Counter-Terrorism and Humanitarian Action: Tensions, Impact and Ways Forward

This HPG Policy Brief examines the impact of certain counter-terrorism laws and other measures, both international and national, on humanitarian action. It is based on a review of the literature, a series of interviews with donors, UN agencies and NGOs and a roundtable event organised with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in February 2011.1 The Policy Brief begins by outlining the evolution and content of counter-terrorism laws and their impact on donor policies and programme funding. It then discusses the implications for principled humanitarian action. These are explored in greater detail in two case studies, covering Somalia and Gaza.