Humanitarian principles are a set of four principles that governs the way humanitarian response is carried out: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. They govern humanitarian actors' conduct and provide the foundation for humanitarian action.
Humanitarian principles are central to establishing and maintaining access to affected populations in natural disasters or complex humanitarian crises. They are derived from the fundamental principles of the Red Cross Movement and have practical operational relevance.
The four humanitarian principles have been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly under the resolution 46/182 of 1991 and the resolution 58/114 of 2004. They are defining characteristics and necessary conditions for humanitarian action. Organizations such as military forces and for-profit companies may deliver assistance to communities affected by disaster in order to save lives and alleviate suffering, but they are not considered by the humanitarian sector as humanitarian agencies as their response is not based on the core principles.
List of humanitarian principles
Humanity
The principle of humanity means that all humankind shall be treated humanely and equally in all circumstances by saving lives and alleviating suffering, while ensuring respect for the individual. It is the fundamental principle of humanitarian response. Pictet (1979) Humanity . Pictet's commentary is focused on the Red Cross use of the principle of humanity, but includes more general comments relevant to the whole humanitarian sector.
The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health, and ensure respect for human beings. It also promotes mutual understanding, cooperation, friendship and peace among all people. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, the principle of humanity includes: • It recalls the origin of the movement: a desire to assist without discrimination to the wounded during conflict. • It recalls the double dimension of the movement: national and international one. • To protect life and health • To define the purpose of the movement
Humanitarian imperative The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief (RC/NGO Code) introduces the concept of the humanitarian imperative which expands the principle of humanity to include the right to receive and to give humanitarian assistance. It states the obligation of the international community "to provide humanitarian assistance wherever it is needed."For a critical view see: 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
Impartiality
Provision of humanitarian assistance must be impartial and no discrimination on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religion, political opinion or class. It must be based on need alone. Priority must be given to the most urgent cases of distress.
To treat everyone the same way without consideration for the level of suffering or the urgency would not be equitable. Impartiality means that the only priority that can be set in dealing with people that need help must be based on need and the order of relief must correspond to the urgency.
For most non-governmental humanitarian agencies (NGHAs), the principle of impartiality is unambiguous even if it is sometimes difficult to apply, especially in rapidly changing situations. However, it is no longer clear which organizations can claim to be humanitarian. For example, companies like PADCO, a USAID subcontractor, are sometimes seen as humanitarian NGOs. However, for the UN agencies, particularly where the UN is involved in peacekeeping activities as the result of a Security Council resolution, it is not clear if the UN is in a position to act in an impartial manner if one of the parties is in violation of terms of the UN Charter.(See: Report of the Panel on United Nations Peacekeeping (Brahimi report)pp. ix & 9)
Neutrality
For International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, neutrality means not to take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
The principle of neutrality was specifically addressed to the Red Cross Movement to prevent it from not only taking sides in a conflict, but not to "engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature." Neutrality can also apply to humanitarian actions of a state. "Neutrality remains closely linked with the definition which introduced the concept into international law to designate the status of a State which decided to stand apart from an armed conflict. Consequently, its applications under positive law still depend on the criteria of abstention and impartiality which have characterized neutrality from the outset."
The application of the word neutrality to humanitarian aid delivered by UN agencies or even governments can be confusing. GA Resolution 46/182 proclaims the principle of neutrality, yet as an inter-governmental political organization, the UN is often engaged in controversies of a political nature. According to this interpretation, the UN agency or a government can provide neutral humanitarian aid as long as it does it impartially, based upon need alone.(For a discussion of the concept of neutrality with respect to humanitarian response see: Denise Plattner )
Today, the word neutrality is widely used within the humanitarian community, usually to mean the provision of humanitarian aid in an impartial and independent manner, based on need alone. Few international NGOs have curtailed work on justice or human rights issues because of their commitment to neutrality.
Independence
Humanitarian agencies must formulate and implement their own policies independently of government policies or actions. Humanitarian agencies, although there are auxiliaries in the humanitarian services and subject to the laws of their countries, must maintain their autonomy from political, economic, military or any other others and to be able at all times to act in accordance with the humanitarian principles.
Problems may arise because most NGHAs rely in varying degrees on government donors. Thus for some organizations it is difficult to maintain independence from their donors and not be confused in the field with governments who may be involved in the hostilities. The ICRC, has set the example for maintaining its independence (and neutrality) by raising its funds from governments through the use of separate annual appeals for headquarters costs and field operations.(see: Joanna Macrae: NGOs: Has the 'N' gone missing? Randolph Kent: Footing the aid bill)
Adherence to the humanitarian principles The four humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality recognized by the United Nations have their origin in the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. However, the Movement adheres to three additional principles: voluntary service, unity, and universality.
In 1994, the four principles were included in the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. Neutrality was formulated as "aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint". Since then, it has been voluntarily signed by hundreds of NGOs.
Adherence to and respect for the four humanitarian principles is also an operational requirement and a condition to participate in standard humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
Other principles and norms of conduct Besides the humanitarian principles, the Sphere Handbook proposes in the Humanitarian Charter four additional protection principles. There are also nine widely recognized commitments related to quality and accountability in humanitarian action, framed under the Core Humanitarian Standard.
The Code of Conduct does not only include the four humanitarian principles. It also lists a number of more aspirational principles which are derived from experience with development assistance. Agencies should operate with respect to culture and custom. Humanitarian response should use local resources and capacities as much as possible. The participation of the beneficiaries should be encouraged. Emergency response should strive to reduce future vulnerabilities. Agencies should be accountable to both donors and beneficiaries. Humanitarian agencies should use information activities to portray victims as dignified human beings, not hopeless objects. Independent organizations and NGOs may also adopt other principles in their foundational documents. MSF, for example, is known for their observation of medical ethics.
Origin of humanitarian principles
The humanitarian principles originated from the work of the International Committee of Red Cross and the National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies. The core principles guided the work of these organizations before it was adopted by the United Nations. In 1991, the first three principles (humanity, neutrality and impartiality) were adopted and endorsed in the General Assembly resolution 46/182. The General Assemble resolution of 1991 also led to the establishment of the role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC). In 2004, the General Assembly resolution 58/114 added independence as the fourth core principle essential to humanitarian action. The fourth principle was as result of co-opting of humanitarian assistance in highly politicized context to address challenges faced in preserving independence for local partners and in relation to targeting of beneficiaries and the delivery of need based services in affected areas. These principles have been adopted by many international humanitarian organizations working with affected populations in disaster crisis.
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee has the responsibility of upholding humanitarian principles globally. This is the body responsible for bringing together UN agencies, Red Cross Movement and NGOs working in humanitarian action.
Controversy over humanitarian principles
Controversy over neutrality While neutrality is an important principle in the work of Humanitarian Aid, there is a long-standing controversy in the field on how it should be implemented.
The humanitarian principle of neutrality was formally established in 1991 by the UN General Assembly resolution 46/182. The principles were developed from the core principles used by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies. OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, defines neutrality as, "Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature". This means that humanitarian workers should not take sides in a conflict. In a conservative interpretation, it also means that humanitarian workers do not speak out about what they see, even in the case of egregious human rights violations, including genocide. There are reasons that some prefer, and utilize, the more conservative interpretation of neutrality. First, some feel that a commitment to staying silent about what they witness allows them to access people in the most need of aid. Otherwise, leaders in areas of conflict may not permit humanitarian workers to access to provide aid. Staying silent can also act as a measure of protection for aid workers, further ensuring that aid is provided to those most in need. Lastly, some argue that staying silent is a way to ensure no discrimination in humanitarian aid. For this argument, choosing sides during a conflict amounts to discrimination, and works against the fundamental principles of humanitarian aid.