In this hybrid research seminar on Wednesday, November 19, 2026, at 12:00 h, we will have Thea Hilhorst, who will present her research titled " Humanitarian action today".
Abstract:
Modern humanitarianism started in the 1860s, with the first Geneva Convention. It is built on the idea that humanitarian crisis is an exceptional moment that needs temporary relief until a return to normality is possible. As humanitarian action became more important, especially since the beginning of this century, when the number of people in need as well as humanitarian budgets continued to grow, it became increasingly clear that crisis is much more permanent in many cases. Classical humanitarian action seems less and less fit for purpose. We currently witness an unprecedented rupture of the system, due to the erosion of International Humanitarian Law and drastic budget cuts. This makes the question urgent what humanitarian action can mean today and where it is heading in the near future.
The Zoom link to join the seminar online can be found here. This event is open to the public; all those interested in this topic or the speaker are very welcome to attend. After the presentation, there will be time for questions and discussion.
For any queries related to our UNU-MERIT Seminar Series, please contact Lizeth Melissa Molina Alvarez and Raghav Chakravarthy by sending an email to seminars@merit.unu.edu.
