March 30, 2012
Here in Wellington we are lucky to have Fabrice Weissman, Director of the Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) Foundation in Paris, here to launch a book, of which he is one of the editors – ‘Humanitarian negotiations Revealed: The MSF Experience’.
After the launch there will be a panel discussion about the book’s content that promises to be fascinating. The book, through case studies, shows the practical reality of running an international humanitarian organisation in communities and states that often have a deep resistance to the core principles and goals of Médecins Sans Frontières. The studies reveal the compromises and negotiations that MSF has had to make, political deals they’ve had to strike, and the consequent evolution of MSF’s humanitarian goals and what compromise in the face of them means to those people they are trying to reach.This is far from a work of PR for Médecins Sans Frontières, instead it is an honest and critical appraisal of decisions made and actions taken. Fabrice Weissman, so intimately involved in the field and as a Director of the organisation, will provide a stunning level of access into this realm of international aid and ‘humanitarian space’.
Plus, delicious refreshments will be available.
The event is being held on Monday April 2, 2012, from 5.30 – 7.00 pm at The Grand Hall, Old Parliament Building, 32 Molesworth St. Wellington. You will need to RSVP to nziia@vuw.ac.nz (with ‘MSF’ in the subject line).