In light of the challenges in securing and sustaining humanitarian access and the central role access plays in contributing to humanitarian assistance and protection, Switzerland launched an initiative in 2009 to develop practical resources on humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict. This Handbook on the international normative framework on humanitarian access and an accompanying Practitioners’ Manual are the two resources developed in the frame of this initiative.
The purpose of this Handbook is to lay out the existing international normative framework pertaining to humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict. This publication is aimed for a broad audience, including States, non-State armed groups (NSAGs), international organizations, and humanitarian organizations. It is intended to serve as a reference and to enhance access to civilian populations in need.
