Talking to the Other Side: Humanitarian Engagement with Armed Non-state Actors

Author(s)
Jackson, A.
Publication language
English
Pages
4pp
Date published
01 Jun 2012
Type
Research, reports and studies
Keywords
Accountability and Participation, Protection, human rights & security
Organisations
ODI

 Key messages

 

• Engagement with armed non-state actors (ANSAs) on assistance and protection is integral to any effective humanitarian response to conflict-related needs.
• This engagement appears to have declined since the end of the Cold War, and the UN is no longer taking the lead.
• Counter-terror legislation and donor funding restrictions have discouraged, if not criminalised, dialogue, and there appears to be limited collaboration among humanitarian actors in engaging with ANSAs.
• Greater study and support is required in order to understand how humanitarian actors can successfully sustain productive humanitarian dialogue with ANSAs.