Humanitarianism

Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans, in order to better humanity for moral, altruistic and logical reasons. It is the philosophical belief in movement toward improving the human race in a variety of areas, used to describe a wide number of activities relating specifically to human welfare. A practitioner is known as a humanitarian.

Origins

The origins of humanitarianism are rooted in the acts of individuals who have sought to alleviate the suffering of others. This can be traced back to ancient times, with examples such as the Good Samaritan parable in the Bible. The modern concept of humanitarianism was developed in the 19th century, particularly in response to the suffering of civilians in wars and natural disasters.

Principles

Humanitarianism is guided by a number of principles, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The principle of humanity means that all human beings have a right to respect, protection and assistance. The principle of neutrality and impartiality means that humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature. The principle of independence means that humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented.

Criticisms

Despite its widely accepted use, humanitarianism has been criticized on several grounds. Critics argue that it can be paternalistic, perpetuate dependency, and obscure the social and political structures that produce the very needs that humanitarian action seeks to address.

See also

• Human rights
• International humanitarian law
• Philanthropy
• Altruism

External links

• International Committee of the Red Cross
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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