Module 1: Humanitarian Principles and Values in Context of Disaster Management
2 Credits

The course intends to introduce some of the key concepts of humanitarian/ism and humanitarian principles vis-a-vis emerging disaster management and humanitarian response. Globally natural and human induced disasters are on the rise per se and pose a major challenge to communities and nations. While addressing it we need have better understanding of humanitarian principles and values. The term ‘humanitarian’ basically pertains to the 'practice of saving lives and alleviating suffering'. It is usually related to emergency response (also called humanitarian response). Humanitarian principles govern the way humanitarian response is carried out.

This module covers the basic understanding of the following themes/ key areas: (a) Fundamental humanitarian Principles, (b) International disaster response law (IDRL), (c) International Humanitarian law (IHL), (d) Humanitarian Charter, (e) Code of Conduct, (f) Articulating the history and evolution of humanitarianism and (g) IFRC Strategy 2020. It provides a foundation by analysing these key issues and concepts and examining their interrelationship/ validity in practice.

• To develop a conceptual and theoretical understanding about humanitarian principles and values among participants
• To verify the relevance of applying humanitarian principles and values in disaster response context
• To make the participants understand the importance humanitarian principles and distinguish it from other humanitarian laws and codes

Learning for participants here would be based on lecture notes and power point lectures presented online. The participants are expected to read and attend quiz tests at the end of each unit and further to undertake case studies for applying these learning in some critical context to verify the utility and functional aspects.

UNIT 1 Humanitarian Imperatives

• Concept of Impartiality;
• Concept of Independence;
• Concept of Neutrality;
• Non Discrimination;
• Concept of Protection

UNIT 2 Humanitarian Principles and International Law

• Humanitarian law,
• Human rights law,
• Refugee law,
• UN Guiding principles on Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs)

UNIT 3 International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

• The concept of protection,
• Development of international humanitarian law (IHL),
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and IHL,
• Protection of civilians, 3.5 IHL Instruments- Geneva and Hague Conventions

UNIT 4 Protection and Humanitarian Assistance

• Role of Government,
• Role of Civil Society,
• Role of International non governmental agencies

UNIT 5 Humanitarian Accountability

• Organisational commitment,
• Accountability to beneficiaries,
• Accountability to donors, Case Examples:
• Sphere Project/ Standards,
• Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP),
• Compas method,
• People in Aid-Code of Good Practice,
• Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International

UNIT 6 Role of Red Cross

• FRC Strategy 2020,
• Red Cross /NGO Code,
• Development assistance,
• RC Principles:

UNIT 7 Role of Red Cross

• FRC Strategy 2020,
• Red Cross /NGO Code,
• Development assistance,
• RC Principles:
  • Culture and custom
  • Response with local resources and capacities
  • Participation of the beneficiaries
  • Reducing future vulnerabilities
  • Accountable to both donors and beneficiaries
  • Ethics in Information activities- to portray victims as dignified human beings
• Red Cross Movement monitor compliance to the Fundamental Principles,
• How the RC/NGO Code is self-enforcing.

UNIT 8 Right to Life with Dignity

• Vulnerability and Behavioural Issues,
• Sexual exploitation and abuse,
• Limitations in humanitarian interventions,
• Humanitarian ethical dilemma,
• Standards and Indicators.
• Gender,
• Non violence,
• Non Discrimination,
• Challenges for Humanitarian Action

• Elizabeth Ferris, The Politics of Protection – The Limits of Humanitarian Action, Brookings Press, 2011.
• Walter, J., ‘Focus on Ethics in Aid: World Disasters Report, 2003, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, 2007.
• Waters, Tony, Bureaucratizing the Good Samaritan: The Limitations of Humanitarian Relief Operations, Boulder: Westview Press, 2001.
• Wilson, Richard Ashby and Richard D. Brown, eds., Humanitarianism and Suffering: The Mobilization of Empathy, Cambridge University Press, 2009.
• Robertson, Geoffrey, Crimes Against Humanity, Penguin Books, 2008.
• Pictet, Jean (1979). "The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross: A commentary". http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/ 2007
• O'Connell, International Law, Stevens, 1970
• De Torrent, Nicholas: "Humanitarian Action Under Attack: Reflections on the Iraq War" Harvard Human Rights Journal, Volume 17, Spring 2004, Harvard University, 13 July 2007
• Alicia L. Bannon, The Yale Law Journal, The Responsibility to Protect: The UN World Summit and the Question of Unilateralism, pp. 1157–1165,(2006)
• Geneva Conventions: Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, Geneva, UNTS, Vol.75, p. 31; Convention relative to the treatment of Prisoners of War, Geneva, UNTS, Vol.75, P.135; Convention for the Amelioration of the condition of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked members of the Armed Forces at Sea, Geneva, UNTS, Vol.75, p. 85;Convention relative to the Treatment of Civilian Persons in Time of War, Geneva, UNTS, Vol.75, p. 287
• Hugo Slim, "Relief agencies and moral standing in war: principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and solidarity, Development in Practice, Volume 10, Numbers 3-4/August 1, 2000
• Disaster Law Programme, Mid Year Report, IFRC, 2012
• Luca Corredig, “Effectiveness and Accountability of Disaster Risk Reduction Practice – An Analysis Through the Lens of Informal International Lawmaking”. IFRC.
• The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) in Disaster Relief, IFRC
• Strategy 2020, IFRC