Humanitarian mediation : Promoting humanitarian principles

What issues are involved in promoting humanitarian principles?

Armed actors are often unaware of the existence of humanitarian principles or their obligations to protect certain groups. In the specific context of peace negotiations also, humanitarian issues often fall aside, even if the parties may express an interest in discussing them.

What activities did the HD Centre undertake to address this issue?

The HD Centre recognises that humanitarian issues are best addressed early in mediation processes. Therefore, the HD Centre has striven to promote humanitarian principles within peace processes. In its own mediation and facilitation work, this has included implementing practical activities to address issues such as protecting vulnerable populations in negotiations and providing information on humanitarian principles in conflict. In addition, the HD Centre has assisted others in promoting humanitarian principles in peace negotiations. In 2007 and 2008, its humanitarian adviser was seconded to support the joint UN/AU Sirte peace talks on Darfur, with the specific objective of ensuring that basic humanitarian issues, including civilian protection, were properly addressed in the process.