April

BRCS INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY BULLETIN

Bulletin on International Humanitarian News, Events and Publications

(2007:4, April)

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BRCS International Monthly Seminar Programme
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April 26th 2007, 1-2pm Lecture Theatre
Kevin Studds - The red crystal emblem.

Following the adoption of the Third Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions by States in 2005, the red crystal emblem was incorporated into the Movement's Statutes in June 2006. What was the process that led to this change, and what does the change mean for the British Red Cross and Movement as a whole? Please join us for a short lunchtime talk on the red crystal emblem, followed by a Q&A session.

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Forthcoming seminars and workshops:

15th May 2007, 2-5pm, Lecture Theatre
Monitoring & Evaluation Workshop

17th May 2007, 1-2pm Lecture Theatre
The Humanitarian Impact of Climate Change - Andrew Simms, New Economics Foundation

31st May 2007, 1-2pm Lecture Theatre
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment - a tool for the RC - Terry Cannon, University of Greenwich

Suggestions for topics and speakers for future seminars are very welcome - please contact Laura Walker, HPP Team Coordinator (x7533).

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NEWS
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ICRC REPORT HIGHLIGHTS PLIGHT OF CIVILIANS IN IRAQ

'Iraq: civilians without protection - The ever-worsening humanitarian crisis in Iraq' - a report from the ICRC highlighting the steadily worsening humanitarian situation and its effect on the civilian population. Protecting Iraq's civilian population must be a priority, and the ICRC urgently calls for better respect for international humanitarian law. It appeals to all those with military or political influence on the ground to act now to ensure that the lives of ordinary Iraqis are spared and protected. This is an obligation under international humanitarian law for both States and non-State actors. The ICRC aims to ensure that Iraqis receive the aid they need most. It cooperates closely with the Iraqi Red Crescent. However, humanitarian aid is clearly not enough when it comes to addressing the immense needs of Iraqis in the present disastrous security situation.
Read the report at http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/iraq-report-110407?opendocument

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'Confusion in the Margins' of Humanitarian Action:
Antonio Donini's closing reflections at the February ICVA Annual Conference

Humanitarian action has expanded, according to Donini, 'accordion-style' into new territories in the 90s. Does humanitarianism need to go back to basics? Contrasting northern humanitarians (Dunantists, Wilsonians, Faith-Based and Solidarists) and Southern humanitarians (local communities, non-traditional donors such as China, India, the Gulf States, Islamic charities and migrant remittances), we see that there is not one humanitarianism, but many.

Where do we go from here? Donini saw a need, first of all, to recognize the diversity in the community and build on it. He hears strong arguments for reserving a protected niche for "purist" humanitarian action to be undertaken by recognized NGOs and accredited humanitarian professionals - those engaging in development, human rights, peace-building or advocacy should avoid the humanitarian label. Ideally, only agencies with a neutral and independent agenda should operate in open war, but as this is unlikely to happen, transparent signals as to agenda and mandate can help preserve the protected space for independent players.

However, in some contexts a multi-mission approach is not only useful but necessary; for example, in dealing with HIV/AIDS, climate change, pandemics, migration and compounded disasters. In future, Donini suggests we can expect such crises on a hithertoo unplanned-for scale - current debates on humanitarian diversification and integration/coherence paling in the shadow of the consequences of those threats on future human vulnerability.
Full article available at http://www.icva.ch/doc00002012.html.

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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MSF DISCUSSION EVENINGS 2007
The Castle Pub at Farringdon, London

THE INTEGRATION AGENDA: COHERENCE OR CO-OPTION?
Tuesday 29 May, 6:30 to 8:30pm

The logic of coherence is driving the agenda of the UN and of main donors and members of the Security Council. By coordinating efforts of political, military and humanitarian agencies they expect to improve the effectiveness of the aid provided. Tonight's discussion will analyse this new agenda and measure its importance in international politics today. We will look at the potential advantages and disadvantages of such an approach, particularly for the humanitarian world.
Facilitator: Paul Harvey, Research Fellow, Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute.
Speakers: Fabrice Weissman, Researcher, MSF France; Jamie McGoldrick, OCHA (to be confirmed); Katy Attfield, Senior Civil Military Advisor, Department for International Development (DFID).

Please note that numbers are limited. It is recommended that you register your attendance at any of these events through the following link:
http://www.uk2.msf.org/discussionevenings2007

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Preview screening of critically acclaimed film Daratt - 11th May, Cine Lumiere, S. Kensington

Soda Pictures are releasing critically-acclaimed African director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's new film DARATT (aka DRY SEASON) in UK cinemas on the 27th July 2007. DARATT has won several humanitarian media awards including the UNESCO, SIGNIS and EIUC awards at the 2006 Venice Film Festival as well as the prestigious Silver Lion, Grand Special Jury Prize. 2007 has seen
further awards from the Ouagadougou Panafrican Film and Television Festival.

A simple tale with a powerful dramatic message, DARATT tells the story of Atim. The sixteen year old, orphaned by the long-raging civil war in Chad, lives with his blind grandfather. When the government decides to amnesty the country's war criminals, his grandfather urges him to avow revenge on the man who killed his father.

The film is being screened as a special preview at the Mosaiques Film Festival at The Cine Lumiere (South Kensington) on 11th May, to which we would like to invite you to attend as guest. We can see potential in using this film to raise awareness of the situation in countries such as Chad and your important work in this area. RSVP to ling@sodapictures.com, places are limited.

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PUBLICATIONS
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Contingency Planning and Humanitarian Action - A Review of Practice
Austen Davis for ODI - Humanitarian Practice Network
One of the most frequently heard criticisms of humanitarian action is that it is unaccountable and unregulated. In response, a wide range of initiatives has been launched to improve quality and accountability. Reformers argue that, if actors are held to account, they will behave better and fulfil their responsibilities. They also contend that being accountable for one's actions has moral value. This paper asks whether initiatives designed to improve accountability really are the solution to the problems humanitarianism faces today. It does not aim to dismiss accountability; rather, it seeks to show that accountability is a procedural phenomenon, not a moral one. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/EGUA-728LYU?OpenDocument

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Key Messages from ALNAP's Review of Humanitarian Action

The easily digestible Key Messages version of this year's ALNAP review now available online.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-6Y5LMG?

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OXFAM review of European Central Emergency Response Fund one year on

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has the potential to help millions of people whose lives are devastated every year by emergencies around the world. But that potential has not yet been fully realized.

Oxfam welcomes the progress made by the CERF in its first year of performance and the positive results achieved. However, a number of significant challenges remain. Urgent improvements must be made in order for the CERF to provide a truly rapid response to sudden-onset disasters, to bridge the funding gaps in under-funded emergencies and to become a transparent and accountable funding mechanism.
http://www.oxfam.org/en/files/bp100_CERF_oneyear_0703.pdf

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HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE MAGAZINE 37 - JUST PUBLISHED
This edition focusses on the emergency response to the Israel/Lebanon conflict. Includes coverage of operational issues for agencies of integrated missions in Haiti and Sudan, the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition's synthesis report, coordination through clusters during the Pakistan earthquake response, lessons learned from programmes using cash distributions in Southern Somalia, shelter programming after two years of tsunami recovery in Sri Lanka and Aceh, and disaster diplomacy.
Hard copy versions available from HPP or the library, or see http://www.odihpn.org/report.asp?id=2869

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DfID - Report on international migration - published 16 Apr 07

While migration is not a new phenomenon in poor or rich countries, the scale of migration has reached unprecedented levels around the world. It will see half of all people in Asia live in urban areas by 2020, and half of all Africans by 2030. So the new report stresses the importance of managing the risks that this creates, and maximising the benefits it offers.
Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, commented, 'I hope that this policy paper can contribute to this debate and illustrate how well-managed migration can be a positive force for development. The UK, together with others, is committed to supporting developing countries' efforts to make the most of migration, helping them to manage the risks and realise the benefits, so that they can make progress in fighting poverty.'
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/migration-policy.pdf

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WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF report - Scaling up priority AIDS interventions

By the end of 2006 more than 2 million people in low- and middle-income countries had access to antiretroviral therapy - a 54% increase over the 1.3 million people on treatment in 2005. However, provision of antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV is inadequate- only 11% of HIV-positive pregnant women in need of treatment were receiving it in 2006. Access to prevention and treatment services for people who inject drugs remains insufficient, and there is a need to scale-up testing and counselling services for people living with HIV - currently only 12% of men and 10% of women in sub-Saharan Africa know their HIV status.
see www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/univeral_access_progress_report_en.pdf

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Investigating the Mystery of Capacity Building: Learning from the Praxis Programme
INTRAC Praxis Paper 18

Capacity building is a mystery. Despite all the attention given to capacity building over the last decade, we are left with nagging doubts and unanswered questions. We are not sure what works and why. Some are not convinced that capacity building makes any positive difference at all. This paper investigates this mystery. It draws on the experiences shared by capacity building practitioners through the INTRAC Praxis Programme over the past four years. This DGIS-supported programme encouraged capacity building practitioners to reflect on, learn from and disseminate their experiences in the field. To date, practitioners have written 17 Praxis papers, 31 Praxis Notes, and attended six Praxis supported workshops. They have written from diverse contexts on a wide variety of themes, and yet common issues have emerged. This paper syntheses this learning.
http://www.intrac.org/pages/PraxisPaper18.html

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NEW PUBLICATIONS in the BRCS LIBRARY

Pick these up at the library (6th floor) or by contacting Bridget Andrews, Librarian (x7056)
All suggestions or requests for new acquisitions are welcome, either for the library or for departmental use.
Do you know that you can access journal articles from your desk? For a quick induction explaining the resources held by the library and how to use them, please contact Bridget Andrews.

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Atlas of global development / World Bank (Collins, 2007)
Maps and statistical tables aiming to illustrate the world's development at the beginning of the 21st century, drawing on the statistical indicators collected by the World Bank to guide its development programs.
Shelfmark: 6.1 WOR

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The state of the world's children 2007 : Women and children : the double dividend of gender equality (UNICEF, 2006)
This year's report looks at equality in the household, in employment, and in politics and government and argues that promoting gender equality and empowering women will have the 'double dividend' of bettering the lives of both women and children.
Shelfmark: 13.72 UNI

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Contribute to this bulletin by e-mailing submissions and feedback to Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).