The role of digital technologies in humanitarian law, policy and action: Charting a path forward
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Why does "Digital Technologies and War" deserve the thematic focus of an entire issue of the International Review of the Red Cross?Contributors to this issue highlight two overarching reasons.First, digitalization is a priority topic for humanitarian organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 1 because it is rapidly shaping how humanitarian operations and assistance activities are carried out, impacting how the humanitarian sector is serving affected populations.In this respect, one group of contributors to this issue (with their pieces appearing under the headers "Humanitarian Action in the Digital Age" and "Business and Digital Technologies in Humanitarian Crises") analyze how the use of digital technologies for delivering humanitarian relief brings forth both unparalleled opportunities and risks.They highlight that some digital technologies, including those which ease communication and service delivery, are vital tools for the humanitarian sector.Those technologies help to ensure that the humanitarian sector brings solutions to crisis contexts and continues to serve affected populations.For example, increased connectivity and digital access can empower affected people in armed conflicts and other situations of violence to connect with others via messaging applications and social media platforms, to find information online and to express their needs via rapid feedback mechanisms, serving as active agents working with humanitarians. 2 Furthermore, digitally rooted contextual analyses, crisis mapping, and digitalized services can allow humanitarians to more efficiently serve affected people, and to predict and respond to humanitarian crises.On the other hand, these contributors also stress how there are certain risks and considerations that go hand in hand with the opportunities brought forth in using digital technologies for humanitarian relief efforts.Accounting for and mitigating these risks is how the humanitarian sector can ensure that it is well prepared as it embarks on digital transformation processes.One dominant risk factor is data protection and privacy: collecting data from affected populations
Authors: Saman Rejali, Yannick Heiniger
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3138710727