From Words to Deeds: Providing Tools for an Effective Engagement of Armed Non-State Actors to Improve Humanitarian Protection

The project will examine the practice and interpretations of armed non-State actors with respect to the law of armed conflict and international human rights law. Through a comparative analysis of selected norms, it aims at generating a better understanding of their perspectives, inform humanitarian protection strategies and provide practical tools for humanitarian actors to enhance their engagement with armed non-State actors.

While field research will be conducted in nine specific contexts (Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Mali, Myanmar, Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Philippines, Syria and Yemen), the findings of the project will have broader significance since many conflicts in the world involve armed non-State actors.

In addition to a comprehensive comparative thematic analysis, a number of case studies, as well as practical guidelines for the humanitarian engagement of armed non-State actors will be published. These outputs will be distinctively relevant for: (i) humanitarian protection actors, including the partnering and supporting organisations (Geneva Call, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Diakonia); (ii) other actors that operate in conflict settings such as aid agencies; (iii) as well as academics, policy-makers and donors.

In addition to academic impact aimed at scholarly audiences, the project aims to benefit the following users:

1) The humanitarian sector is a primary user of this project. This refers to: (i) the project partners, Geneva Call and the Norwegian Refugee Council; (ii) other key humanitarian protection organizations, including the project supporter, the Diakonia Global International Humanitarian Law Centre (iii) other aid agencies and organisations that operate in conflict settings; (iv) policy-makers, donors and State's representatives with portfolios covering humanitarian affairs.

The project takes as its starting point the necessity articulated by the humanitarian sector to understand the practice of armed non-State actors in times of armed conflict. In this regard, it seeks to increase the sector's knowledge, capacity and understanding of the ways armed non-State actors behave, and the ways that it might most effectively engage with these armed entities. It shall achieve this through targeted publications (case studies, comparative thematic study of armed non-State actors' practice and interpretations); the drafting and piloting of the Guidelines for the Effective Humanitarian Engagement of Armed Non-State Actors and a related article published in a practitioners' journal; a series of planned events which bring together armed non-State actors, humanitarian practitioners and scholars; and by establishing a network of practitioners and experts to further engage in peer-exchange and outreach, maximising the impact of the research.

2) Armed non-State actors in the case study countries are also a main user group. The project seeks to increase their knowledge and understanding of international humanitarian norms, foster their ownership of these norms and capacity to apply these norms in the conflicts they are parties to. The project methodology is conceived towards the participation of armed non-State actors in the research as object of analysis. For example, they will participate in the international conference to take place in Geneva.

3) Communities and individuals affected by armed conflict are the main beneficiaries of this project in the long-term. By supporting and increasing the capacity of the humanitarian sector to engage with armed non-State actors on humanitarian norms, the project seeks to strengthen the compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law by these armed entities. This, in turn, should result in better protection for communities and individuals affected in conflict settings.