About

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Humanitarian Ethics, International Protocols & Disaster Response Conventions 

About: Charter, Goals, Ethics & Team handbook (pdf)

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The foundational documents in modern disaster response date from the formation of the International Red Cross (1863), the founding of the UN after WWII (1945) and the diplomatic and academic initiatives associated with the UN-declared International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of the 1990s, including the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World. 

That focus on disasters through the 1990s led to the signing of several Codes, Protocols, and Conventions that are of importance to the Roddenberry Team. Please understand the role each of the following play in the work that we do:

• The Seven Fundamental Principles developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality (website) 

• The Code of Conduct developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Voluntary code includes ten points of principle which all humanitarian actors should adhere to in their disaster response work and describes the relationships that agencies working in disasters should seek with donor governments, host governments and the UN system. (website) 

• The United Nations System: A graphic of showing the main branches of the UN and different organizations within each branch (pdf) 

• The United Nations Handbook: Published by the New Zealand government as a ready reference guide, the Handbook provides current information on all the UN family organisations, including their purpose, evolution, structure, membership and an overview of activities. (pdf)

• The Cluster System for UN Disaster Response Coordination: Clusters are groups of humanitarian organizations (both UN and non-UN) in each of the main sectors of humanitarian action, e.g. water, health and logistics. They are designated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and have clear responsibilities for coordination. (website)

• UN-OCHA: The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Plays a key role in operational coordination in crisis situations. This includes assessing situations and needs; agreeing on common priorities; developing common strategies to address issues such as negotiating access, mobilizing funding and other resources; clarifying consistent public messaging; and monitoring progress. (website) 

• UNICEF Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH Cluster): UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices. We sponsor a wide range of activities and work with many partners, including families, communities, governments and like-minded organizations. In emergencies we provide urgent relief to communities and nations threatened by disrupted water supplies and disease. (website)

• World Heath Organization Guide to Drinking Water Quality, 4th edition: Provides recommendations for managing the risk from hazards that can compromise the safety of drinking water. The first 30 pages are the most relevant for the DRT. (pdf)

• UNEP (UN Development Programme): Helps develop the capacity of governments in over 60 countries to respond to disasters and mitigate risk. UNDP guides policy, trains communities and first responders, helps planners; and integrates disaster risk reduction strategies into national development plans. (website) 

• UNIFEM (UN Women): Supports women to reshape conditions at both ends of the economic spectrum, from boosting women’s participation in economic policy-making to supporting efforts to provide women and their communities with practical skills needed for securing sustainable livelihoods. (website) 

• Oslo Guidelines: Developed to provide standards and benchmarks for the use of foreign military and civil defense assets in disaster relief (pdf) 

• Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations: Guidelines for the use of communications frequency spectrum in disaster response (pdf)