Humanitarian Negotiations with Armed Groups

1 Introduction and Objectives

1.5 Humanitarian Negotiations and Staff Security Policies, Procedures

As with any type of humanitarian activity which increases the exposure of humanitarian, development and human rights personnel to armed groups, humanitarian negotiations must be carried out within the framework of existing institutional security policies and procedures. The guidance provided in this manual is not intended to supplant or circumvent existing security policies and guidelines. At all stages of humanitarian negotiations, humanitarian organizations must consult with designated security officials (UN/other) and must ensure that the operational aspects of the negotiations (e.g. travel to meet with members of an armed group) are conducted in accordance with the relevant security procedures.

In situations where security procedures require interaction with a party to a conflict (for example, requesting passage through territory controlled by the host government to reach an area controlled by an armed group), these interactions should be undertaken in a transparent and open manner. They will then be less likely to foster perceptions among armed groups of bias and lack of impartiality on the part of humanitarian organizations.