Conference - Connecting with the Past
This report summarizes the presentations and debates held at the conference “Connecting with the Past,” which took place at ICRC headquarters in Geneva on 16–17 September 2015. The conference was jointly organized by the ICRC, the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the UK and the University of Exeter as part of the efforts of the ICRC to reflect on the principles underlying humanitarian action. The conference brought together historians of humanitarian action and practitioners from major humanitarian organizations from across the globe.
The aim of the conference was to provide a critical historical perspective on the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, and how those Principles have influenced – and been influenced by − the broader humanitarian sector, multilateral organizations and States. The main questions being asked were: Where did the Principles come from, and how have they been understood and applied in different periods? How have the Principles helped humanitarian organizations to navigate difficult environments, and what challenges have there been in implementing them? How have the Principles forged the identity of the humanitarian sector, influencing other humanitarian organizations and helping to shape international humanitarian law (IHL)? And crucially, what can we learn from the Movement’s rich history and Fundamental Principles that may provide insights into current realities, and act as a guide for the future?
