Exploring Criteria and Conditions for Engaging Armed Non-State Actors (NSAs) to Respect Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, WMO, 4-5 June 2007
The objective of this conference will be to cover a wide range of perspectives relating to the challenges faced in the process of engaging NSAs. Discussions will be organised around the following set of questions: (a) Why to engage? (b) Who engages? (c) Whom to engage? (d) When to engage? (e) How to engage? (f) What are the main challenges and consequences of engagement?
The majority of contemporary conflicts occur within States involving at least one or more armed Non-State Actors (NSAs). The increasing number of intra-States conflicts and the concerns for national and human security that accompany this trend are focusing attention on NSAs and the need to engage them on humanitarian norms is increasingly discussed.
In this line, Geneva Call, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Program for the Study of International Organization(s) (PSIO) of the Graduate Institute of International Studies – Geneva (IUHEI), with the financial support of the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN), are delighted to announce the organisation of the above-mentioned conference.
The organisers will bring together academics, practitioners who work in the field and international experts to discuss criteria and conditions for engaging NSAs in humanitarian negotiations. The approach is based on including as many people as possible who have experience with - and interest in - engaging NSAs in the field around humanitarian activities.
Monday 4 June 2007: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday 5 June 2007: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Building, Room B
7bis, Avenue de la Paix, 1202 Geneva
Fore more details, please contact Jean-Damascène Gasanabo at jdgasanabo@genevacall.org