Released just a few weeks before Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) celebrates its 40th anniversary, Humanitarian Negotiation Revealed is a book that sets out to deliberately puncture a number of the myths that place humanitarianism above politics.

Photo: Juan Carlos Tomasi | An MSF field worker waits at a military checkpoint. Palestinian Authority.

The book examines the reality of the compromises MSF has made over the years – some successfully and some less so – to try and help some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  It describes how, in fact, it is the difficult negotiations with varying parties, each of whom have their own vested interests, that can permit an aid agency to work in a given area – or not.

Case studies from recent conflicts such as Yemen, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan lay bare the reality of MSF’s efforts to reach the most affected people, and explore just what the limits of compromise should be.

There are also a series of thematic essays that explore broader issues, such as the real usefulness of aid responses to natural disasters.

Although this book is written by MSF insiders - Fabrice Weissman, Michael Neuman and Michiel Hofman – it is far from a public relations exercise. Decisions made in the ‘heat of the moment’ by MSF are unravelled and critiqued by the authors.

At a time when humanitarian actors are questioning their ability to overcome the obstacles they are encountering, this book seeks to help fuel the debate on their ambitions and the best ways of fulfilling them.

The full book can be accessed online:
http://www.msf-crash.org/livres/en/humanitarian-negotiations-revealed

Photo: H. J. Burkard | An MSF field worker discusses problems with an armed soldier. Kuito, Angola.

EVENT REGISTRATION

Join us this February for a lively debate and panel discussion around this eye-opening new book.

TORONTO

Mon., Feb. 13, 2012, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
155 College St, 6th Floor Auditorium
Toronto, ON
RSVP to elayna.fremes@utoronto.ca

Watch the Live Webcast during the event here: http://mediacast.ic.utoronto.ca/20120213-MSF/

Join the Live Chat during the event here: http://eos.ic.utoronto.ca/ic-chat/

Discussion with:

• Claire Magone, Co-editor Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed, Research Director at CRASH/MSF (Centre de réflexion sur l'action et les savoirs humanitaires)
• Raghu Venugopal, Emergency Physician, University Health Network Emergency Department, University of Toronto Division of Emergency Medicine, MSF Emergency Physician
• Sara Dezaley, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto

MONTREAL (en Français)

Le mardi 14 février de 11h30 à 13h00
Université de Montréal
Carrefour des arts et des sciences, salle C-3061
Pavillon Lionel-Groulx
3150, rue Jean-Brillant
Montréal, QC

Liste d'experts:

• Claire Magone, Coéditrice d'Agir à tout prix?, Directrice d'études à la fondation CRASH de MSF
• Violaine Desrosiers, Ex-déléguée du Comité internationale de la Croix Rouge (CICR) et de la Fédération Internationale de la Croix Rouge (CICR) et de la Fédération Internationale de la Croix Rouge et du Croissant Rouge (IFRC)
• François Audet, Directeur exécutif de l'Observatoire canadien sur les crises et 'l'aide humanitaire (OCCAH), CERIUM, Université de Montréal

Les places sont limitées. Veuillez vous inscrire au http://msf-cerium.eventbrite.ca

OTTAWA

Wed., Feb. 15 2012, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
University of Ottawa
Jock-Turcot University Centre
Level 2, Terminus
85 University Private
Ottawa, ON

Panelists:

• Claire Magone, Co-editor Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed, Director of Studies at MSF CRASH/Foundation
• Bogdan Dumitru, Senior Security Advisor, CARE Canada
• Professor Amir Attaran, Canada Research Chair in Law, Population Health and Global Development Policy, University of Ottawa

Space is limited: Please register at http://hnr-ottawa.eventbrite.ca

MONTREAL (in English)

Thurs., Feb. 16, 2012, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
McGill University
Arts Building Room No. West 120
853 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, QC

Panelists:

• Claire Magone, Co-editor Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed, Director of Studies at MSF CRASH/Foundation
• Kyle Matthews, President of the Canadian International Council in Montreal, former diplomat with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
• Gaelle Fedida, MSF Board Member and career humanitarian aid worker

Moderated by: Mike Finnerty, host of CBC Radio's 'Daybreak'

Space is limited: Please register at http://hnr-mcgill.eventbrite.ca

ORDER  INFO

To order the book in English (only available from Amazon UK at this time): Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed

The full English book can be accessed online:
http://www.msf-crash.org/livres/en/humanitarian-negotiations-revealed

The full French version Agir à tout prix ? Négociations humanitaires : l'expérience de Médecins Sans Frontières is available here:
http://www.msf-crash.org/livres/agir-a-tout-prix

TORONTO
Mon., Feb. 13, 2012, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
155 College St, 6th Floor Auditorium
Toronto, ON
RSVP to elayna.fremes@utoronto.ca

MONTREAL (en français)
Le mardi 14 février de 11h30 à 13h00
Université de Montréal
Carrefour des arts et des sciences, salle C-3061
Pavillon Lionel-Groulx
3150, rue Jean-Brillant
Montreal, QC
Registration: http://msf-cerium.eventbrite.ca

OTTAWA
Wed., Feb. 15, 2012, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
University of Ottawa
Jock-Turcot University Centre
Level 2, Terminus
85 University Private
Ottawa, ON
Registration: http://hnr-ottawa.eventbrite.ca

MONTREAL (in English)
Thurs., Feb. 16, 2012, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
McGill University
Arts Building Room No. West 120
853 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, QC
Registration: http://hnr-mcgill.eventbrite.ca