Index of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Nonprofit Sector Reports

Almost all of the reports featured on our website are indexed here. Many of the reports are linked to their full text, but for information on studies that are not linked, please contact us. 

 

Resources

Material Support and the Need for a Sensible Humanitarian Exemption

in
Date: 
July 7, 2010

Laws that prohibit "material support" to listed terrorist organizations only exempt religious materials and medicine. That means medical services or non-medicinal necessities such as clean water are prohibited, as are tents, blankets, food and more. In other words, it is legal to give someone a pill, but illegal to provide clean water for swallowing it. There is no justification for this ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid.  

Department of State’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

in
Date: 
July 2, 2010

Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are foreign organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State. As of January 19, 2010:

Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project: Addressing the Impact of Material Support Laws on Peacebuilding Programs

in
Date: 
June 21, 2010

On June 21, 2010, a divided U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal statute that bans support to designated terrorist organizations, even when that support involves using international law to resolve disputes through nonviolent means. In Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (HLP), the court ruled 6-3 that U.S. organizations and citizens teaching nonviolent methods of conflict resolution toward sanctioned terrorist groups could face criminal charges. David Cole, an attorney representing HLP and others in the case said, “We are deeply disappointed. The Supreme Court has ruled that human rights advocates, providing training and assistance in the nonviolent resolution of disputes, can be prosecuted as terrorists."

Nonprofit and Legal Experts Respond to Supreme Court Ruling in Humanitarian Law Project Case

in
Date: 
June 21, 2010

On June 21, 2010, a divided U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal statute that bans support to designated terrorist organizations, even when defined to include conflict mediation, human rights training and peace-building efforts aimed at turning terrorist groups away from violence. That same day the Charity and Security Network (CSN) and the Constitution Project (CP) held a press conference to comment on the ruling. An audio file of the entire teleconference, including reactions to the decision and a question and answer period from national media, is available here.  

Berghof: Challenges Facing Peacebuilders Engaging with Listed Groups

in
Date: 
June 17, 2010
Author: 
Oliver Wils and Véronique Dudouet

The legal listing of suspected terrorist organizations has serious consequences, both intended and unintended, not only for the targeted entities, but also individuals or organizations interacting with them—including for peaceful and constructive ends. Written by Oliver Wils and Véronique Dudouet of the Berghof institutions, this June 2010 brief presents some of the key challenges of counterterrorism regimes for groups trying to promote peace processes. It further illustrates possible forms of constructive engagement with listed terrorist organizations through examples of conflict transformation activities carried out by the Berghof institutions: Berghof Peace Support and Berghof Conflict Research.  

One Year After Cairo Speech, Obama Needs to Address Charitable Problems

in
Date: 
June 16, 2010

Sahar Aziz has written a blog on the CNN.com website about the need for changing the “draconian legal regime” that restricts U.S. humanitarian aid organizations and prevents millions of privately raised dollars from being used for their charitable purposes. Aziz says reform measures should include judicial oversight of Treasury’s designation process to ensure an independent review of the process. Currently, Treasury acts as prosecutor, judge, jury and executor of any group either designated or “pending investigation.” (See KindHearts case)

CSN Comments on Treasury's FAQ for "Protecting Charitable Giving"

in
Date: 
June 16, 2010

Treasury's FAQ, titled, "Protecting Charitable Giving" fails to acknowledge the importance of protecting charitable operations and beneficiaries. The entire chain of events, from donation to delivery of services to people in need, must be protected from expropriation by terrorists and from unduly restrictive U.S. government enforcement policies. Treasury must broaden its vision.

Charity and Security Network Pressroom

in
Date: 
June 7, 2010
Press inquires:

Kay Guinane, Program Manager
(202) 729-6791
kguinane@charityandsecurity.org

CSN Press Releases:

List of Experts

in
Date: 
June 2, 2010

The Charity and Security Network includes experts with policy, legal and field experience on how national security laws impact nonprofits and the people we serve. To contact them for press interviews, conferences or other speaking events, please contact us.

Click on their name for more information.

Abduction Management Tools for Aid Workers

in
Date: 
June 1, 2010

Resources for managing security concerns and risks for aid workers operating in dangerous environments. 

  • The May 2010 report, Security Risk Management: NGO Approach, provides the user with tools to identify and assess the NGO's operational context (activities and the security realities), evaluate the problem (risk analysis), and identify solutions (Mitigation Measures) to accomplish its mission of enabling operations while ensuring the safety and security of NGO personnel, assets, and programs. It is produced by InterAction Security Unit.
     
  • Abduction of aid workers has risen sharply in particular contexts in the past decade.  The May 2010 EISF Briefing Paper Abduction Management explores the dimensions of effective, proactive abduction and kidnapping response mechanisms.

  • On May 11, 2010, a Harvard sponsored seminar titled, Security on Mission: How to Survive a Kidnapping, addressed the prevention and mitigation of kidnapping. The event explored the causes, risks, and consequences of kidnapping for humanitarian professionals working in some of the world’s most dangerous areas.