Exercise on negotiating a humanitarian principles framework based on international human rights

Session 8: Handout 8.5

Group work

Study the agreement that the facilitator distributed to you. Discuss the following questions in your group. Your group should be ready to share and discuss the answers in plenary.

• Do these agreements completely reflect international human rights law? If so, how important would it be for humanitarian action to be persistent on applying internationally recognized standards? If not, what implications will this have on future activities in that particular situation and elsewhere?

• In negotiating this type of agreements, what body/bodies of law should the international community focus on?

• Is it appropriate to include both principles about how aid is to be delivered as well as human rights standards in one and the same agreement, or would you prefer separating the two? Explain the reasoning behind your answer.

• Are there other problems you notice in going through the agreements? Are there issues that you would do differently if you were given a second chance?

• With regard to the situation that you are working in, would a similar document be of any use? In your particular situation, what do you see as the advantages and disadvantages with adopting a similar agreement?