Humanitarian Principles → Sources of humanitarian principles

Sources of humanitarian principles

Protection of Rights of Individuals in humanitarian crises

• International Humanitarian Law(IHL) - Hague Conventions and Geneva Conventions 1949 & protocols of 1977                                                                  - define combatants and govern the means and methods of warfare                        - protects rights of civilians and non-combatants in conflict situations
• Human Rights Law - Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948  - protects rights of individuals at all times

Guiding principles and standards

• Code of Conduct  -   principles of conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Response Programmes. (www.ifrc.org) 
• Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response - The Sphere Project :  linking human rights and humanitarian principles with minimum standards and levels of service.  (www.sphereproject.org)
• Conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm - defining principles and good humanitarian practice to promote peace and recovery in conflict-affected contexts. (www.cdainc.com/cdawww/default.php)
• Principles of Accountability - Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International - making humanitarian action accountable to beneficiaries (www.hapinternational.org)
• Internal Displacement - principles for the protection of internally displaced persons in all phases of displacement (www.idpguidingprinciples.org)
• Code of Practice - People In Aid : promoting good practice in the management and support of aid personnel .  (www.peopleinaid.org) 

Additional Quality and Accountability Initiatives for Humanitarian Practice

• ECB Project (Emergency Capacity Building) - impact measurement and accountability initiative
• ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance) - sector-wide evaluation, learning and accountability 
• Good Humanitarian Donorship Initiative - promoting good practice in funding and greater accountability in donorship
• Groupe URD - promotes quality in humanitarian action through a 'learning cycle' approach 
• Compas Qualité - promoting a quality approach to managing and piloting humanitarian projects
• Coordination Sud - promoting a comprehensive approach to achieving quality humanitarian practice