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Britain must stand up to defend humanitarian law, say MPs Britain must stand up to defend humanitarian law, say MPs
(4 months later)
The British government must use this month’s landmark world humanitarian summit to stress the inviolability of international humanitarian law and push for new and more effective ways to help the millions of people afflicted by wars and disasters, a group of MPs has said.The British government must use this month’s landmark world humanitarian summit to stress the inviolability of international humanitarian law and push for new and more effective ways to help the millions of people afflicted by wars and disasters, a group of MPs has said.
In two weeks’ time, more than 5,000 politicians, business leaders, aid organisations and civil society groups will convene in Istanbul for the inaugural world humanitarian summit.In two weeks’ time, more than 5,000 politicians, business leaders, aid organisations and civil society groups will convene in Istanbul for the inaugural world humanitarian summit.
The conference is intended to reinvigorate the international community’s response to what the UN has called “the highest level of human suffering since the second world war” as it struggles to cope with conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and South Sudan and the attendant mass displacement of people.The conference is intended to reinvigorate the international community’s response to what the UN has called “the highest level of human suffering since the second world war” as it struggles to cope with conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and South Sudan and the attendant mass displacement of people.
Related: Don't just condemn humanitarian law violations. Stop them | Stephen Twigg
In a report, the international development committee (IDC) says that, despite spending record sums on humanitarian aid – $25bn (£17bn) a year – the world is failing to meet the needs of those people whose lives are devastated by war, natural disasters and climate change.In a report, the international development committee (IDC) says that, despite spending record sums on humanitarian aid – $25bn (£17bn) a year – the world is failing to meet the needs of those people whose lives are devastated by war, natural disasters and climate change.
First and foremost, it says, the government must underline the paramount importance of upholding and defending international humanitarian law. Last week, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pulled out of the summit, saying it did not believe the event would do enough to hold governments to account over increasingly frequent violations.First and foremost, it says, the government must underline the paramount importance of upholding and defending international humanitarian law. Last week, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pulled out of the summit, saying it did not believe the event would do enough to hold governments to account over increasingly frequent violations.
The chair of the IDC, Stephen Twigg, said the committee’s investigations into Yemen had shown the suffering caused when the rules governing the protection of civilians in war are ignored.The chair of the IDC, Stephen Twigg, said the committee’s investigations into Yemen had shown the suffering caused when the rules governing the protection of civilians in war are ignored.
“We know from our inquiry into the crisis in Yemen that upholding international humanitarian law is essential to delivering aid,” he said. “Using their presence at the summit, we urge the UK government to press all actors on the global stage to bolster international humanitarian law.”“We know from our inquiry into the crisis in Yemen that upholding international humanitarian law is essential to delivering aid,” he said. “Using their presence at the summit, we urge the UK government to press all actors on the global stage to bolster international humanitarian law.”
In an echo of some of the criticisms levelled by MSF, Twigg said that there was “a distinct lack of agreement” on what the priorities at the summit should be.In an echo of some of the criticisms levelled by MSF, Twigg said that there was “a distinct lack of agreement” on what the priorities at the summit should be.
“In a world where the lives of millions of people are devastated by wars and disasters, the global community is struggling to cope with demands on funds and support,” he added. “There is a real urgency to develop a new approach to address current and future humanitarian needs more effectively.”“In a world where the lives of millions of people are devastated by wars and disasters, the global community is struggling to cope with demands on funds and support,” he added. “There is a real urgency to develop a new approach to address current and future humanitarian needs more effectively.”
The IDC report says the Department for International Development (DfID) should focus on six areas for reform. As well as addressing violations of law, it also needs to do more to help shape the debate on building resilience and to ensure the global humanitarian system does not squeeze out local groups.The IDC report says the Department for International Development (DfID) should focus on six areas for reform. As well as addressing violations of law, it also needs to do more to help shape the debate on building resilience and to ensure the global humanitarian system does not squeeze out local groups.
Related: Atrocities in conflict mean we need the Geneva conventions more than ever | Helen Durham
It recommends that DfID pushes for institutional and funding reforms to achieve a more holistic approach to development and humanitarian assistance, and that there is a greater emphasis on preventing and resolving crises using everything from early warning systems to analysis of political risks on fragile states.It recommends that DfID pushes for institutional and funding reforms to achieve a more holistic approach to development and humanitarian assistance, and that there is a greater emphasis on preventing and resolving crises using everything from early warning systems to analysis of political risks on fragile states.
A government spokesperson said: “Building on the success of the supporting Syria conference, the UK is approaching the first ever world humanitarian summit with an ambitious set of objectives. The UK is a world leader in responding to humanitarian crises and the summit will provide a once in a generation opportunity to consider how we use our combined resources to address humanitarian problems more efficiently and effectively.”A government spokesperson said: “Building on the success of the supporting Syria conference, the UK is approaching the first ever world humanitarian summit with an ambitious set of objectives. The UK is a world leader in responding to humanitarian crises and the summit will provide a once in a generation opportunity to consider how we use our combined resources to address humanitarian problems more efficiently and effectively.”
The report’s final call is for action to make sure that humanitarian groups trying to help people in conflict zones are not punished as an “unintended consequence” of counter-terrorism legislation. It notes that humanitarians working in Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan and Gaza often have to operate in areas where proscribed armed groups are present.The report’s final call is for action to make sure that humanitarian groups trying to help people in conflict zones are not punished as an “unintended consequence” of counter-terrorism legislation. It notes that humanitarians working in Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan and Gaza often have to operate in areas where proscribed armed groups are present.
Andrew Mitchell, a former development secretary, told the IDC that the perils of working in such areas were often compounded by what he called “the Guantánamo Bay danger”, where Muslim people and groups working in development risk becoming associated with terrorists through no fault of their own.Andrew Mitchell, a former development secretary, told the IDC that the perils of working in such areas were often compounded by what he called “the Guantánamo Bay danger”, where Muslim people and groups working in development risk becoming associated with terrorists through no fault of their own.
Such associations, he said, could lead to humanitarian groups being sanctioned under counter-terror laws or finding themselves in financial difficulties because banks are reluctant to handle their funds.Such associations, he said, could lead to humanitarian groups being sanctioned under counter-terror laws or finding themselves in financial difficulties because banks are reluctant to handle their funds.
Unlike jurisdictions such as Australia and New Zealand, UK counter-terrorism legislation makes no provision for humanitarian exemptions, meaning that those trying to negotiate access with forbidden groups in Syria could find themselves in breach of the law.Unlike jurisdictions such as Australia and New Zealand, UK counter-terrorism legislation makes no provision for humanitarian exemptions, meaning that those trying to negotiate access with forbidden groups in Syria could find themselves in breach of the law.
ActionAid’s head of humanitarian response, Mike Noyes, said: “The global failure on the refugee crisis shows that the world humanitarian system is in desperate need of an overhaul.ActionAid’s head of humanitarian response, Mike Noyes, said: “The global failure on the refugee crisis shows that the world humanitarian system is in desperate need of an overhaul.
“World leaders should listen to the main recommendations of this report, including the need to boost the effectiveness of humanitarian response programmes by providing greater funding to the local organisations which are on the frontline and best prepared to respond to any emergency.”“World leaders should listen to the main recommendations of this report, including the need to boost the effectiveness of humanitarian response programmes by providing greater funding to the local organisations which are on the frontline and best prepared to respond to any emergency.”