What are humanitarian standards?
People affected by disaster or conflict have the right to life with dignity and, therefore, the right to assistance. Humanitarian standards are statements which describe the minimum conditions for life with dignity. Standards are accompanied by possible actions, suggested targets and guidance notes which help humanitarian actors to move towards achieving standards and measure their progress.
Humanitarian standards are developed by humanitarian practitioners with specific areas of expertise and are formulated based on evidence, experience, and learning. The standards are developed by consensus and reflect accumulated best practice at a global level. They are revised regularly to incorporate developments across the sector.
Humanitarian standards are a useful resource for practitioners to plan, implement, and evaluate humanitarian response. They provide a strong basis to advocate for the rights of crisis-affected communities. By applying them in preparedness and response operations, humanitarian agencies and practitioners make a commitment to quality and make themselves accountable to the populations they serve and other stakeholders.
