ARTSSCI 1C06 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Médecins Sans Frontières, Moral Responsibility
7 Mar 2017
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M decins sans fronti res, 1971 (doctors without borders: kouchner condemns french government and icrc for silence on. Biafran genocide: principle of total independence from states, out of respect for human rights, msf has a duty to interfere , adversarial attitude towards authority embedded in group"s character, rogues, vigilantes. New humanitarianism: alongside bombs, attacking powers also provide medical supplies, food to avert famine, the battle for hearts and minds , etc. An inherent contradiction: us government: medical aid groups as part of our coalition , choosing sides, e. g. in gulf war. Major medical humanitarian groups (excluding icrc and msf) have developed close links with attacking forces, relying on governments for funding, forging partnerships: arguing for the right and responsibility to intervene when human rights are threatened. Challenging new humanitarianism: betrays right to belief on need, care denied if politically justifiable, blurs distinction between state and ngo, helpers and occupiers.
