Phap: Learning Sessions And Webinars

On 26 September 2014, PHAP hosted a live online event discussing the upcoming Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regional consultation. This is the third of the World Humanitarian Summit regional consultations leading up to the major global event, to take place in Istanbul in May 2016.Panelists for this event included Ignacio Leon-Garcia, the Head of the OCHA Regional Office in Southern Africa, Anne Mitaru, an international humanitarian lawyer working with Save the Children as the Humanitarian Advocacy Adviser for East Africa, and Philippe Habinshuti, the Director of Disaster Response and Recovery in MIDIMAR.Read more at https://phap.org/WHS-26Sep2014

On Thursday, 14 August, PHAP hosted a live online event to discuss the outcomes of the North & South East Asia regional consultation for the World Humanitarian Summit, which took place in Tokyo on 23-24 July.Panelists for the event included Oliver Lacey-Hall, Head of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Takeshi Komino, Head of Emergencies, Church World Service (CWS) and delegate of the Asian Disaster Response and Reduction Network (ADRRN); and Pansy Tun Thein, Executive Director of the Local Resource Centre (LRC) from Myanmar, representing local civil society organizations.Read more at https://phap.org/WHS-14Aug2014

During this live online event on 11 July, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos presented her vision for the World Humanitarian Summit and answered questions from participants.Since the current international humanitarian system was created 25 years ago, more and more people are affected by violence and hardship. The world has changed and humanitarian action must keep pace. Between 2004 and 2013, humanitarian funding requests roughly doubled from $6 billion to over $10 billion per year. In that same period, the number of people targeted through formal funding appeals rose from approximately 30 to 70 million. Moreover, global challenges like urbanization, population growth in some countries, environmental degradation, conflict, climate change and resource scarcity mean that humanitarian needs and costs are rising beyond the capacity of the global humanitarian system to cope.Read more at https://phap.org/WHS-11Jul2014

Speakers: Carsten Völz, Cecilia Jimenez, Sebastian Rhodes StampaOn 19 June 2014, PHAP hosted an online event on the theme of humanitarian response in situations of armed conflict in North and Southeast Asia. The event dealt with regionally relevant issues such as population displacement, accountability of governments and aid organizations, access of people to humanitarian action, and protection of civilians. Speakers included Carsten Völz, Humanitarian Director of Oxfam International, Cecilia Jimenez, National Director of the IDP Project for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, and Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, Deputy Head of the regional office for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).Read more at https://phap.org/WHS-19Jun2014

Speakers: Oliver Lacey-Hall, Jagan Chapagain, Lilianne FanOn 12 June 2014, PHAP hosted a live online briefing and consultation for the World Humanitarian Summit on the topic of the consequences of a changing humanitarian landscape on humanitarian effectiveness in North and Southeast Asia. Speakers included Mr Oliver Lacey-Hall, Head of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Mr Jagan Chapagain, Regional Director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific zone, and Ms Lilianne Fan, Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).This live online event was an opportunity for participants to get better acquainted with the regional consultation process and provide views and ideas on the topics discussed, ultimately helping to shape the agenda for the upcoming regional consultation event.Read more at https://phap.org/WHS-12Jun2014

Speakers: Jemilah Mahmood, Linda Poteat, Oliver Lacey-Hall, Paul EmpoleEvent date: 28 May 2015This live online event was an excellent opportunity for everyone interested to learn more about the World Humanitarian Summit, to take place in Istanbul in 2016, and the process leading up to this major global event. Participants learned about both the online and onsite consultation processes at the regional and global level, the main questions that will be discussed, how to provide input to the consultations, and how the results are meant to help humanitarian action move forward. Hosted by PHAP, this interactive information event featured Jemilah Mahmood, Chief of the World Humanitarian Summit Secretariat; Linda Poteat, Discussion Chair of the Online Global Consultations; Oliver Lacey-Hall, Head of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); and Paul Empole, Discussion Chair of the Online West and Central Africa Consultations.The Summit, convened

Speakers: Naz Modirzadeh, Founding Director of the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC) & Dustin Lewis, Senior Researcher, PILACIn December 2014, President Obama said that the United States “combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion.” Yet over a year later hostilities continue. What are the stakes for humanitarian organizations in the ongoing application—or not—of international humanitarian law (IHL) in Afghanistan and in other contemporary armed conflicts? Does international law provide sufficient guidance for humanitarians and other battlefield actors to discern when today’s armed conflicts end? At this PHAP online IHL expert briefing, Naz Modirzadeh and Dustin Lewis, of the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC), will discuss initial PILAC research on the “end” of armed conflict under IHL. Among the issues they will explore are: What are the IHL crite

With the launch of “One Humanity: Shared Responsibility”, the Report of the Secretary-General for the World Humanitarian Summit, the Summit process is entering the final stretch of preparation for Istanbul.On 18 February 2016, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and PHAP organized an online event to discuss the report and its impact on the future of humanitarian action. This was an opportunity to interact with a panel of NGO representatives on some key questions, such as: - Does the report address key concerns raised by NGOs in recent years? - Does the report adequately cover the most pressing matters for improving humanitarian action for today and tomorrow? - How well does the report include recommendations from the regional consultations and the synthesis report? - How well does the "Agenda for Humanity" fulfil your vision of meaningful impact on the lives of affected people?Speakers: - Anne Héry, Director of Advocacy and Institutional Relations, Handicap International Federation - Virginie Lefèvre, Program

Main speaker: Katarina Grenfell, Legal Officer in the UN Office of Legal AffairsThe mandates of contemporary United Nations Peacekeeping missions are increasingly robust, often authorizing a range of activities far beyond those historically envisioned as within the remit of UN peacekeepers. For instance, the mandate for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) includes the authorization to “carry out targeted offensive operations through the Intervention Brigade [...] [to] prevent the expansion of all armed groups, neutralize these groups, and disarm them.” This expansion has resulted in a number of legal and operational challenges, including the core question of the application of international humanitarian law to UN peacekeeping contingents. The involvement of UN peacekeepers in hostilities raises a host of issues, including: - What legal framework involves the use of force on the part of the peacekeepers? - What protection, if any, are the peac

Main speaker: Théo Boutruche, Independent consultant in international human rights and humanitarian lawThe International Criminal Court (ICC) is heralded as a significant development in the field of international justice and accountability. Established by the Rome Statute, the ICC is a unique legal mechanism in terms of its broad jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression. Though the ICC represents an important commitment to international justice, it is not free from challenges and critique. One such issue is the relationship between the ICC and humanitarian actors. Humanitarian actors often have unparalleled access in the contexts the Court investigates, and because of this humanitarians may be approached to cooperate with the Court. Such cooperation, however, complicates – and potentially directly threatens – the principles that govern humanitarians’ operations. This event will explore the issues and debates stemming from the relationship between the ICC and

Main speaker: Robin Geiß, Professor of International Law and Security, School of Law, University of GlasgowOn 3 October 2015, a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, was destroyed in a strike carried out by the United States Air Force. 22 civilians were killed - 12 MSF staff members and ten patients; 37 individuals were injured, including 19 MSF staff. Condemnation of the operation was swift, including from MSF which "condemn[ed] in the strongest possible terms the horrific aerial bombing ... [which] constitutes a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law." President Obama apologized to MSF, and the United States government has announced it will issue "condolence payments." Was this a war crime? Any analysis of the question centers on the IHL principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack. It also raises the fundamental protections afforded civilians and civilian objects under IHL, as well as those special protections for medical personnel and hospita

Main speaker: Elizabeth Holland, Consulting Expert on IHL, PHAPInternational humanitarian law (IHL) establishes a number of provisions designed to enhance protections for civilians in armed conflict. The provision of humanitarian assistance, and securing the requisite humanitarian access to do so, are critical to addressing the suffering of the civilian population. IHL provides a legal basis for humanitarian actors to engage with parties to the conflict. It presents a common set of concepts, principles, and terminology that can inform negotiations as well as policy and operational decisions. Understanding what IHL says – and does not say – in terms of humanitarian access is critical for humanitarians. This event introduces the concept of humanitarian access and highlight the relevant IHL terminology and rules and presents some of the key challenges to this concept.For more info, resources, and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-14

Main speaker: Anne Quintin, Head of Sector for Legal Training at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)International humanitarian law (IHL) establishes rules to protect civilians during armed conflict. One of the most important dictates that “civilians [shall not be the object of attack], unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.” This standard, known as “directly participating in hostilities,” sets the threshold for when civilians may lose the protection from direct attack he or she is otherwise afforded under IHL.On 14 October, PHAP hosted a session introducing the concept of direct participation with Anne Quintin, Head of Sector for Legal Training at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The session reviewed the various criteria used to determine whether an individual is directly participating, and present key contemporary debates, including the application of this concept to the use of drone strikes.For more info, resources, and assessments for PHAP me

Main speaker: Sean Lowrie, Director of the START NetworkThis learning session provides a more in-depth treatment of the principle of independence, focusing on practical dilemmas in its application and humanitarian funding mechanisms.

Main speaker: Kate MackintoshThis learning session provides a more in-depth treatment of the principle of neutrality, focusing on practical dilemmas in its application.For more info, resources, and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-11

Main speaker: Chris Jenks, Assistant Professor of Law, SMU Dedman School of LawHow can international humanitarian law (IHL) be implemented and enforced? International criminal law (ICL) plays an important role in this respect, placing responsibility on individual persons for serious atrocities including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.On 29 September, PHAP members and guests had the opportunity to delve into this topic with Chris Jenks, a law professor with previous experience in the U.S. Army and the co-editor of a forthcoming war crimes casebook. The session will begin with a briefing on ICL and its relevance to humanitarian actors, focusing on its core principles, main instruments, scope of application, and relationship with IHL. This was followed by an opportunity for Q&A and discussion.For more info, resources, and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-10

Main speaker: Jérémie Labbé, Head of Project for Principles Guiding Humanitarian Action, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)This learning session will provide a more in-depth treatment of the principle of impartiality, focusing on practical dilemmas in its application.Learning objectives: - Understanding of the core humanitarian principle of impartiality, both in its definition and its implementation. - Knowledge of examples of the practical implications of impartiality in the course of humanitarian action. - Understanding of the nature of challenges and dilemmas involved in translating impartiality into operations. - Familiarity with the role that impartiality plays within the RCRC, as both a goal and as a toolFor more info, resources, and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-9

Main speaker: John Cerone, Paul Martin Senior Professor in International Affairs and Law at the University of Windsor Faculty of LawInternational law plays a central role in the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and both international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) establish important principles and rules. This session will provide an introduction to the application of IHL and IHRL to situations of armed conflict, looking at fundamental issues including the circumstances in which IHRL applies, who has rights and obligations under IHRL, derogation from treaty obligations, the question of co-application, and the extraterritorial application of human rights. The session aims to provide participants with the basic knowledge necessary to follow upcoming learning sessions focusing on current humanitarian crises.In particular, the session will address the following questions:- Under what circumstances does IHRL apply? How does this differ from the applicability of IHL?- Who

Main speaker: Dr Hugo Slim, Head of Policy at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)This learning session will provide a more in-depth treatment of the principle of humanity, focusing on practical dilemmas in its application. Directly following this learning session, a discussion and consultation event in support of the World Humanitarian Summit was organized on the same topic.Learning objectives- Understanding of the core humanitarian principle of humanity, both in its definition and its implementation.- Knowledge of examples of the practical implications of humanity in the course of humanitarian action.- Understanding of the nature of challenges and dilemmas involved in translating humanity into operations.- Familiarity with the role that humanity plays within the ICRC, and in their interactions with other actors.For more info, resources, and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-7

Main speaker: Marc DuBois, Consulting Expert on Humanitarian Principles, PHAPIn September and October 2015, PHAP is organizing a special series of live online discussions structured around the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. As part of the association’s support to the World Humanitarian Summit process, the focus of these events is less on theoretical definitions and more on the operational implications of these principles. The aim is not to “consult” directly on the principles, but rather to discuss – within the context of the principles – a series of problematic issues that have come under debate in the larger Summit consultation process.This opening session acts as an introduction to the ensuing four events on the individual principles. It will ensure that participants understand the nature of the challenges and dilemmas involved in translating principles into operational decisions. The session will delineate the practical implications of the principles for humanitarian a