A Key question:
Is Human Security a Political
Concept or a Humanitarian
Concept ?
NGOs in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: A Call for Security
June 17, 2003
We the undersigned humanitarian, human rights, civil society
and conflict prevention organizations call on the international
community to accord NATO a robust stabilization mandate in
Afghanistan. This mandate should include the expansion of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to key locations
and major transport routes outside of Kabul and the active
support for a comprehensive program of disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration of all militia forces outside the
control of the central government. Current efforts to train
representative, professional Afghan national security forces
must be accelerated.
NATO & Humanitarian Interventions
A humanitarian intervention is an armed
intervention in another state, without the
agreement of that state, to address (the threat
of) a humanitarian disaster, in particular
caused by grave and large-scale violations of
fundamental human rights.
This definition was adopted by a NATO seminar in
Scheveningen on the topic in November 1999.
Who are the Actors
Political
Belligerants
States
UN General Assembly
UN Security Council
Private companies
USAID
ECHO
Medias
Human rights organisations
Humanitarian
National Societies of RC/RC
UNHCR
UNICEF
WHO
NGOs
ICRC
Human Security and the Concept of Humanitarian
& Political Frameworks
Based on:
. Principles
. Law
. Means
• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
Humanitarian
Framework
• Independence
• Proportionality to needs
• Consent from the Parties
• No political interests
• No economic interests
• Long term commitment
• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
Political
Framework
• Independence
• Proportionality to needs
• Consent from the Parties: Y or N
• Possible political interests
• Possible economic interests
Humanitarian
Framework
Legal Framework
Human
Security
Affected
Populatio
n
International
Humanitarian
Law
Charter of
United Nations
(Chapter 7)
Human Right
Law
Resolutions of
the General
Assembly of
the United
Nations
Refugee Law
Political
agreements
between States
Political
Framework
NATO
Resolutions
International
Humanitarian
Law
Human Right
Law
Refugee Law
Humanitarian
Framework
Means of Actions
Human
Security
Affected
Populatio
n
Diplomatic means
Logistic means
Legal Means
Media means
Financial means
Economic means
Use of Armed forces
Political
Framework
Definition of a Humanitarian Framework
IHL, HR Law
Diplomatic means
Humanity
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Proportionality to
needs
Human
Security
Affected
Populatio
n
Logistic means
Legal Means
Media means
Financial means
Economic means
Definition of a Political Framework
UN res. NATO Res. ….
IHL, HR Law
Humanity
Diplomatic means
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Proportionality to
needs
Human
Security
Affected
Populatio
n
Logistic means
Legal Means
Media means
Consent from the
Parties
Financial means
Political interests
Economic means
Economic interests
Long term
commitment
Use of Armed
forces
Diplomatic means
Logistic means
Legal Means
Media means
Financial means
Economic means
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Proportionality to
needs
Use of Armed
forces
Humanity
UN res. NATO Res. ….
IHL, HR Law
IHL, HR Law
Humanity
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Proportionality to needs
Consent from the
Parties
Political interests
Economic interests
Diplomatic means
Logistic means
Legal Means
Media means
Financial means
Economic means
Long term commitment
Human
Security
Affected
Population
Definition – ECHO 2002
The aim of humanitarian aid is to provide help to people in third
countries, who have been victims of natural disasters (earthquakes,
floods, droughts, hurricanes), or man-made disasters (wars, conflicts,
outbreaks of fighting) or structural crises (severe political, economic or
social breakdowns). The focus is mainly on providing goods and services
(e.g. food supplies, medicine, vaccinations, water conveyance,
psychological support, minesweeping, clothes, shelter, rehabilitation). The
aid is also preventive (planting of trees to counter floods, etc.). Its sole aim
is to prevent or relieve human suffering. This assistance is directed mainly
towards vulnerable people and, as a priority, to those in developing
countries. A key point is that it is accorded to victims without
discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sex, age, nationality or
political affiliation. Humanitarian aid decisions are to be taken
impartially and solely according to the victims' needs and interests. As a
result, there are no criteria or conditions for the aid, which is nonrefundable.
Definition – NATO
A humanitarian intervention is an armed intervention in another state,
without the agreement of that state, to address (the threat of) a
humanitarian disaster, in particular caused by grave and large-scale
violations of fundamental human rights.
This definition was adopted by a NATO seminar in Scheveningen on the
topic in November 1999. The key aspects of this definition are related to
sovereignty and human rights. Firstly, for an action to be intervention,
sovereignty of the state being intervened in must be breached. Under this
definition, INTERFET action in East Timor, while motivated by
humanitarian concerns, was not an intervention as the action was
undertaken with the consent of the Indonesian government (questions of
the power of that government to enforce the decision aside). Secondly, for
an intervention to be humanitarian, the desire to address violations of
human rights should be the driving force in the intervention decision
CSS Strategic Briefing Papers - Volume 3; Part 1; June 2000 -ISSN 1175-1452
HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION:
DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA
Criteria – NATO
Criteria for Humanitarian Intervention
1. The threat or occurrence of grave and large-scale violations of human rights.
2. Clear and objective evidence of such a threat or occurrence.
3. The government of the state is unwilling or unable to take remedial action.
4. There is clear urgency.
5. The use of force should be the last resort.
6. The purpose is clearly explained to publics and the international community.
7. The purpose is limited to stopping the human rights abuses.
8. The action is supported by those for whom it is intended.
9. There is support of regional states.
10. There should be a high probability of success.
11. There should be a mapped-out transition to post-conflict peace building.
12. The use of force should be proportionate to achieving these goals.
13. International law on the conduct of war should be followed during the action.
Definition – NIC
"Humanitarian emergencies" are defined as situations in
which at least 300,000 civilians require international
humanitarian assistance to avoid serious malnutrition or
death. Our definition includes those situations in which
people need protection in order to facilitate access to
humanitarian aid.
US National Intelligence Council - 2002
Humanitarian action is significantly more than the
delivery of relief goods. Humanitarian principles stress
the primacy of action to address human suffering and
the right of civilians under international law to be
protected from discrimination, violence, torture, and
other serious violations of human rights; they also
stress the right of civilians to receive, in exceptional
circumstances, material assistance necessary for their
survival. Independence, impartiality, and neutrality are
central to achieving these goals and must be
respected during humanitarian operations in conflict
areas such as the former Yugoslavia and Somalia.
Toward Cooperation Between Humanitarian Aid
And Military Forces
Sergio Vieira de Mello
Director of Policy Planning and Operations, United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (1995)
Definition of Humanitarian Interventions
The term humanitarian in the notion of humanitarian
interventions is itself open to a whole spectrum of
interpretations. The broadest ones includes any form of
interventions against any form of human suffering, whether
caused by flood, famine, war, civil conflict, or tyranny. The
narrowest ones implies staying away from the political and
the military dimensions, from states and coercion together. It
postulates that an interventions ceases to be humanitarian if
its motives include a selfish calculus of economic or strategic
interests, or if its means or consequences lead it to choose
sides, to be selective among its beneficiairies, or, even worse,
to threaten or inflict suffering or death in the name of
protection and peace
Hassner P. Hard Choice (1998) – From War and Peace to Violence and Intervention
Activities
What are the criteria to define a
« humanitarian Activity » ?
To stop Violations: UN
• Coercitive diplomaty
• Peacekeeping
• Peace enforcement
Integrity
Substitution
to services
which
normally are
supposed to
protect people
Actors
What are the criteria to define a
humanitarian actor ?
Médecine Humanitaire
Actors & Activity
Actor
Political Field
X
Activity
Humanitarian Field
Definition of Humanitarian
intervention
The fundamental objectives of humanitarian action
is to alleviate suffering and save lives.
Ideally humanitarian action should also be free
of particularistic and political considerations of
the parties involved and of the aid donors.
Humanitarian action focuses on people and is
based on rights.