Plenary Panel: The Impact of Counter-Terrorism Measures on Humanitarian Action
Brought to you by
Counter-terrorism measures continue to have a chilling effect on humanitarian access. Humanitarian actors working in areas with the presence of designated groups or individuals face significant legal exposure, creating delays in response, resulting in the reduction of aid for affected communities. Regulations restricting engagement with organizations and individuals designated as terrorist, including the prohibition on providing material support, are at odds with the basic operational requirements necessary for humanitarian actors to deliver life-saving assistance. These measures also undermine principled humanitarian action by putting humanitarians at-risk of criminal prosecution and civil penalty for aid activities, resulting in operational changes to account for these obstacles.
Resolving the legal and operational challenges presented by counter-terrorism measures on humanitarian action remains a priority. This session will unpack the challenges of navigating counter-terrorism measures and define the steps governments, humanitarian actors, and financial service providers can take to improve principled action while abiding by counterterrorism and sanctions policies.
Hosted By
