Panel Charters

Panel II: Nongovernmental and Humanitarian Organizations in the New Security Environment

Co-sponsor: Center for Humanitarian Cooperation

Most people would agree that recent changes to the world security environment have led to a paradigm shift in humanitarian circles over the basic concept of humanitarian space—a safe and secure environment in which to provide impartial assistance and protection. Most would agree that such space is increasingly difficult to find and maintain. Many humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (IOs) contend that the concepts of impartiality, nondiscrimination, and independence from political and military organizations are essential to maintaining NGO/IO neutrality, and therefore security. However, these concepts are not always respected by every actor in every conflict. In many cases, humanitarian NGO/IOs have become prime targets due to their proximity to conflict and their interaction with military forces.

This panel will study and discuss the roles, missions, and issues related to nongovernmental and humanitarian organizations in the new security environment. Some of the questions the panel will consider include the following:

1. What are the elements affecting your agency’s decision whether to operate in a conflict environment?
2. What are the overall consequences for humanitarian organizations working in the same area but operating under significantly different security protocols?
3. Is it still realistic to expect protection based on neutrality?
4. What is out there in terms of codes, best practices, lessons learned, and professional capacity
   building? How can these most effectively be shared and understood among humanitarian and military actors?
5. What changes to military and nonmilitary organizations need to occur to facilitate more effective operations for all parties?