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11 - Interpreting the Mandate

Part I – From Relief to Resilience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2024

David P. Forsythe
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
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Summary

This chapter begins to examine one of the important arguments by some critics, namely that ICRC activities have become so broad and sprawling that it has lost its status as an expert actor on the laws of war (both legal development and implementation), along with protection of political prisoners. The chapter first reminds the reader that there is no binding authority above the ICRC; hence, the ICRC governing board decides how to interpret its mandate or basic role – which essentially dates from 1930. In deciding what humanitarian subjects should be addressed by the ICRC, one of the most important is taking humanitarian assistance beyond immediate relief to include a type of development or early recovery. The author finds the direction of this policy commendable but without clear limits. The dividing line between humanitarian recovery and political development remains uncertain. That line seems to lie more in the realm of subjective labelling than objective and definable facts. The distinction is often controversial as in contemporary Afghanistan and Syria, among other places.

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Chapter
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The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
Challenges, Changes, Controversies
, pp. 220 - 249
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Interpreting the Mandate
  • David P. Forsythe, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  • Book: The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Online publication: 01 February 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009387002.012
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  • Interpreting the Mandate
  • David P. Forsythe, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  • Book: The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Online publication: 01 February 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009387002.012
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Interpreting the Mandate
  • David P. Forsythe, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  • Book: The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Online publication: 01 February 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009387002.012
Available formats
×