Human Right
Human Right
Human Right
Conceptual Framework
Understanding
• Human: A member of the Homo sapiens
species; a man, woman or child; a person.
• Rights: Things to which you are entitled or
allowed; freedoms that are guaranteed.
• Human Rights: The rights you have simply
because you are human.
• Human rights are simply defined as the
rights, which every human being is entitled to
enjoy and to have protected
Count..
• No regional convention on
human rights.
• States focused on strengthening
regional cooperation to promote
respect for human rights.
• Established a framework of
cooperation in 1998 at Tehran
• Established in 1949
• Its goal is protection of human
rights and fundamental
freedoms.
• it draw up the European
Convention for the Protection
of Human Rights and Social, economic and
Fundamental Freedoms, cultural rights are
signed in 1950 and came into enshrined in the
force in 1953. European Social Charter
• The Convention and its (1961-65)
Protocols constitute a general and in its Additional
human rights treaty focused on Protocols and in the
civil and political rights. Revised European Social
Charter, 1996-99)
• The Council has adopted special treaties in the areas of
data protection, migrant workers, minorities, torture
prevention and biomedicine
• its Convention provides advanced system of human rights
monitoring at the supranational level.
• Under the Convention, any person, NGO or group of
individuals claiming to be a victim of a human rights
violation committed by one of the currently 47
member States is entitled, once all domestically
available possibilities of seeking remedy have been
exhausted, to file a petition to the European Court of
Human Rights, whose seat is in Strasbourg (France).
• The courts decisions are final and legally binding on the
States parties.
• implementation is monitored by the Committee of
National Human Rights Institutions
• Human rights have been a core concern of the United Nations
since its inception.
• The responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil human rights
lies with States.
• They ratify international human rights instruments and are
required to create mechanisms to safeguard human rights.
• All parts of government are involved, together with other kinds
of national institutions and civil society
• include independent judiciary, law enforcements, legislative
bodies, and education systems with human rights programs at
all levels.
• Among these, national human rights institutions (NHRIs)
occupy a unique position.
What are National human rights Institutions?
• are State bodies with a constitutional and/or legislative
mandate to protect and promote human rights.
• are part of the State apparatus and are funded by the State.
• in compliance with the Paris Principles—they are the
cornerstone of national human rights protection systems,
• serve as relay mechanisms between international human
rights norms and the State.
• are unique and do not resemble other parts of government
• are not under the direct authority of the executive,
legislature or judiciary
• they are, as a rule, accountable to the legislature either
directly or indirectly.
Cont…
They are at arm’s length from the Government and yet funded exclusively or
primarily by the Government.
Their members are not elected, although they are sometimes appointed by
elected representatives.
are not NGOs
have a statutory legal basis and particular legal responsibilities as part
of the State apparatus.
The differences between NGOs and NHRIs are the investigation of
complaints.
are neutral fact finders, not advocates for one side or another.
must be independent of the NGO sector, just as it must be
independent of the Government.
In investigation, NHRI may operate within a legally defined
framework
must comply with the general principles of justice and the rule of law.
Cont…
They are central elements of a strong national
human rights system:
they “bridge” civil society and Governments;
they link the responsibilities of the State to the
rights of citizens
they connect national laws to regional and
international human rights systems.
NHRIs often find themselves criticizing the
actions of the very Governments that created and
fund them, which is not surprising since States are
frequently the targets of human rights complaints.
Types of NHRIs
1. Human rights commissions፡
They are State institutions with an explicit mandate to
protect and promote human rights. While many have
broad mandates, others have a specific focus, such as
women’s rights;
They are typically headed by a number of full-time
and/or part-time members, who are decision makers;
Investigation is a core function;
Many can receive individual complaints
Many have the authority to make recommendations
only, following investigation .
Cont…
2. Human rights ombudsman institutions:
They are State institutions, with a mandate to protect
and promote human rights;
They are usually headed by a single member, who is
the decision maker (although some have deputies);
They have a mandate to deal principally with human
rights, although they may be specialized in single
human rights issues such as women’s rights.
They investigate human rights and can often receive
individual complaints;
Cont.…
Limitations
• Most human rights are not absolute and have certain limits to
the exercise of rights.
• Limitations refer to infringements or encroachments on
guaranteed rights under narrowly contoured permissible
circumstances.
• There are internal individualized/specific limitation and
general limitation clauses
• The Ethiopian Constitution only contains claw-back clauses
within most of the protected rights.
• Some of the internal limitations simply refer to those
limitations determined or established by law
• while others are more detailed and require
compelling circumstances and specific laws
necessary to safeguard public security, peace, the
prevention of crimes, public morality, and the
protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
• There are therefore different standards depending
on which right the Constitution seeks to limit.
• There is the absence of a more sweeping general
limitation clause in the Constitution that would
have ensured uniformity of standards.
• The absence of a general limitations clause may have
advantages as it leaves some rights, which do not
have internal limitations, beyond limitations.
• For instance, the protection against torture and
inhuman treatment or punishment in the Ethiopian
Constitution may not in any way be limited.
• lack of a general limitation clause can have its
downsides, as it might invite arbitrary, limitless
limitations.
• Some in fact describe the general limitation clause as
the most important clause in a bill of rights.
• general limitation clause, may potentially limit every
rights
• and rights with internal limitation will be subjected
Problems concerning limitation of rights under the
Ethiopian Constitution
1. There is no requirement in some cases, such as the right to life
and liberty, that the limitation be rationally connected to the
purpose it aspires to achieve, and be necessary and proportional
so long as the limitation is based on law.
• E.g. capital punishment on children Apparently, so long as the
limitation emanates from a law, whatever its purpose, it is a
permissible limitation.
2. There is no definition as to what ‘law’ means: does it include
parliamentary statutes only? Or does it also include regulations,
directives or even rules and practices of administrative
agencies? Should it moreover be a law of general application,
clear, precise and accessible allowing predictability?
• Are questions In determining the justifiability of limitations,
Derogation
• FDRE Constitution recognizes possibilities require the
suspension of protected rights.
• Derogation permit the temporary suspension of the application
and enjoyment of rights in response to incidences of emergency
that threaten the life of a nation.
• There are certain rights, which may not be suspended even in
threatening situations.
• Article 93 of the Constitution prescribes the procedural and
substantive requirement for derogation.
• conditions that justify derogations are occurrence of an external
invasion, a breakdown of law and order which cannot be
controlled by the regular law enforcement agencies and personnel,
or the occurrence of a natural disaster or an epidemic.
• The Council of Ministers of the federal Ethiopian
government has the power to declare state of emergency
• The Regional States can declare state of emergency to avert
natural disaster or epidemic in their territories.
• The ultimate power to approve or annul a declaration of
emergency made by the Council of Ministers lies with the
House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR).
• This decision is required to be made within 48 hours if the
HPR is in session or within 15 days if the HPR is not in
session at the time of the declaration of emergency.
• Upon approval by a 2/3 majority vote, the state of
emergency may remain up to 6 months subject to its renewal
for up to four months on each occasion through the same
procedure..
Non-derogable rights under FDRE
• prohibition against cruel, inhuman, and degrading
treatment or punishment, and slavery or servitude,
and trafficking (Article 18),
• the right to equality and equal protection of the law
(Article 25),
• and the right to self-determination up to secession
(Article 39).
• The Constitution requires the HPR to establish an ad
hoc State of Emergency Inquiry Board consisting of
seven members chosen and assigned by the House
from among its members and from legal experts.
• This body monitors and follows up the situation
• ensure no measure taken during the state of
emergency is inhuman
• ensures the “prosecution of perpetrators of
inhuman acts”.
• It does not provide for the duty of the Council of
Ministers or the HPR to publish the State of
Emergency declaration and ensure its
accessibility.
• it does not reaffirm the duty of the State to
inform, inter alia, member states to the ICCPR.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
and Its Structure
• The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the office of
Ombudsman represents the semi-judicial human rights system
of Ethiopia.
• Article 3. proclamation No 210/2000 states the human rights
commission is an autonomous organ of the federal government
having its own juridical personality.
• the commission is responsible the house of the peoples'
representatives.
• Article 55 of the FDRE Constitution requires the Federal
government to establish a Human Rights Commission and an
Office of Ombudsman,
• Article 5 of Proclamation 210/2000 states that the objective of
the Human Rights Commission is to educate the public be
aware of human rights, to see that human rights are protected,
respected and fully enforced as well as to check whether the
• The Human Rights Commission and the Offices of
Ombudsman are mandated to promote human rights
nation-wide.
• expected to render awareness creation to the public
and members of relevant institutions and civil society
organizations.
• Structural organization of the HRs commission: as it
is stated under article 8 of the proclamation:
a) A council of commissioners
b) (1) A Chief commissioner
(2) A deputy chief commissioner
(3) A Commissioner heading the children and
women affairs
( 4) Others commissioners and
Objectives of the commission
1. Human Rights Education- the core of this activity (using face to face; or via
the media, publications; supporting awareness raising education and promotion
2. Human Rights Protection (complaint investigation) – dealing with inherited
backlogs, filed complaints, sensitive or priority cases, systemic or group issues;
ensuring the application of remedies, attempting amicable resolution of cases as
well as ensuring the implementation of settlements.
3. Human Rights Monitoring –monitors places of detention; ensures the;
undertakes event monitoring.
4. Advising Government- provision of advice on existing legislation, policy and
practices; provision of advice on proposed legislation, policy and practices as
well as provision of advice on Treaty Bodies Reporting to the Government.
5. Human Rights Research-conduct in-house or contracted research into human
rights issues; the development of guidelines, policies, procedures, etc; program
delivery; encourages academic research into human rights issues and develop a
program of action research.
6. Democratic Institutions Program (DIP)- Major donors and UN
agencies have agreed to collectively support the strengthening of the
capacity of the main democratic institutions in the Country including
the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
• The program aims at strengthening the capacity of the EHRC to be in
full compliance with international standards for national human
rights institutions (such as the Paris Principles) and pursues with the
objectives to:
a) Strengthening national capacity to respect, protect, promote and
fulfill human rights;
b) Facilitate the enhancement of skills relating to treaty reporting
obligations, documentation, public awareness and project development
and management; and
c) Strengthening of the public awareness of human rights and the
capacity of Ethiopian Civil Society to participate and network in the
promotion, protection, and awareness raising on human rights.
The Ethiopian Institution of the
Ombudsman (EIO)
• The institution of ombudsman was established by the
house of peoples’ by The proclamation No.211/2000
• it is accountable to the house of peoples’
representatives.
• The institution has council of Ombudsman, a chief
Ombudsman, a deputy chief Ombudsman, an
Ombudsman heading the children and women affairs,
Ombudsman heading branch offices and the
necessary staff.
• the main function of the EIO is to prevent and rectify
maladministration and, to promote good governance.
• The EIO is designed to prevent and remedy
(rectify) arbitrary or unjust administrative
actions of the executive vis-à-vis its citizens,
• and to provide an easily accessible means to
the public to assure that the basic rights are not
violated by the executive
• its main objective is to duly rectify or prevent
the unjust decisions and orders of executive
organs, and officials thereof.
CHAPTER FOUR
HUMANITARIAN LAW AND
HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE
International Humanitarian Law
• It is a law, set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to
limit the effects of armed conflict.
• protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in
the hostilities
• restricts the means and methods of warfare.
• also known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict.
• is part of international law, which is the body of rules
governing relations between States.
• It does not regulate whether a State may actually use force or
not rather how it uses its force
• whether a State may actually use force is governed by an
important, but distinct, part of international law set out in the
United Nations Charter.
• It is rooted in the rules of ancient civilizations and
religions
• warfare has always been subject to certain principles
and customs.
• Universal codification of international humanitarian law
began in the nineteenth century.
• States have agreed to a series of practical rules, based
on the bitter experience of modern warfare.
• These rules strike a careful balance between
humanitarian concerns and the military requirements of
States.
• an increasing number of States have contributed to the
development of those rules.
• International humanitarian law forms today a universal
body of law.
• A major part of IHL is contained in the four Geneva
Conventions of 1949.
• Nearly every State in the world has agreed to be bound
by them
• The Conventions have been developed and
supplemented by two further agreements: The
Additional Protocols of 1977 relating to the protection
of victims of armed conflicts.
• Other agreements prohibit the use of certain weapons
and military tactics and protect certain categories of
people and goods. include:
• the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property
in the Event of Armed Conflict, plus its two protocols;
• the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention;
• the 1980 Conventional Weapons Convention and its five
protocols;
• the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention;
• the 1997 Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines;
• The 2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights
of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
• Many provisions of international humanitarian law are now
accepted as customary law – that is, as general rules by which
all States are bound.
• International humanitarian law applies only to armed conflict;
it does not cover internal tensions or disturbances such as
isolated acts of violence.
• The law applies only once a conflict has begun, and then
equally to all sides regardless of who started the fighting.
• International humanitarian law distinguishes between
international and non-international armed conflict.
• International armed conflicts are those in which at least
two States are involved.
• They are subject to a wide range of rules, including those set
out in the four Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I.
• Non-international armed conflicts are those restricted to the
territory of a single State,
• involving either regular armed forces fighting groups of
armed dissidents, or armed groups fighting each other.
• A more limited range of rules apply to internal armed
conflicts and are laid down in Article 3 common to the
four Geneva Conventions as well as in Additional
Protocol II.
International humanitarian law covers two areas:
• The Protection of those who are not, or no longer,
taking part in fighting;
• Restrictions on the means of warfare – in particular
weapons – and the methods of warfare, such as military
tactics.
Protections
• protects those who do not take part in the fighting, such as
civilians and medical and religious military personnel.
• It also protects those who have ceased to take part, such as
wounded, shipwrecked and sick combatants, and prisoners
of war.
• These categories of person are entitled to respect for their
lives and for their physical and mental integrity.
• They also enjoy legal guarantees.
• They must be protected and treated humanely in all
circumstances, with no adverse distinction.
• it is forbidden to kill or wound an enemy who surrenders or
is unable to fight; the sick and
• wounded must be collected and cared for by the party in whose
power they find themselves.
• Medical personnel, supplies, hospitals and ambulances must all
be protected.
• The conditions of detention for prisoners of war and the way in
which civilians are to be treated when under the authority of an
enemy power.
• This includes the provision of food, shelter and medical care,
and the right to exchange messages with their families.
• The law sets out a number of clearly recognizable symbols
which can be used to identify protected people, places and
objects.
• The main emblems are the red cross, the red crescent and the
symbols identifying cultural property and civil defense facilities.
Restrictions
• International humanitarian law prohibits all means and
methods of warfare which:
• fail to discriminate between those taking part in the
fighting and those, such as civilians, who are not,
• protect the civilian population, individual civilians and
civilian property;
• cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering;
• cause severe or long-term damage to the environment.
• banned the use of many weapons, including exploding
bullets, chemical and biological weapons, blinding
laser weapons and anti-personnel mines.
State Compliance
• There are countless examples of violation of international
humanitarian law
• Increasingly, the victims of war are civilians.
• there were cases where international humanitarian law has made
a difference in protecting civilians, prisoners, the sick and the
wounded, and in restricting the use of barbaric weapons.
• Given that law applies during times of extreme violence,
implementing the law will always be a matter of great difficulty.
• striving for effective compliance remains as urgent as ever.
• Measures must be taken to ensure respect for international
humanitarian law.
• States have an obligation to teach its rules to their armed forces
and the general public.
• They must prevent violations or punish them if these
nevertheless occur.
• They must enact laws to punish the most serious violations of the
Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols,
• The States must also pass laws protecting the red cross and red
crescent emblems.
• Measures have also been taken at an international level
• tribunals have been created to punish acts committed in two
recent conflicts (the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda).
• An international criminal court, with the responsibility of
repressing inter alia war crimes, was created by the 1998 Rome
Statute.
• Whether as individuals or through governments and various
organizations, we can all make an important contribution to
compliance with international humanitarian law
The Geneva Conventions
• are series of international agreements that created and
developed international humanitarian law
• protect wounded combatants and those who assist
them, prisoners of war, and civilians during times of
war or other conflicts.
• The campaign for such laws began with the
publication of Un Souvenir de Solferino (A Memory of
Solferino, 1862; translated 1911) by Swiss
philanthropist Jean Henri Dunant.
• The book described the suffering of wounded soldiers
at the northern Italian battlefield of Solferino in June
1859.
• It advocated for the creation of a relief society
and the adoption of a treaty that would give
protection on the battlefield to the wounded
and those who assisted them.
• These proposals ultimately led to the adoption
of the Geneva Conventions and the founding
of the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC),
• later became the International Committee of
the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The Four Geneva Conventions
• There have been four Geneva Conventions, each of which has
subsequently been amended.
• The name derives from Geneva, Switzerland, the city where the
conventions were negotiated.
• The first Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864 and provided
for the protection of sick and wounded soldiers on the field of
battle.
• The second convention, formulated in 1906, extended those
protections to sailors wounded in sea battles.
• The third convention, in 1929, protected prisoners of war (POWs).
• It legislated that POWs were not criminals, should be treated
humanely, and should be released at the end of hostilities.
• The fourth convention, ratified in 1949, rewrote, expanded, and
replaced the language of the first three conventions.
• The fourth convention also provided for the protection of civilians during
wartime.
• prohibit murder, torture, hostage-taking, and extra-judicial sentencing and
executions.
• “the Geneva Conventions” refers to the three conventions that were
recodified in 1949 and the fourth convention that was added that same year.
• Humanitarian law is comprised of the Geneva Conventions and the 1899
and 1907 Hague Conventions.
• the Geneva Conventions primarily protect victims of war,
• The Hague Conventions and accompanying regulations primarily protect
combatants and noncombatants by limiting the methods and means of
combat.
• The Hague regulations protect prisoners of war; prohibit poisonous
weapons and weapons calculated to cause unnecessary suffering; and
killing or wounding an enemy who has surrendered.
• They also provide that an occupying power must respect “the laws in force
in the country.”
The Two Additional Protocols
•In 1977 two protocols were added to the Geneva
Conventions of 1949.
•Protocol I extends the law relating to protections of victims
of armed conflicts
•Protocol II extends protection to victims of internal
conflicts in which an armed opposition controls enough
territory to enable it to carry out sustained military
operations.
The Third Geneva Convention
• amended in 1949,
• known as the Geneva Convention Relative to the
Treatment of Prisoners of War(PLOs),
• sets forth criteria to determine who is a POW, a protected
person under.
• a competent tribunal must decide PLO status Where a
doubt arises
• POWs are entitled at all times to humane treatment and
respect for their personal dignity and honor.
• Their lives and health must not be endangered.
• They must be protected against violence or intimidation,
insults, and public curiosity.
• They must be maintained in conditions as
favorable as those for the forces of the detaining
power.
• No physical or mental torture, nor any other form
of coercion, may be inflicted on POWs to secure
information from them.
• POWs who refuse to answer questions may not be
threatened insulted, or exposed to unpleasant or
disadvantageous treatment of any kind.
• POWs are bound to give only their surnames, first
names and rank, date of birth, and “army,
regimental, personal or serial number.”
The Fourth Geneva Convention
• adopted in 1949, known as the Geneva Convention Relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,
• Made explicit the protections that should be extended to
civilians during wartime.
• It requires that protected persons—civilians, the wounded,
and POWs—be treated humanely.
• Such persons are, in all circumstances, entitled to respect for
their honor and religion, and must be protected against insults
and public curiosity.
• No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised to obtain
information from them or third parties.
• Reprisals against protected persons and their property are
prohibited.
Countries Belonging to the Conventions
• As of 2005, 192 countries had ratified (thus becoming parties to) all
four of the Geneva Conventions.
• Additional Protocol I had been ratified by 161 states and 156 countries
had ratified Additional Protocol II.
• Nearly every country has ratified the Geneva Conventions, so they are
now considered customary international law.
• The United States is a party to the four Geneva Conventions, but has
not ratified the two Additional Protocols.
• The United States refuses to ratify Protocol I because it claims the
protocol will legitimize groups involved in wars of national
liberation.
• The United States also decided not to ratify Protocol II, fearing that it
might enhance the status of rebels.
• Without the Additional Protocols, recent conflicts in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo might not have been covered by humanitarian law.
Grave Breaches and War Crimes
• The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I require the
ratifying parties to repress grave breaches of the conventions,
• the ratifying parties—are required to search for persons who have
allegedly committed or ordered the commission of grave breaches of
the conventions
• bring those persons before their own courts, or hand them over to
another state party for trial.
• Grave breaches willful killing, torture or inhuman treatment,
including biological experiments;
• willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health;
• compelling one to serve in the forces of a hostile power;
• willfully depriving one of the right to a fair trial.
• taking of hostages;
• extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by
military necessity
Humanitarianism and humanitarian Intervention
• humanitarianism is an ethics of kindness, benevolence and
sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human
beings.
• It is an evolving concept historically but universality is a common
element in its evolution.
• No distinction is to be made in the face of human suffering or
abuse on grounds of tribal, caste, religious or national divisions.
• It is an ethic of active compassion, which became expressed in
philanthropy and social welfare.
• humanitarian action was led increasingly to vindication of the
respect owed to the individual human being.
• The idea, originating in stoic natural law, became, in its Christian
and secular manifestations, an important influence in European
thought.
• There are two fundamentally different paradigms of activities
that have been termed ‘humanitarian intervention’.
• The ‘Classic’ Paradigm involves the use of force by one or
more states in the territory of another for protecting the
latter’s people from human rights violations.
• Broadly it can be seen as the use of force by one state in
another state to protect anyone, including its own citizens
from human rights violations.
• Narrowly, actions involving the use of force by one state in
the territory of another in order to protect indigenous
populations
• acts intended to protect nationals of the intervening state
defined as acts of self-defense, not ‘humanitarian
intervention.’
• The second paradigm define it as acts that
involve the direct provision of humanitarian
services (e.g. medical care, food, shelter) in
the territory of other nations without the
consent of the recipient nation.
• state or non-state actors-
examples ,International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) or Doctors without Borders may
provide it.
• Such activities fall under the definition of
humanitarian intervention,
Evolution of Humanitarianism
• The universality of Humanitarianism is explained in religious
books
• The Enlightenment advanced the idea that humanity could be
improved by reform of laws and change in social structure.
• This idea combined with the humanitarian ethic of active
compassion.
• Both became the impelling influences upon humanitarian
social action from the 18th century.
• Humanism is associated with the Renaissance and the revival
of classical learning which took place in the 15th century. T
• both Humanitarianism and Humanism share a common view
as to the importance of 'Man'.
• Unlike Humanitarianism, humanism tends to exclude
any religious basis for that importance.
• A major difference is that Humanism was not
impelled to engage in action to protest abuses or move
collectively for the relief of human suffering.
• humanism and humanitarianism shared the value of
autonomy, articulated in the Enlightenment, and both
equally rejected superstition as a justification for
socially approved cruelty.
• In the 18th and 19th centuries the ethic of active
compassion coalesced with other ideas and the
interaction resulting from this turned humanitarianism
The Core Principles of Humanitarianism
• There are many principles of humanitarianism. The
following are among the most important ones:
Relieve life-threatening suffering
• Humanitarian action should be directed towards a
relief on immediate life-threatening suffering.
• The response, or non-response of international
community however, influenced by considerations
like
• The injection of political agenda
• Bureaucratic Inertia-Governments
Proportionality to need:
• Humanitarian action should correspond to the
degree of suffering, wherever it occurs.
• It should affirm the view that life is as
precious in one part of the globe as another.
• proportionality is self-evident and
unobjectionable.
Non-Partisanship
• Humanitarian action responds to human
suffering without taking sides in conflicts.
Independence
• humanitarian organizations should be free of
interference from home or host political authorities.
• Humanitarian space is essential form effective action.
Appropriateness
• Humanitarian action should be tailored to local
circumstances and aim to enhance, not supplant,
locally available resources.
• require using humanitarian initiatives to strengthen
local capacity while taking into account local cultural
characteristics that don’t contradict international
norms.
Contextualization
• Effective humanitarian action should encompass a
comprehensive view of overall needs and impact
of interventions.
• Encouraging respect for human rights
• addressing the underlying causes of conflict are
essential elements.
• Accountability
• Humanitarian organization should report fully on
their activities to sponsors and beneficiaries.
• Humanitarian activities should be transparent.
Subsidiary of sovereignty
• Where humanitarianism and sovereignty clash,
sovereignty should defer to the relief of life
threatening suffering.
• This principle is undoubtedly the most
controversial.
• In today’s world the centuries old doctrine of
absolute and exclusive sovereignty no longer stands
• This new openness at the international level to
attach greater relative importance to humanitarian
imperatives
The end !