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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.

Realizing change through monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding: B’Tselem’s work regarding Operation Cast Lead
Jessica Montell
28 April 2014
B'Tselem was founded as an information center, out of a perhaps naïve belief in the power of information. If people knew what was happening a few miles away, where the Israeli military maintained its occupation of the Palestinian population, the problems of violence and oppression would be...
The impact of monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding missions
Rob Grace
28 April 2014
Despite the great deal of research and policy attention devoted to monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding (MRF) missions in recent years, scarce attention has been paid to the actual impact of these mechanisms. One reason for this research gap might be that impact does not appear to rank very...
Central African Republic: Questions around a forced exodus
Michael Neuman
28 April 2014
Delphine Chedorge For a few months now, the world’s response to the organized expulsion of the Muslim community out of the Central African Republic (CAR) can best be described as strikingly mute. The expulsions, which are in particular taking place in Bangui, the capital city, and the...
Monitoring and reporting to enhance protection of children in situations of armed conflict
PHAP Member
28 April 2014
There can be no doubt that civilians, and children in particular, continue to bear the brunt of violence in situations of armed conflict. Hence, the protection of civilians agenda within humanitarian operations is absolutely central, and with it, monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding (MRF). This...
Humanitarian negotiations: Constraints on humanitarian space and the challenges of compliance with IHL
Antonio Galli
27 April 2014
A number of current armed conflicts serve as an unfortunate reminder of the narrow influence humanitarian actors can have with parties to a conflict to ensure respect for the protection of civilians and to facilitate access for impartial humanitarian assistance. They also underline the limited...