On March 3-4, 2008 took place a seminar “Humanitarian Action: Meeting the Challenges” in Tartu in Estonia. It was organized by International Association of Universities NOHA and the University of Tartu, by the support of ECHO. This was the first time that NOHA carried out such a meeting in Estonia and the purpose of the two-days seminar was to sound chances of future co-operation. More precisely, the aim of the enlargement seminar is to strengthen the ties between potential new NOHA- partners and to explore critical issues related to humanitarian action with local experts as well as to inform academics, students and the third sector.
The issues covered in Tartu were: humanitarian security and humanitarian action, humanitarian action in Estonia, challenges, linking relief, rehabilitation and development and finally, humanitarian law and human rights law in humanitarian action. One of the topics most debated was blurring the lines between military and humanitarian activities. In general, the seminar focused rather on legal aspects of humanitarian action and state humanitarianism than on social science perspectives and independent humanitarian action.
To sum up, the event was very useful for deepening the knowledge on humanitarian action and strengthening the activities in this still nascent field in Estonia. It is hoped that other events- such as further seminars and summer schools – will grow out of this cooperation.
Information provided by Veronika Talviste, Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation, AKÜ, veronika@terveilm.net
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