Abstract
This chapter considers the accountability of humanitarian organisations for their work to protect children in the context of armed conflict and political violence. Arguing that the much-vaunted rights-based approach has proven ineffective, the potential of core humanitarian principles to constitute a framework for accountability is examined. The application of these principles—humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence—is related to the child protection work of NGOs and UN agencies in Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The failure to uphold these principles is illustrated and the potential to utilise such failure in pushing for change discussed.
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Notes
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For example, see https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/statement-on-uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia. Accessed 24 February 2020.
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Press release by Eglantyne Jebb, 21 May 1919 cited by Cabanes (2014, p. 278).
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Hart, J. (2022). Child Protection in Palestine and Jordan: From Rights to Principles?. In: Howard, N., Okyere, S. (eds) International Child Protection. Palgrave Studies on Children and Development. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78763-9_9
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