Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • NTS Bulletin August 2018
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    NTS Bulletin August 2018

    20 August 2018

    download pdf

    World Humanitarian Day takes place every year on 19th August to recognise aid workers who risk their lives every day in adverse situations to help people most in need. It commemorates the 2003 bombing of the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people. It provides an opportunity to recognise the efforts of humanitarian workers all around the globe who work tirelessly every single day, and the commemoration also pays tribute to those who have fallen while helping people in need.

    Last year, the #NotATarget campaign saw world leaders, humanitarian workers and the public banding together to advocate for better protection of civilians and humanitarian workers in conflict zones. This year, building on the momentum of the 2017 campaign, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and creative partners have designed another global digital campaign. Images of people’s faces, names, and locations will be projected onto screens and sculptures, forming a “living petition”. These superimposed faces will address the public and world leaders at the UN General Assembly, thereby giving a voice to civilians caught up in conflict. Through the act of bearing witness, the campaign hopes to push policy and decision makers to action.

    However, violence against the humanitarian community has not abated. Just recently, a UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) driver was killed while he was transporting education supplies in South Sudan. Unknown gunmen had fired on his convoy, even though the vehicles were clearly marked with the UNICEF logo. What is worrisome is that this is far from an isolated event; despite awareness-raising campaigns such as #NotATarget, an alarming number of humanitarian workers are still the targets of attacks and threats while in the field. Data from Insecurity Insight indicates that between July 2017 and March 2018, 330 aid workers were killed, injured, kidnapped or assaulted. This figure only represents reported cases and does not even take into account undocumented incidents.

    Much more needs to be done by the international community to move beyond rhetoric. Consensus on the issue has not automatically translated into action.  Perpetrators of attacks on humanitarian workers frequently go unpunished. This is because humanitarian organisations are often not in the position to invoke accountability and justice mechanisms. There is also the issue of the burden of proof. Attacks tend to be conducted by unknown assailants in remote and isolated areas. This makes it difficult to ascribe blame and identify the offenders. The truth is, if these transgressions go unchallenged, belligerent parties will continue to act with impunity. The onus is therefore on the international community to challenge this impunity and demonstrate a resolve to hold these parties accountable.

    Targeted attacks on aid workers pose an operational dilemma for humanitarian organisations; they must balance between the desire to provide aid for vulnerable populations, and the need to ensure the safety, security and well-being of their staff. This jeopardises and complicates the delivery of assistance to those in need. The UN, international organisations like the ICRC, and states need to work together to enforce the rule of law. Tangible action must complement the normative push towards the ending of violence against aid workers. The international community as a whole should call on parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, take tough punitive action on wrongdoers, and invest in technology that allows for the documentation and preservation of evidence. All these measures go a long way in deterring potential perpetrators from committing acts of violence against humanitarian actors. Insecurity should not be the new “normal” for humanitarian action.

    Categories: Bulletins and Newsletters / Non-Traditional Security / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    World Humanitarian Day takes place every year on 19th August to recognise aid workers who risk their lives every day in adverse situations to help people most in need. It commemorates the 2003 bombing of the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people. It provides an opportunity to recognise the efforts of humanitarian workers all around the globe who work tirelessly every single day, and the commemoration also pays tribute to those who have fallen while helping people in need.

    Last year, the #NotATarget campaign saw world leaders, humanitarian workers and the public banding together to advocate for better protection of civilians and humanitarian workers in conflict zones. This year, building on the momentum of the 2017 campaign, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and creative partners have designed another global digital campaign. Images of people’s faces, names, and locations will be projected onto screens and sculptures, forming a “living petition”. These superimposed faces will address the public and world leaders at the UN General Assembly, thereby giving a voice to civilians caught up in conflict. Through the act of bearing witness, the campaign hopes to push policy and decision makers to action.

    However, violence against the humanitarian community has not abated. Just recently, a UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) driver was killed while he was transporting education supplies in South Sudan. Unknown gunmen had fired on his convoy, even though the vehicles were clearly marked with the UNICEF logo. What is worrisome is that this is far from an isolated event; despite awareness-raising campaigns such as #NotATarget, an alarming number of humanitarian workers are still the targets of attacks and threats while in the field. Data from Insecurity Insight indicates that between July 2017 and March 2018, 330 aid workers were killed, injured, kidnapped or assaulted. This figure only represents reported cases and does not even take into account undocumented incidents.

    Much more needs to be done by the international community to move beyond rhetoric. Consensus on the issue has not automatically translated into action.  Perpetrators of attacks on humanitarian workers frequently go unpunished. This is because humanitarian organisations are often not in the position to invoke accountability and justice mechanisms. There is also the issue of the burden of proof. Attacks tend to be conducted by unknown assailants in remote and isolated areas. This makes it difficult to ascribe blame and identify the offenders. The truth is, if these transgressions go unchallenged, belligerent parties will continue to act with impunity. The onus is therefore on the international community to challenge this impunity and demonstrate a resolve to hold these parties accountable.

    Targeted attacks on aid workers pose an operational dilemma for humanitarian organisations; they must balance between the desire to provide aid for vulnerable populations, and the need to ensure the safety, security and well-being of their staff. This jeopardises and complicates the delivery of assistance to those in need. The UN, international organisations like the ICRC, and states need to work together to enforce the rule of law. Tangible action must complement the normative push towards the ending of violence against aid workers. The international community as a whole should call on parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, take tough punitive action on wrongdoers, and invest in technology that allows for the documentation and preservation of evidence. All these measures go a long way in deterring potential perpetrators from committing acts of violence against humanitarian actors. Insecurity should not be the new “normal” for humanitarian action.

    Categories: Bulletins and Newsletters / Non-Traditional Security

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info