From humanitarianism to human rights and justice: a way to go

Abstract

Refugees are now seen as threatening a host country's security by increasing demands on its scarce resources, or threatening the security of regions by their presence.— B S Chimni (2000,11)Such is the humanitarianism of our times.— S Chimni (2000, 3)This article explores the relationship between humanitarianism and issues of human rights and justice, in the context of Australian advocacy for asylum seekers/refugees.1 It explores tensions within the Australian advocacy movement between the need for immediate humanitarian relief of the suffering of asylum seekers/refugees affected by Australian policy, and the need for long-term systemic change. The article examines capacities and limitations of humanitarianism in regard to that advocacy, via the trajectory of advocacy achievements and non- achievements. Using this focus, it explores the extent of overlap or distance of humanitarianism from issues of human rights and justice, through the concept of ‘a just humanitarianism’. Despite the limitations identified, the article argues that humanitarianism has the potential to act not only in its own right, but as an opening point for human rights awareness, and in that sense, as a bridge towards an end point of justice. In this regard, the article argues for a pluralist approach in working towards that end goal, with the making of connections between the tools of humanitarianism and human rights at local, national and international points of entry.