Date : 19/06/2017

Country/Region : SWITZERLAND

Title : Where it matters.

Duration : 02:03:57

Keyword : IHL (INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW); NGO; ECHO (EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S HUMANITARIAN AID OFFICE); INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION; CONFERENCE

Confidentiality level : public

Publication restrictions : publication without restrictions

Copyright : ICRC

Production company : ICRC

Description : Roundtable with:
Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop
Julia Steets
Mads Almaas
Raquel Ayora
Nicolas Von Arx
Irene Plank
Hervé Delphin

The ICRC, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and HERE-Geneva are convening a panel of experts to examine how humanitarian organizations and donors are stepping up their efforts to provide humanitarian responses to the most vulnerable populations in situations of armed conflict. Are humanitarian organizations sufficiently equipped to operate in these contexts? What additional measures need to be taken to encourage organizations to respond to humanitarian needs in hard-to-reach areas?

Recent studies and evaluations show that many humanitarian organizations are becoming increasingly risk-averse, and few have made sufficient institutional investments in their capacity to operate in armed conflict settings. A recent review conducted by HERE-Geneva in Iraq, commissioned by the NRC with the support of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), highlights significant disparities in how humanitarian actors apply the four core principles of humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, in their strategies, decision-making, and operational practices. Humanitarian organizations tend to prioritize easier-to-reach areas over more volatile and violent environments, a trend that has been particularly evident in the Iraqi context. Similarly, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been reflecting on the factors driving gaps in humanitarian responses during armed conflicts and is engaging in discussions with other humanitarian actors on this issue.

Humanitarian actors face a multitude of political, institutional, and security obstacles that hinder the delivery of principled humanitarian action. However, these obstacles should not lead to complacency. Instead, they should motivate humanitarian organizations to redouble their efforts to overcome the challenges that block the delivery of principled humanitarian assistance.

Event organized at the ICRC headquarters by the Law & Policy Forum unit.

Original language : English

Colour/B&W : colour

SD/HD : HD

Resolution : 1920 x 1080

Aspect ratio : 16/9

Original material/format : H264

Best material/format available : ProRes 422