Sexual Abuse by Humanitarian Actors

During the last decade, the world has seen its fair share of devastating disasters, both natural and man-made. Despite the negative impact of humanitarian disasters on all civilians involved, women, adolescent girls, and children hold a special place of vulnerability and regularly, without effort, find themselves in a position of extreme defenselessness and become exposed to abuse from both their country-men and those there to protect them. Long after a disaster hits a certain area, the region remains devastated and people lose all sense of civility and compassion. The suffering of the affected population persists and is in some cases exacerbated by those whose expressed purpose is to assist the people in need. Women in conflict and post-disaster regions lack the protection of a family, stable society and justice and often become commodities that anyone who has access to them can exploit for their own gratification. 

One of the core standards of the Sphere Project refers to the performance of aid workers, and a specific key action under that standard is that the organization needs to “establish codes of personal conduct for aid workers that protect disaster-affected people from sexual abuse, corruption, exploitation and other viola­tions of people’s human rights”. Respect for the affected population is vital to the success of the program targeting the amelioration of the conditions in which the affected individuals find themselves after a disaster or conflict. While many humanitarian actors live up to their name and contribute to the establishment of safe environments and the protection of vulnerable populations, a review initiated by the Executive Committees on Humanitarian Affairs and Peace and Security (ECHA/ECPS) Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and completed in 2010 by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) reveals that there are many others who have instead been complicit in the abuse of those they are there to protect. Furthermore, the report found that even in cases in which policies were established, the implementation, adherence to, and acceptance of these policies was found to have been minimal. 

This is, in my opinion, a serious issue that demands a resolution if the field of humanitarian assistance is to establish credibility. The work of humanitarian actors deserves the attention of both the agencies that employ them and the general public that is interested in ensuring that their donations or tax money are not used for the further exploitation of those who have lost so much. Even in the second decade of the 21^st century, disasters and conflicts continue to plague many around the world. As such, it is clear that humanitarian operations are here to stay as a vital part of modern relief efforts. Therefore, actions need to be taken to evaluate operations and demand changes where necessary. In order to properly and successfully address the issue of sexual abuse by humanitarian actors, organizations engaged in humanitarian work must be required to complete an assessment of their programs with a specific focus on the issue at hand and mandated to implement recommendations for the eradication of the problem. 

- Krasi 

 

Perspective Matters

I am not sure if I mentioned this already, but while completing the course on African Conflicts last semester, I developed an interest in the field of humanitarian assistance and have consequently signed up for two DU courses in the respective program. I am certainly just a beginner in this field, but the course readings, as well as the on-the-ground experience professors and fellow classmates share, have already shown me that there is more to humanitarian assistance than the desire and obligation to offer help to those who most need it. 

Good intentions and the willingness to offer succor to individuals and regions torn by conflict or disasters, whether natural or man-made, are certainly important, but it seems that the impetus to deliver that help is often fueled by various geopolitical, ideological, or plain selfish reasons. Often, the hungry continue to be hungry, the abused continue to be abused, and the ill continue to be ill or simply die, despite the billions of dollars, or euros, or (insert currency of choice here) being pumped on a regular basis into the bank accounts of many concerned organizations. 

A particular topic that sparked a comment from me and is responsible for this post is the idea that what humanitarian programs often target is the improved quality of life for affected populations. I understand that the ultimate goal is for every person in the world to at least have a base level of a quality of life that allows him or her to enjoy life without worrying, beyond a certain accepted level, about being hungry, being homeless, or dying from a preventative disease. The problem arises when different people profess very divergent ideas on what the minimum requirements are for a basic quality of life. Is having a house, a vocation, and access to basic education and healthcare enough? Or should all people be able to have more and want more in order to experience “the good life”? 

Ultimately, except for the worst case scenario, whether one is poor or has a poor quality of life depends on whom that person compares herself to. Growing up, I had no notion of the concept of being poor. Now, I am finding out and learning that evidently I was poor. I was poor from the perspective of many in the developed world. I had one pair of summer shoes (although I preferred going barefoot) and one pair of winter boots (that leaked by the way). New clothes meant the school year must be starting. There was one kind of chewing-gum in the store and the best sweets I could get were the ones made by my mother (which were delicious if you must know). For some, that is poverty. For me, that was the best childhood I could ask for. 

I had no idea I was considered poor until the iron curtain was lifted and the wonders of the West flooded our stores. Yes, I could finally get anything a child in a developed country could have. Problem was, I could not afford to buy most of the new items filling the local shops. Nothing had really changed. I still had food, and clothes, and a roof above my head, but for the first time in my life, there were things I could not buy. And that meant I was poor. 

Perspective, then, does matter. Should humanitarian actors live in the best houses and drive the newest car models when they deliver assistance or should they blend in with the local communities? Depends on what their purpose is, I guess. 

-          Krasi

The Importance of Culture in the Humanitarian Assistance Field

Hello Candor Salad enthusiasts! It has been a long while since I have made an appearance on this blog and it is most certainly time for the musings of 2013 to begin!  

After another long drive across states, I am back in Denver, and after several weeks of no regular access to Internet, I am back online and even after only a week of classes at DU, I already have a lot of thoughts and comments I am bursting to share with you. The focus of Winter Quarter 2013 so far seems to be culture and the impact it has on human rights advocates traveling to various corners of the world with the intention to assist those in need. 

One of the courses I am taking focuses primarily on teaching beginners (like me) the practical aspects of engaging in the humanitarian assistance field and outlining the so-called best practices in approaching relief efforts in conflict and disaster areas around the world. During the very first class meeting, I could hear expressed concerns that working with certain populations is difficult because their traditions and culture differ from ours (those there to help) and almost make it impossible for us to deliver aid. The logical question in my mind then was: As humanitarian actors, do we travel to devastated areas to assist the affected populations with basic needs and rebuilding their communities and lives or do we go there with the intention of changing their culture to suit what we believe is proper behavior? 

Certainly, there are many cultural traditions and beliefs that could be considered violations of human rights and as aspiring advocates, we should be passionate about addressing these. However, in the context of a disaster, whether natural or man-made, the primary focus of humanitarian actors should be providing necessary support for the affected communities to step back on their feet and resume their lives; the primary concern should not be to express frustration at their “outlandish” beliefs and traditions and to attempt to “educate” and change them. A vital aspect of humanitarian relief efforts should be the development of good relationships, grounded in respect, trust, and understanding, with local communities. Anything short of that is counterproductive and often exacerbates the suffering of the affected persons. How can we expect them to recover with dignity if everything they have ever known is either destroyed or being attacked by those there to help?

 - Krasi

Sweats

I don't care what color they are as long as they're fairly made.....


- A

Journey to Freedom

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center recently released a film that in a very interesting way presents the stories of two men who lived more than a century apart to illustrate the many similarities between the old world slavery and the so-called modern-day slavery. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a screening of the film here in DC at an event to honor one of the Trafficking in Persons 2012 report heroes, Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission and featured in the film. The best part about the screening was that it was followed by a panel discussion that included one of the makers of the film.

The title of the 40-minute documentary is Journey to Freedom and the film, as well as additional information on it, could be found here.  

-      Krasi