Unwavering solidarity: Defending people’s rights and dignity in this time of crisis
An overwhelming number of people across the world have been made more vulnerable as a result of the suspension of US funding. The human cost is immeasurable. Amidst this turmoil, organisations providing essential assistance are under immense strain as they struggle to find a way forward.
As we all try to navigate through the immediate fallout, the mission at the heart of the CHS Alliance has never been more important and must continue to guide our decision making at this challenging time:
Respect for the rights and dignity of people, and enhanced effectiveness and impact of assistance by building a culture of quality and accountability.
We have a choice to make. Organisations can either look inward as they compete for scarce resources or look outward to work collaboratively and in solidarity with one another and, crucially, the communities they serve.
By choosing to prioritise what people affected by crisis need, and by standing with local and national organisations, we can overcome the current challenges and build an even stronger and better aid system.
This people-centred approach is at the heart of the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), a globally recognised framework rooted in humanitarian principles, endorsed by over 450 organisations and used by many more to guide their work.
As the Board of the CHS Alliance, we call on all aid actors to fulfill the CHS commitments so that people affected by crisis and demonstrate their unwavering solidarity with the people they serve. We must make sure that communities…
- Can exercise rights and participate in decisions. Aid actors are having to make tough decisions about how to allocate drastically reduced resources. These decisions must be guided by community members, including the most marginalised, rather than organisations’ interests. (CHS commitment 1)
- Access timely and effective support. Local actors, often the first responders when crisis strikes, must be supported in their leadership role if the aid system is to deliver efficiencies that are needed more than ever. (CHS commitment 2)
- Access support that does not harm. The drastic reduction in funding has put people at even more risk of harm and sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. (CHS commitment 4)
- Access coordinated and complementary support. We need to stand firm together, and work in unity to evidence the power of humanitarianism, by pooling our knowledge, ideas and resources. Specifically, we call on all funders (institutional donors, UN agencies and INGOs) to use the CHS in their due diligence process. (CHS commitment 6)
CHS Alliance is committed to putting people’s rights and dignity first. This is a moment when accountability to, and solidarity with, people in crisis is more important than ever.