Safeguarding Humanitarianism in Armed Conflict
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Safeguarding Humanitarianism in Armed Conflict: A Call for Reconciling International Legal Obligations and Counterterrorism Measures in the United States The Charity & Security Network was launched in November 2008 by charities, grant makers, and faith-based and advocacy groups to address challenges to humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding activities posed by U.S. counterterrorism measures. Our work includes: Increasing public awareness and knowledge of this often overlooked problem; Promoting alternative regulatory and legal approaches that reflect the realities and needs of nonprofit programs and grant making; and Coordination and support for nonprofit stakeholders to take joint action for reform. Acknowledgments: The report was supported in part by a grant from the Open Society Foundation, the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development (Cordaid), the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Moriah Fund, Muslim Legal Fund of America, Proteus Fund, and an Anonymous donor. We extend our thanks for your support. The report was written by Kay Guinane, director of the Charity & Security Network, Karen Siciliano Lucas, an attorney consultant with the Charity & Security Network, and Elizabeth Holland, an associate attorney with Foley Hoag LLP. Editing was by Suraj K. Sazawal and Nathaniel J. Turner. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors, and are not attributable to their employers. This report is for educational purposes only. It conveys general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice. Editorial suggestions from Jonathan Benthall, Sharon Bradford Franklin, Dustin Lewis, Kate Mackintosh, Naz Modirzadeh, Gabor Rona, and Sue Smock were greatly appreciated. Any errors are solely those of the authors and not the reviewers. Cover and report design by Nathaniel J. Turner. Cover photo by Colin Crowley/Save the Children. All photos used in this report were licensed under the Creative Commons at the time of publishing. This report is available free of charge, at www.charityandsecurity.org/SafeguardingHumanitarianism. The Charity & Security Network 110 Maryland Ave., NE, Suite 108 Washington, D.C. 20002 Tel. (202) 481 6926 [email protected] Twitter: @charitysecurity 1 Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Part 1: United States Counterterrorism Law and Policy Impacting Humanitarian Action ...................16 Chapter I: The Broad Prohibition on Providing “Material Support” to Terrorism ............................17 A. The Definition of Material Support ........................................................................................................................ 17 B. The Narrow Humanitarian Exemption .................................................................................................................. 18 C. The First Amendment, “Coordinated Speech,” and the Humanitarian Law Project Decision ......... 18 D. Knowledge Requirement and the Holy Land Foundation Litigation ........................................................ 19 Chapter II: Powers Authorizing Listing (Designation) of Charities and Freezing Assets ..................21 A. The President's Broad Authority to Impose Economic Sanctions .............................................................. 21 B. Treasury’s Procedures for Listing (Designation) and Freezing Assets Lack Basic Due Process ...... 23 C. Courts Have Recognized Constitutional Defects in the Listing and Asset Freezing Process .......... 24 D. The Humanitarian Exemption Waiver in Sanctions Law ................................................................................ 26 E. Problems with Treasury's Licensing Process ...................................................................................................... 27 Part 2: Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law Obligations of the United States .........29 Chapter III: The Framework of International Humanitarian Law .........................................................30 A. Public International Law ............................................................................................................................................. 30 B. The Material Scope of International Humanitarian Law ................................................................................ 32 i. Non-international Armed Conflict ......................................................................................................................... 33 ii. International Armed Conflict ................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter IV: Humanitarian Access under International Humanitarian Law .........................................38 A. Definition of Assistance .............................................................................................................................................. 39 B. Right of Initiative ........................................................................................................................................................... 40 C. Humanitarian Principles ............................................................................................................................................. 41 D. Engagement with Non-state Armed Groups ..................................................................................................... 43 E. Requirement of State Consent ................................................................................................................................ 44 F. Limits on Authority of the State to Regulate Access ...................................................................................... 46 Chapter V: Additional International Humanitarian Law Obligations and Considerations ...............47 A. Provision of Medical Assistance .............................................................................................................................. 47 B. Protections Afforded Staff of Humanitarian Organizations ......................................................................... 47 C. Obligations of Third States ....................................................................................................................................... 48 2 D. The Role of UN Security Council Resolutions .................................................................................................... 49 E. International Human Rights Law............................................................................................................................. 50 Part 3: The Need to Reconcile U.S. Counterterrorism Measures with International Legal Principles and Obligations ................................................................................................................................................52 Chapter VI: How the Material Support Statute and Economic Sanctions Block Access to Civilians in Need ..........................................................................................................................................................55 A. U.S. Counterterrorism Measures Conflict with Basic International Humanitarian Law ...................... 55 B. Barriers to Partnering with Local Charities Impede Humanitarian Access ............................................. 56 C. USAID's No Contact Policy ......................................................................................................................................57 D. The Licensing Process Is Ineffective as a Means of Access .......................................................................... 58 i. Persistent Problems with the Licensing Process Hamper Aid, Disaster Response. ............................. 59 ii. Treasury Denies Licenses to Release Frozen Funds of Charities for Aid ................................................. 60 Chapter VII: Limited Humanitarian Exemptions Are Barriers to Helping Civilians ...........................63 A. The United States’ Limited Exemption Imposes a Permanent, Blanket Ban when IHL Allows Only Temporary Restrictions ......................................................................................................................................................... 63 B. Exemptions Under International Law Are Broader than Those Provided by U.S. Measures ........... 65 C. Fungibility: The Flawed Justifications for the Narrow U.S. Humanitarian Exemption ........................ 65 i. The NGO Sector’s Accountability Standards Help Prevent Indirect Benefits to Armed Groups ... 66 ii. UN Protocols Set Standards for Negotiating Humanitarian Access with Armed Groups ................ 68 D. International Humanitarian Law Does Not Allow Fungibility Concerns to Categorically Block All Aid……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...69 Chapter VIII: U.S. Counterterrorism Rules Violate Key Principles of Humanitarian Action .............71 A. The Militarization of Aid and NGO Independence .......................................................................................... 72 B. Infringements on Neutrality and Aid Worker Safety .....................................................................................