Panel details

Panel organiser(s) will be presenting	In-Person & Online
Number of paper presentations	7
Location	Istanbul

Abstract

The signs of a rapidly shifting world order and impacts for civilians in need of protection has been visible for some time. Armed conflicts have nearly doubled in the past 5 years, alongside pervasive impunity and decreasing respect for international law. Insufficient political action has contributed to record numbers of people displaced, acutely food insecure and in need of protection, pushing the humanitarian system to its limits. Civilians, first responders and the wider humanitarian system now face existential threats from revisionist agendas, unrestricted warfare and dramatic funding cuts.

In response to these challenges the UN Secretary-General in his annual reports has called for moving beyond an exclusive focus on compliance and accountability toward the full of protection of civilians – an approach that continues to strengthen both while expanding understanding of the wider range of effective, legal, policy and operational responses.

Our panel responds to this call and will further examine how humanitarian reset and UN80 reform discussions can better centre people and their protection in practice. The panel welcomes contributions that respond to a changing world order and implications for civilians at risk, how the UN and wider humanitarian system can and should adapt, and practical response measures. Both academic and policy research contributions are welcome.

Panelists: Amra Lee Practitioner and PhD researcher Australian National University, Dr Felicity Gray Global Head of Policy and Advocacy Nonviolent Peaceforce and Gemma Davies Humanitarian Policy Group

Paper presentations