Summary On Political Neutrality

Neutrality

Submitted by

Affiliation

Date

Provide a summary on political neutrality and impartiality, considering the various perspectives

According to Fiona Terry  neutrality is an incredibly important principle of humanitarian action”(Terry1). According to Morris, “Humanitarian deed cannot solve complications of political kind. Their resolution entails the radical will compulsory to avoid suffering or eliminate its fundamental causes”(Black1) According to Vogel, “there are no apolitical decisions in the field of humanitarian assistance”(Vogel1) whereas Nascimento explained it as, “What has been practiced and encouraged by this ‘new humanitarianism’, is fundamentally a delusion of the necessity for humanitarian aid by an international organization that concurrently refutes its own role in supporting or speaking multifaceted crises and impends further the volume of victims of conflict-related tragedies to have contact to humanitarian support and to the pleasure of their human rights” (Nascimento1).

Discuss the concepts of political neutrality or impartiality, considering humanitarian laws, rights, and ethical principles.

The status of neutrality is subject to pressure from various states and international organizations in the framework of international cooperation aimed at combating terrorism and other common threats and is also under pressure as part of the constantly evolving globalization and the development of other forms of international organization and cooperation. Neutrality as a means of resolving conflicts through negotiations and the search for mutually beneficial solutions remains in international practice and proves its viability. With the emergence of new hotbeds of conflict, to a large extent due to the economic interests of developed countries, the neutrality of states that are in the position of non-participation in military conflicts again becomes relevant

How are individuals benefiting from or harmed by humanitarian professionals’ political neutrality and impartiality (e.g. refugees, displaced persons, and asylum seekers)?

The principle of impartiality means that humanitarian assistance, so as to lessen the condition of victims of emergency situations, is rendered without any differences in nationality, race, religious beliefs, gender, social status or political views. The offer, delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid should not be dependent on the recognition or practice of religious and other beliefs by the recipients of the aid. Aid is determined solely by the needs of people in distress, with priority given to those who are especially difficult. The principle of neutrality must be respected in the provision of international humanitarian assistance. It means non-interference of structures and employees of organizations aiding in any disputes of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature, imperfection of actions that violate the neutrality of the assistance provided.

References

Black, R. (2003). Ethical codes in humanitarian emergencies: from practice to research?

Disasters, 27(2), 95-108.

Jones, L. (1998). The question of political neutrality when doing psychosocial work with

survivors of political violence. International review of psychiatry, 10(3), 239-247.

Nascimento, D. (2015). One-step forward, two steps back? Humanitarian Challenges and

Dilemmas in Crisis Settings. Journal of Humanitarian Assistance, 18.

Talks, T. (2011, December 13). TEDxRC2 - Fiona Terry - The Paradox of Humanitarian Aid.

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J45cWdDEbm0&noredirect=1

Vogel, T. (1996). The politics of humanitarian intervention. Journal of Humanitarian Assistance,

3.