster approach to humanitarian intervention?
An attempt to resolve coordination issues of
no locus of responsibility, predictability or authority
How does the cluster approach to coordinating humanitarian intervention work? (x2)
eg ‘clusters’ (x3)
Assigns a lead agency to deal with eleven clusters IDs as critical to IDP protection/assistance
Leaders to become provider of last resort
eg emergency shelter, health, camp coordination and management
