Introduction

Human rights are central to humanitarian action. Humanitarian response must not only address immediate needs but also uphold the rights of vulnerable populations, including access to food, shelter, health, and protection from violence and exploitation. This course aims to equip humanitarian workers with the knowledge and tools needed to integrate human rights principles into humanitarian programming, ensuring that human dignity is preserved and human rights violations are prevented or addressed during crises. Participants will explore the intersection of international human rights law, international humanitarian law (IHL), and humanitarian principles, as well as the practical challenges faced by humanitarian workers in upholding human rights in crisis situations.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will:

1. Understand the Relationship Between Human Rights and Humanitarian Action: Learn about the fundamental rights of individuals and how these rights intersect with humanitarian assistance.
2. Explore Human Rights Frameworks and Mechanisms: Gain knowledge of international human rights law (IHRL), IHL, and the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
3. Integrate Human Rights into Humanitarian Programming: Develop strategies for ensuring human rights are respected in all stages of humanitarian response—from assessment to recovery.
4. Address Protection Issues: Explore the role of protection in humanitarian contexts, with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and the protection of displaced populations.
5. Handle Human Rights Violations in Crisis Settings: Learn about mechanisms for identifying, reporting, and addressing human rights violations during humanitarian crises.
6. Improve Accountability and Advocacy: Understand how to use monitoring and advocacy to uphold human rights and hold parties accountable for violations during humanitarian responses.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Humanitarian workers, NGO staff, and volunteers involved in disaster response, conflict, and emergency relief efforts.
• Human rights professionals, advocates, and activists engaged in human rights protection during crises.
• Government officials and policy makers working on humanitarian and human rights law issues.
• International organizations such as the UN, ICRC, World Food Programme, and UNHCR.
• Students and academics interested in international law, human rights, or humanitarian affairs.
• Local NGOs and community leaders engaged in humanitarian and human rights work in emergency contexts.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Human Rights and Humanitarian Action

• Morning Session: The Connection Between Human Rights and Humanitarian Action
  • Understanding human rights in humanitarian contexts: Defining human rights and their relevance in emergencies.
  • Overview of international human rights law (IHRL) and how it applies during emergencies.
  • Key principles of humanitarian action: neutrality, impartiality, independence, and humanity in relation to human rights.
  • Introduction to international humanitarian law (IHL) and its interaction with human rights law.
  • Case study: Syria – The challenge of human rights violations and the role of humanitarian agencies in response.
• Afternoon Session: The Legal Framework for Human Rights in Humanitarian Crises
  • Key human rights treaties: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
  • The role of United Nations human rights mechanisms in crisis settings.
  • Human rights during conflict and disaster: How IHL and IHRL complement each other in the protection of civilians.
  • Case study: Application of human rights principles in the Rwandan Genocide.

Day 2: Human Rights and Protection in Humanitarian Settings

• Morning Session: Protection and Human Rights in Humanitarian Contexts
  • The role of humanitarian protection in ensuring the safety and dignity of affected populations.
  • Key protection issues: gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and the protection of displaced populations.
  • The intersection of human rights and protection programming: Ensuring human dignity and rights in relief efforts.
  • Case study: Protection concerns in refugee camps and internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements.
• Afternoon Session: Gender and Human Rights in Humanitarian Response
  • The importance of gender equality in humanitarian work: Upholding the human rights of women, men, and gender minorities.
  • Addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV): Understanding the impacts on communities and legal frameworks for response.
  • Promoting gender-sensitive humanitarian programs that protect the rights of women and children.
  • Group activity: Developing gender-sensitive approaches for a humanitarian response in a conflict zone.

Day 3: Human Rights Monitoring, Advocacy, and Accountability

• Morning Session: Human Rights Monitoring and Reporting
  • The importance of monitoring human rights violations in humanitarian crises.
  • Mechanisms for reporting human rights violations in displaced persons camps, conflict zones, and natural disaster settings.
  • Tools for human rights monitoring: How to identify, document, and report violations.
  • Case study: Monitoring GBV in conflict – Role of organizations like UNHCR and ICRC in monitoring and reporting.
• Afternoon Session: Advocacy for Human Rights in Humanitarian Action
  • The role of advocacy in raising awareness about human rights violations in humanitarian settings.
  • Engaging local actors, governments, and donors in advocating for the rights of affected populations.
  • Working with media and international actors to bring attention to human rights abuses.
  • Group exercise: Develop an advocacy strategy for a human rights violation in an emergency response.

Day 4: Challenges in Upholding Human Rights in Crisis Situations

• Morning Session: Challenges of Human Rights Protection in Conflict Zones
  • The challenges of providing humanitarian assistance in active conflict zones: Ensuring access, neutrality, and protection.
  • Navigating the political dynamics of humanitarian aid and upholding human rights in the face of violence.
  • Case study: The Yemen conflict – Human rights abuses and the humanitarian response.
• Afternoon Session: Human Rights in Natural Disasters and Refugee Crises
  • The unique challenges of upholding human rights during natural disasters and large-scale refugee crises.
  • Addressing the legal status of displaced persons: Refugees vs. internally displaced persons.
  • Case study: The Rohingya refugee crisis – Human rights violations and the role of humanitarian agencies.

Day 5: Strategies for Integrating Human Rights into Humanitarian Action

• Morning Session: Mainstreaming Human Rights in Humanitarian Programming
  • How to integrate human rights principles into all stages of humanitarian programming: From needs assessment to recovery.
  • Building human rights capacity within humanitarian organizations: Training, awareness, and tools.
  • Designing human rights-based programming in crisis response.
  • Case study: Haiti – Integrating human rights into post-earthquake recovery.
• Afternoon Session: Ensuring Accountability in Human Rights Violations
  • Mechanisms for ensuring accountability for human rights violations: Legal, ethical, and practical approaches.
  • How to ensure transparency in response efforts while protecting human rights.
  • The role of international accountability mechanisms: UN Human Rights Council, International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • Group discussion: Accountability in human rights violations in complex humanitarian emergencies.