Principled humanitarian access is the cornerstone of humanitarian programming. It is safeguarded under international legal frameworks, but by no means guaranteed during complex emergencies.
Non-state armed groups (NSAG) and de-facto authorities (DFA) play an active role in many humanitarian crises around the world and often have the power to facilitate or constrain humanitarian access by inflicting violence or imposing restrictions on people in need and humanitarian actors.
As of 2022, the Humanitarian Access Working Group in Mali is undergoing a revitalisation with the appointment of new co-chairs and renewed commitment from its membership.
Consultative processes on the HCT access strategy, the establishment of subnational HAW
This research paper analyses how armed groups and de facto authorities (AGDAs) behave and under what circumstances they may comply with international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL).
Drawing on eight case studies across five countries, this report investigates how formal and informal norms condition the behaviour of soldiers and fighters depending on the kind of armed organization to which they belong.