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The emerging concept of humanitarian diplomacy: identification of a community of practice and prospects for international recognition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2012

Philippe Régnier
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Abstract

In recent years the term ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ has become fashionable among humanitarian organizations in general, and within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in particular. However, the very idea of ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ is not uncontroversial, owing to the imprecise and contested nature of the term, and to its unclear operational application. The present article proposes to explore the definitions and scope of action of humanitarian diplomacy, as well as some of the challenges that it faces, with a view to preparing the way for its eventual recognition by the international community.

Type
Changing Actors and Evolving Practice
Information
International Review of the Red Cross , Volume 93 , Issue 884: The future of humanitarian action , December 2011 , pp. 1211 - 1237
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 2012

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References

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38 An example of a national coalition is the Canadian Humanitarian Coalition, grouping Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Québec, Care, and Save the Children. The Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC) platform was set up in London in 2005–2006 to enhance collaborations among major NGOs conducting recovery projects in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

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57 International Association for Humanitarian Studies (IAHS), Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP), Network on Humanitarian Assistance-International Association of Universities (NOHA), Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance (ELRHA), Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP). See also: ELRHA, Professionalising the Humanitarian Sector: A Scoping Study, Boston and London, 2011Google Scholar, available at: http://www.elrha.org (last visited December 2011); Geneva Center for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action, Humanitarian Studies 2010: University Training and Education in Humanitarian Action, Geneva, 2010Google Scholar.

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59 A pilot training programme in humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy has been tested by the Geneva-based Diplo Foundation together with the IFRC during the first semester of 2012.

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