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The International
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is founded on an ideal:
to alleviate human suffering whomever it affects and wherever
and however it occurs. The seven
Fundamental Principles are the basis for the Movement’s
action at all times. More broadly, the Movement is constantly
re-examining and refining the way in which it works in order
to ensure that its actions are in the best interests of the
people it seeks to serve.
The ethics of humanitarian
action have been further articulated in the Code
of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. The Code of Conduct
was developed in 1994 by the International Federation, the
International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and six other leading
aid agencies and represented a huge leap forward in setting
standards for the conduct of disaster relief operations. It
reasserts the basic humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality
and independence and incorporates more recent development
concepts such as respect for culture, participation, sustainability,
accountability and dignity in images.
The Code’s
ten principles highlight, among other things, the right
of disaster-affected populations to receive humanitarian assistance
without discrimination and the crucial role played by women
in disaster-prone communities. Emphasis is also placed on
protecting and preserving the dignity of beneficiaries. The
Code has three annexes containing recommendations for governments
of disaster-affected countries, donor governments and intergovernmental
organizations. The general thrust of these recommendations
is the need to ensure rapid access to disaster victims, timely
delivery of appropriate assistance and respect for the independence
and impartiality of humanitarian organizations.
Another such initiative is
the Sphere
project, launched in 1997 by the Movement and a group
of non-governmental organizations. One of the main pillars
of the Sphere project is the Humanitarian
Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. The
Humanitarian Charter upholds the right of people affected
by disaster or armed conflict to life with dignity and thus
to assistance to meet their basic needs. This right is enshrined
not only in international humanitarian law but also in international
human rights and refugee law. It is up to governments to guarantee
this right, while humanitarian agencies can provide assistance
where it is needed. The Humanitarian Charter further underscores
the distinction that must be made during armed conflict between
combatants and non-combatants and the principle of non-refoulement
(that no refugee shall be sent to a country in which his/her
life or freedom is threatened). The Minimum Standards specify
the required levels of service in water supply, sanitation,
nutrition, food aid, shelter, site planning and health care.
Recently, particular focus
has been placed on two key aspects of humanitarian action:
- Quality – ensuring
a minimum standard of service;
- Accountability –
being answerable to those who receive the assistance and
those who finance it.
Linking these two aspects
is an initiative to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian
system, especially towards the beneficiaries.
At the International
Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 1999,
states party to the Geneva Conventions and the Red Cross Red
Crescent Movement pledged to "support efforts to develop
minimum practical standards for the delivery of humanitarian
assistance such as those elaborated in the Sphere project."
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Disaster management
