The Role and Status of International Humanitarian Volunteers and Organizations

The Role and Status of International Humanitarian Volunteers and Organizations
Author: Yves Beigbeder
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2023-11-27
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9004634584

Since its birth with the creation of the international Red Cross in 1863, international humanitarian assistance has developed considerably since World War II. In accordance with the Red Cross principle of humanity, it aims at preventing and alleviating human suffering wherever it may be found, protecting life and health and ensuring respect for the human being. International humanitarian assistance involves a complex network of government agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and individual volunteers: it has been labelled a `non-system'. While governments and intergovernmental organizations play a dominant and structured role in this field, the non-governmental organizations and their volunteers have proved to be their necessary operational partners, providing material, medical and moral relief and care wherever it may be needed, beyond borders, at the grassroots level. Following a brief review of recent humanitarian activities of intergovernmental organizations, and an analysis of current trends of voluntarism, this book focuses on the role, status and attitudes of the major humanitarian non-governmental organizations, including the Red Cross organizations, the British charities, Church-related agencies, medical volunteers (such as the `French Doctors') and U.N. volunteers. Should humanitarian non-governmental organizations provide relief assistance with the Red Cross concern for discretion, neutrality and impartiality? Or should they bear witness and denounce publicly human rights violations, at the risk of being expelled from recipient countries and having to stop their assistance? The controversial claim of a `right' to receive and a `duty' to provide humanitarian assistance beyond borders is also addressed, as well as the possible need for a status to be accorded to international volunteers.

Rethinking International Organizations

Rethinking International Organizations
Author: Dennis Dijkzeul
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Total Pages: 370
Release: 2003
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781571816566

The management of international organizations is attracting growing attention. Most of this attention is highly critical of both the UN system and International NGOs. Sometimes, this criticism lacks depth or reflects insufficient understanding of these organizations, or is based on narrow, and sometimes biased, internal political concerns of a particular country. International relations theory has insufficiently studied the type of linkages that these organizations provide between international decision-making and Northern fundraising on the one hand, and practical action in the South on the other. As a result, current theory too rarely focuses on the inner functioning of these organizations and is unable to explain the deficiencies and negative outcomes of their work. While the authors identify and describe the pathologies of international organizations in, for example, international diplomacy, fundraising, and implementation, they also stress positive elements, such as their intermediary role. The latter, in particular, could form the basis of more efficient and effective policies, in addition to other recent trends, also described in this volume, that hold hope for a stronger functioning of these organizations in the future. This book presents a long overdue empirical and theoretical overview of criticism on and cures for these organizations. It provides a fundamental rethinking of current approaches to the management of international organizations.

The Role and Statuts of International Humanitarian Volunteers and Organizations

The Role and Statuts of International Humanitarian Volunteers and Organizations
Author: Yves Beigbeder
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Total Pages: 436
Release: 1991-09-26
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780792311904

Since its birth with the creation of the international Red Cross in 1863, international humanitarian assistance has developed considerably since World War II. In accordance with the Red Cross principle of humanity, it aims at preventing and alleviating human suffering wherever it may be found, protecting life and health and ensuring respect for the human being. International humanitarian assistance involves a complex network of government agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and individual volunteers: it has been labelled a 'non-system'. While governments and intergovernmental organizations play a dominant and structured role in this field, the non-governmental organizations and their volunteers have proved to be their necessary operational partners, providing material, medical and moral relief and care wherever it may be needed, beyond borders, at the grassroots level. Following a brief review of recent humanitarian activities of intergovernmental organizations, and an analysis of current trends of voluntarism, this book focuses on the role, status and attitudes of the major humanitarian non-governmental organizations, including the Red Cross organizations, the British charities, Church-related agencies, medical volunteers (such as the 'French Doctors') and U.N. volunteers. Should humanitarian non-governmental organizations provide relief assistance with the Red Cross concern for discretion, neutrality and impartiality? Or should they bear witness and denounce publicly human rights violations, at the risk of being expelled from recipient countries and having to stop their assistance? The controversial claim of a 'right' to receive and a 'duty' to provide humanitarian assistance beyond borders is also addressed, as well as the possible need for a status to be accorded to international volunteers.

Non-Governmental Organisations in International Law

Non-Governmental Organisations in International Law
Author: Anna-Karin Lindblom
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 604
Release: 2005
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9780521850889

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an increasing political role on the international scene, and their position in relation to international law is generally regarded as important but informal. Their actual legal status has not been the subject of much investigation. This 2006 book examines the legal status of NGOs in different fields of international law, with emphasis on human rights law. By means of a thorough examination and systematisation of international legal rules and practices, the rights, obligations, locus standi and consultative status of NGOs are explored. This study is placed within a wider discussion on the representation of groups in the international legal system. Lindblom argues, on the basis of a discourse model of international decision-making, that non-governmental organisation is an important form of public participation that can strengthen the flawed legitimacy of the state-centric system of international law.

Status of NGOs in International Humanitarian Law

Status of NGOs in International Humanitarian Law
Author: Claudie Barrat
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2014-07-24
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9004269665

In Status of NGOs in International Humanitarian Law, Claudie Barrat examines the legal framework applicable to NGOs in situations of armed conflict. The author convincingly demonstrates, contrary to convention, that in addition to the ICRC, the National Societies and the IFRC, numerous other NGOs referenced in humanitarian law treaties have a legal status in IHL and therefore legitimate claim to employ IHL provisions to respond to current challenges. On the basis of clear and thorough definitions of these entities, Barrat argues that existing NGOs meeting stringent definition can benefit from customary rights and obligations in both international and non-international armed conflict.

The Relations Between the EC and International Organizations

The Relations Between the EC and International Organizations
Author: Rachel Frid
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Total Pages: 446
Release: 2023-07-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9004634673

In November 1991 the EC acceded as a member of the FAO. On January 1, 1995 the EC became an original member to the WTO. This study deals with the interaction of two legal systems, namely between the legal system of the Community and that of other IOs. The more powers the Community gains, the more important it becomes to enable the Community to exercise these powers within the framework of relevant IOs. In particular, where the subject concerned comes under the Community's exclusive competence, the Member States have transferred their powers to the Community and thus the competent actor is the Community itself. The subject of participation by the Community in other IOs is not as yet well regulated either under Community law or under international institutional law. Furthermore, it has not been extensively treated in the literature to date. Hence, this study offers a theoretical analysis of the subject as well as an examination of daily practice in three case-studies on the relations of the EC with the FAO, the ILO and Fisheries Organizations, in particular the NAFO.

National Sovereignty and International Organizations

National Sovereignty and International Organizations
Author: Martin Martinez
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2023-09-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9004634681

This book deals with the question of national sovereignty and States' participation in International Organizations, whether traditional or supranational ones. Although there has been much discussion on the problems posed by the transference of sovereignty, this volume provides an original insight in that transfer of state sovereignty is approached as a dynamic process that can be divided into three different phases. Part one, called `the initial phase', focuses on the examination of the domestic legal basis for the transfer of state sovereignty. Part two, `the transfer phase', investigates how the process of transfer evolves within the core of two International Organizations: the United Nations and the European Communities. Part three, `the post-transfer phase', analyses the States' responses to the effects and consequences of the transfer of sovereignty.

International Economic Organizations in the International Legal Process

International Economic Organizations in the International Legal Process
Author: Voitovich
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
Total Pages: 219
Release: 2023-08-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9004634622

Voitovich presents a clear and lucid discussion of the manner and form in which international economic organizations (IEOs) participate in two main stages of the international legal process: law making and law implementation. The book is based on normative instruments and fragments of practice of about fifty IEOs. In order to ensure a proper and timely realization of their normative acts, IEOs exercise a number of law implementing functions which are subject to a thorough comparative examination. The author concludes that existing IEOs, not being ideal institutional models, possess a sufficient arsenal of law implementing instruments to make a considerable impact on the international legal regulations in the economic field. The book will be of interest to academics and economic political scientists.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and its Mandate to Protect and Assist

The International Committee of the Red Cross and its Mandate to Protect and Assist
Author: Christy Shucksmith
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2017-08-24
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1509908188

The purpose of this book is to consider the legality of the changing practice of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It provides extensive legal analysis of the ICRC as an organisation, legal person, and humanitarian actor. It draws on the law of organisations, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, and other relevant branches of international law in order to critically assess the mandate and practice of the ICRC on the ground. The book also draws on more abstract human-centric concepts, including sovereignty as responsibility and human security, in order to assess the development of the concept of humanity for the mandate and practice of the ICRC. Critically this book uses semi- structured interviews with ICRC delegates to test the theoretical and doctrinal conclusions. The book provides a unique insight into the work of the ICRC. It also includes a case study of the work of the ICRC in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ultimately the book concludes that the ICRC is no longer restricted to the provision of humanitarian assistance on the battlefield. It is increasingly drawn into long-term and extremely complicated conflicts, in which, civilians, soldiers and non-State actors intermingle. In order to remain useful for the people on the ground, therefore, the ICRC is progressively developing its mandate. This book questions whether, on occasion, this could threaten its promise to remain neutral, impartial and independent. Finally, however, it should be said that this author finds that the work of the ICRC is unparalleled on the international stage and its humanitarian mandate is a vital component for those embroiled in the undertaking of and recovery from conflict.

In their Time of Need: Volume 6, The Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations

In their Time of Need: Volume 6, The Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations
Author: Steven Bullard
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 1458
Release: 2017-08-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 1108225489

This volume of The Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations recounts the activities of Australia's military forces in response to overseas natural disasters. The military's involvement in overseas emergency management is focused primarily on the period immediately after disaster strikes: transporting relief supplies, providing medical assistance, restoring basic services and communications and other logistical support. Beginning with the 1917–18 influenza epidemic that ravaged the Pacific and culminating with the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, this book covers Australia's response to some of the most catastrophic natural events of the twentieth century. In their Time of Need is richly detailed, as Steven Bullard weaves together official government records and archival images with the personal narratives and photographs of those who served. This volume is an authoritative and compelling history of Australia's efforts to help their neighbours.