SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITARIAN ACTION

What guides UNICEF’s humanitarian action

Characteristics and challenges posed by complex emergencies

UNICEF’s and inter-agency approach to protection

Link between protection, assistance and advocacy, and the need to integrate and apply these concepts in humanitarian action

AT THE END OF SESSION 1 YOU SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH:

UNICEF2

WHY DOES UNICEF WORK IN CRISES SITUATIONS?

UN Charter

CRC (article 38)

UNICEF Mission Statement

UNICEF Core Commitments for Children

UNICEF Anti-War Agenda

3 UNICEF

UNICEF’S ANTI WAR AGENDA 7 POINTS

1. End use of children as soldiers

2. Increased protection for humanitarian assistance and personnel

3. Humanitarian landmine action

4. Protection of children from the effects of sanctions

5. Inclusion of children in peace building

6. End to the impunity of war crimes against children

7. Early warning/preventive action in support of children

4 UNICEF

DEFINITION OF COMPLEX EMERGENCY

UNICEF defines a complex emergency as:

"A humanitarian crisis in a country, region or society where there is a significant or total breakdown of authority resulting from internal or external conflict and which requires an international response that extends beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency. In complex emergencies, children and women may also need legal and physical protection to prevent harm and ensure their access to humanitarian assistance" (Programme, Policies and Procedures Manual glossary)

6 UNICEF

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPLEX

EMERGENCIES

Disruption of infra-structure and economic system

Flagrant violations of human rights and massive displacement

Lack of authority and security

Humanitarian Access

Multi-causality

Multi-sectoral response

Prolonged and protracted

7

Based on civil conflicts

UNICEF

DEFINITION: EMERGENCY

UNICEF defines an emergency as:

“…a situation which threatens the lives and well being of large numbers of a population and in which extraordinary action is required to ensure their survival, care and protection. Emergencies may be created by natural or technological disasters, epidemics, or conflicts”

PPP Manual Glossary

9 UNICEF

THE NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

ETHICAL OTHER STANDARDS

10

LEGAL

UNICEF

UNICEF’S HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO PROGRAMMING

All programmes focused on realisation of rights of girls, boys and women

Human rights and child rights principles guide programming in all phases and sectors

Capacity development of duty bearers to meet obligations to respect, protect and fulfil rights; and rights holders to claim fully their rights

UNICEF11

MISCONCEPTION

“I can’t talk about human rights now, I have an emergency to deal with!”

Assistance without protection from attack, persecution and other human rights violations is not enough when human rights violations become a strategy of war

12 UNICEF

All activities must be conducted in accordance with universally accepted humanitarian principles

All activities aimed at ensuring respect and fulfillment of human rights, as expressed in international human rights and humanitarian law

13

DEFINITION OF PROTECTION

UNICEF

UNICEF’s Definition of Child Protection

All activities aimed at ensuring protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect.

Violation of a child’s right to protection is a violation of human rights and a significant barrier to child survival and physical/mental development.

All activities aimed at ensuring respect and fulfillment of human rights, as expressed in international human rights and humanitarian law.

All activities must be conducted in accordance with universally accepted humanitarian principles.

14

IASC Definition of Protection

UNICEF

Environment Building Action

Remedial Action

Responsive Action

15

STRATEGIC PROTECTION EGG

UNICEF

Although short term in perspective, these actions should include preventive action

Activities which seek to address the immediate effects of a specific human rights violation or pattern of abuse

16

RESPONSIVE ACTION

UNICEF

Medium-term activities such as programmes for rehabilitation, restitution, compensation and reparation

Activities which seek to restore people’s human dignity and ensure adequate living conditions subsequent to a pattern of abuse

17

REMEDIAL ACTION

UNICEF

ENVIRONMENT BUILDING ACTION

Long-term activities such as initiating new legislation and training enforcement officials

Activities which seek to create an environment conducive to full respect for human rights

18 UNICEF

International law (GC IV/AP I and II) provides that States have primary responsibility for ensuring that all civilians in their care receive necessary humanitarian assistance and protection

GA/57 (I) that created UNICEF states..the Fund…with Government agreement…shall take such measures as deemed appropriate to bring emergency assistance to children and their families in war ravaged countries

19

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

UNICEF

UNICEF has an important role in protecting children’s rights in emergencies

Complex emergencies pose specific challenges to humanitarian actors, including the denial of humanitarian access, presence of NSEs, and human rights abuse

Protection = all activities aimed at ensuring respectand fulfillment of human rights. For UNICEF, child protection means protection from violence, abuse and exploitation

Protection, assistance and advocacy are the key components of rights-based humanitarian action

UNICEF’s humanitarian action is guided by the CCCs20

KEY MESSAGES

UNICEF