Humanitarian Principles

The seven Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross: an ethical framework for the general public

In a world where the principle of “might makes right” has come back to the fore, the seven Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross – especially those of humanity, impartiality...

Frédéric Joli

Humanitarian aid registered in files

Editor’s note Founded on the principles of solidarity, impartiality, independence and selflessness since the early 1970s and the creation of the “sans frontières” movement, humanitarian aid agencies have built up...

Contemporary humanitarian action put to the test of forgotten principles

The emergence of modern humanitar­ian aid combines the spontaneous action that is driven by solidarity in times of conflicts and natural catastrophes with the establishment of new standards. These standards...

Virginie Troit

Listening and responding to the ethical preoccupations of humanitarian professionals

Putting an ethical dilemma into a narrative and analysing it. This is the exercise that the author skilfully undertakes in this article, which uses a real-life situation to explain the...

Anne-Lise Lierville

The politicisation of humanitarian response and the migration and displacement crisis in Central America and Mexico: challenges and priorities

Mexico, on the northern border of the Central American subregion, is in a peculiar position: as one of only two terrestrial gateways to the United States, it has its neighbour’s...

Kavita Kapur

Humanitarian aid from the perspective of care

When philosophy turns its attention to humanitarian action, it can help its actors reflect not only on the foundations of their intervention, but also on how to improve its implementation....

Sofía Durán Cárdenas

International humanitarian law at a crossroads

At the end of the first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May 2016, diplomats and heads of state were agreed on the goal of “upholding the norms that safeguard...

Clara Egger

Extension of the “anti-associative counter-revolution”: diagnosis, challenges, solutions.

Co-director of this issue’s Focus, with Boris Martin, Editor-in-Chief

Philippe Ryfman

The invention of impartiality: the history of a humanitarian principle, from a legal, strategic and algorithmic perspective

Joint publication by Humanitarian Alternatives and the Centre for Reflection on Humanitarian Action and Knowledge (CRASH) / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) The principle of impartiality, which is often reduced to...

Joël Glasman

The cause of exiles in France: the reticence of international humanitarian organisations called into question

All over France, solidarity with migrants is demonstrated through multiple initiatives led by local associations. But for Frédéric Meunier, the major humanitarian NGOs are not doing enough of their part...

Frédéric Meunier

Humanitarian aid workers and the challenge of climate change

Christophe Buffet is co-director of this issue’s Focus “Are humanitarian aid workers ready to tackle the challenge of climate change?”  We were already asking ourselves this question in 2009[1]Christophe  Buffet,...

Christophe Buffet

The impact of international proceedings for bypassing the State: the example of Madagascar

Madagascar was severely hit by a protracted political and diplomatic crisis triggered by the 2009 military coup. The transitional government, in power until 2014, was unable to prevent the State...

Christiane Rafidinarivo