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Thematic Notes

The thematic notes provide regular updates on recent developments in the humanitarian community. They are published in our newsletter updates on Humanitarian Law and Policy and Leadership and Management of Humanitarian Action. If you are not yet a member, read more about membership in PHAP and apply today.To get notified of new thematic notes, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Eyes in the Sky are Inevitable: UAVs and Humanitarian Response
Jules Frost
13 October 2014
Twenty years ago, when I began my career as a humanitarian, we were concerned with carrying satellite phones into certain environments. Later, the same was true for GPS devices. If you were found to be using these dual-use technologies you could be accused of spying or being involved with covert...
Safety and security: Towards a ‘Just Culture’
Edward van der Kruijk
29 May 2014
In many non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ensuring that security incidents are reported to management is incredibly difficult. Many managers are aware that only a small percentage of security incidents that their staff encounter in their work end up on their desk. Knowing that they do not have...
International Criminal Justice: A glimpse into the ICC’s activities during the last two months
Antonio Coco
28 April 2014
The lnternational Criminal Court (ICC) is always in the media’s spotlight, either for what it currently does or for what it might soon be doing. The past two months were not an exception to this, with several important decisions and activities. This column will give an overview of these...
Monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding: Does the Human Rights Council report on human rights in North Korea provide a template for the Sri Lankan investigation?
Christopher Jenks
28 April 2014
2014 has already heralded two significant developments related to monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding (MRF) mechanisms for collecting information on alleged international law violations. First, the Human Rights Council (HRC) published their “Report of the detailed findings of the...
Challenges of monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding during and after armed conflict
Donatella Rovera
28 April 2014
Responding effectively to human rights violations and humanitarian crises resulting from armed conflict requires accurate and credible factual information and analysis. Thorough and impartial monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding (MRF) is essential to achieving this. Challenges inherent to...