Neutrality is one of the four humanitarian principles. It states that humanitarian action must not favour any side in an armed conflict or other dispute. Despite being a central component of humanitarianism, the concept of neutrality is…
In short: Last month, the UN General Assembly discussed several critical issues. At the forefront was the protection of aid workers, a topic that has garnered wide attention from Member States. UN…
Unique cyber risks for NGOs In an increasingly volatile and digitised world, managing cyber risk has never been more important. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the NGO sector, where the risk calculus is…
Today’s context of heightened risk Earlier this year, GISF published its State of Practice report, reflecting on the changes that have occurred in humanitarian security risk management over recent years and decades. This was…
No safety net for aid workers Aid workers on the frontlines of humanitarian action put themselves at risk every day. Some may be in conflict settings, where fighting puts them in danger of injury or death. Some may operate in…
GISF at the fourth Annual United Nations Security Symposium Last month, I had the pleasure of being invited to speak at the United Nations Security Symposium in Geneva. A key event in the global security calendar, it…
The power of community There is no other area of work quite like humanitarianism. Professionals in the sector cover every part of the globe. Their skill sets vary widely – from legal, financial and marketing professionals…
There has been a worrying increase in attacks on humanitarian organisations in recent times. In fact, 2023 was a record-breaking year for aid worker fatalities. Showing a humanitarian logo used to be a way to improve security. The warring…
The power of advocacy – building positive change in the wake of tragedy On 22 May, 2017, the United Kingdom suffered one of its worst terrorist attacks in living memory. The Manchester Arena was targeted by a suicide bomber after…
An anniversary is usually an occasion to celebrate. And reflecting on my one year in post as Executive Director of GISF, I can see that there is a lot to celebrate. We have increased our funding, and have a suite…