Talking Humanitarianism

Localisation of humanitarian action calls for better inclusion of local actors and affected populations in all phases of the humanitarian response. In this episode, Arbie Baguios, a researcher and the founder of Aid Re-imagined shares his insights on the challenges and ethics associated with the localisation agenda. This is the second in a two-part series on this topic. Listen to the first part here. The discussion is part of a series on ethics in humanitarian action initiated by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies (NCHS), in collaboration with the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) and the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC). It relates to the project Red Lines and Grey Zones: Exploring the Ethics of Humanitarian Negotiations, led by Kristoffer Lidén.

Since the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, localisation, in the form of engaging or empowering local responders to deliver humanitarian assistance, has been firmly on the agenda. To gain a better understanding of the challenges and ethics of localisation, this discussion explores the dynamics that unfold between local and international actors of humanitarian response. Can humanitarian action remain impartial and neutral when it is localised? Is localisation primarily a moral issue or a political or economic one? How ethically do international donor governments and international humanitarian organisations behave in their relationships with local partner organisations and communities? Held in September 2023, this is the first in a two-part series on this topic. The speakers involved in the discussion are Kristina Roepstorff (Peace Research Institute Oslo, PRIO), John Ede (Ohaha Family Foundation), Sulagna Maitra (University College Dublin) and Ed Schenkenberg (HERE-Geneva). The roundtable was organised by Kristoffer Lidén (PRIO) and Dennis Dijkzeul (Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, IFHV). This discussion is part of a series on the ethics of humanitarian action initiated by PRIO and the Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies in collaboration with IFHV and the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict. It relates to the project Red Lines and Grey Zones: Exploring the Ethics of Humanitarian Negotiations, led by Kristoffer Lidén at PRIO.

Please be aware this episode discusses the topics of suicide and sexual abuse. Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos has come to symbolise the failure of modern European refugee policy. After the notorious camp burned to the ground in September 2020, a new and supposedly safer and temporary camp was built to house refugees seeking asylum in Europe. Three years on, how is life in the ‘new Moria’? In this episode, Heidi Mogstad talks to psychologist for Doctors Without Borders, Katrin Glatz Brubakk, about her recent mission to Lesvos and impressions from assisting children and adults in the so-called Moria 2.0. Katrin describes the increasing isolation and surveillance experienced by people living in the camp and examines the gendered harms and short- and long-term psychological impact of being contained, constantly on alert and feeling unwanted. Together Heidi and Katrin also discuss the increasing criminalisation of humanitarian work, European exceptionalism and humanitarian racism. Katrin Glatz Brubakk is a child psychologist specialising in trauma and Assistant Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Katrin is an experienced field worker with Doctors Without Borders, where she has worked with refugees in Greece and Egypt. Katrin teaches externally about experiences of working in the field, mental health in refugee populations, cultural differences in psychological work and trauma-based care. Together with journalist and author Guro Kulset Mekerås, Katrin has written the book Moria 2015-2022: Inside Europe's largest refugee camp (Press, 2023). Heidi Mogstad is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Bergen, Norway, where her research explores people’s lived experiences and contestations of border policies, humanitarianism and war. Heidi has a PhD in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge. Her doctoral fieldwork followed a Norwegian volunteer organisation's humanitarian and political work at home and abroad in Moria and other refugee camps in Greece for 18 months. Her forthcoming book builds on this research and is titled Humanitarian Shame and Redemption: Norwegian Citizens Helping Refugees in Greece (Berghahn Books 2023).

Reflections from outgoing Permanent Representative of the IFRC to the African Union, Mr. Itonde Kakoma, in conversation with Dr. Salla Turunen, International Relations specialist. In this episode Dr. Salla Turunen and Itonde Kakoma reflect on how the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is situated within the humanitarian landscape, particularly with regards to humanitarian diplomacy. They also discuss multilateral engagement in the context of the establishment of the new African Humanitarian Agency and what this means for the future of humanitarian diplomacy. As Itonde prepares to leave his role with the IFRC and take up the presidency of Interpeace, their conversation then explores the synergies and differences between humanitarian diplomacy and peace diplomacy and mediation. Itonde Kakoma is a highly experienced practitioner in peace mediation, conflict resolution and humanitarian diplomacy. At the time of recording in September 2023, Itonde was the outgoing Permanent Representative of the IFRC to the African Union and International Organisations, where he also served as the focal point and coordinator for global humanitarian diplomacy at IFRC. From 2 October 2023, Itonde took up the role of President at Interpeace. Prior to the IFRC he has also had roles with CMI — Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, including as its Director for Global Strategy, and with The Carter Center in its Conflict Resolution Program. Dr. Salla Turunen is an International Relations specialist with a combined practitioner and researcher background with the United Nations. As social science researcher, Salla has published a number of articles on humanitarian diplomacy, which have been widely accessed across scholarly, practitioner and policy audiences. Currently, she is the Manager at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) at its Centre for Women, Peace and Security, and the UKRI GCRF Gender, Justice and Security Hub.