News

A united front against the effects of terrorism

27 July 2010

On 6 July 2010, The Humanitarian Forum joined with BOND and Muslim Charities Forum to hold a counter-terrorism policy and development workshop.

During the event, which took place in London, senior managers from international humanitarian and development NGOs (INGOs), working in policy, programmes and finance, participated in frank discussions about how Governmental and Inter-Governmental policies related to the ‘war on terror' (counter-terrorism measures, or CTMs) have impacted on international development.

The workshop examined how CTMs have affected humanitarian and development work, and identified the impact of this on the capacity of INGOs to deliver services effectively. It created a space for INGOs to share their experiences and discuss how they should move forward.

This was a vital step in addressing the negative impact of CTMs on humanitarian work in the climate created by the war on terror. Often INGOs have great difficulty in complying with far-reaching, but vaguely worded measures and regulations. As always, it is beneficiaries who suffer, as vital humanitarian action is increasingly hampered.

Adam Leach, trustee of The Humanitarian Forum said, "NGOs need to reclaim the space that they rightfully own, that the war on terror has taken from them."

The problem was examined from a number of different perspectives, from the in-the-field issues, to the headquarters-level aspects of the problem. Several recommendations arose from the workshop, and the participants delivered a message of solidarity and unity, stressing that shared messages and values from all organisations, regardless of cultural or geographical differences, would strengthen the good image of all organisations.

Read a full report of the event here.