EPIS Thinktank

Category: Human Rights & Humanitarian Aid

  • Follow Lithuania: Not only words, but also deeds

    Follow Lithuania: Not only words, but also deeds

    —

    by

    Lloyd Opdam
    in

    To what extent can Lithuania’s values-based foreign policy serve as a model for the EU? Lithuania demonstrates that a consistent values-based foreign policy is feasible in practice, but its long-term effectiveness depends on sustained support from allies and the ability to act autonomously in a complex international environment. Europe can learn from this mindset and…

  • At Europe’s Door: Italy’s Migration Crisis

    At Europe’s Door: Italy’s Migration Crisis

    —

    by

    Andrea Cirelli
    in

    How does Italy’s bilateral agreement with Albania fit within the broader EU migration framework? The protocol is innovative because it maintains full Italian jurisdiction on Albanian soil, avoiding burden-shifting while managing migration pressure. Despite its legal creativity, the agreement faces unresolved challenges and its long-term viability within EU law remains uncertain.

  • Rhetoric Over Rules: EU Migration Crisis

    Rhetoric Over Rules: EU Migration Crisis

    —

    by

    Fernanda Marin Farias
    in

    To what extent does anti-migrant rhetoric in Hungary and Poland undermine EU migration solidarity under the 2024 Pact? Both governments use securitisation rhetoric to normalise non-compliance, deepen the East-West divide, and obstruct the Pact’s 2026 implementation. Without stronger enforcement or real incentives for cooperation, national rhetoric will continue to override collective European responses.

  • Erasing the Future:

    Erasing the Future:

    —

    by

    Jay Thenot Worbel
    in

    This brief investigates the systematic deportation of Ukrainian children as a deliberate instrument of Russian state policy. It argues that the integration of children into Russian society is a calculated effort to dismantle Ukrainian national identity, constituting a crime against humanity. The Brief advocates for a UN-mandated tracking registry and intensified third-party mediation to secure…

  • Funding Freeze

    Funding Freeze

    —

    by

    Patricia Nevoa
    in

    Executive Order: “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid”; who could oppose the need to eliminate abuses of the system? Domestically, the freeze on spending carries tangible risks for essential social programmes, threatening services that many communities rely on. Internationally, it also fuels uncertainty: allies and partners are left wondering whether the country will remain…

  • Maternal Mortality as Foreign Policy Failure

    Maternal Mortality as Foreign Policy Failure

    —

    by

    Amelia Goss
    in

    Why is maternal health not treated as a strategic foreign policy priority? This report argues that Sudan’s maternity crisis exposes systemic failures in humanitarian and foreign policy frameworks that marginalise women’s reproductive care. Maternal deaths in conflict are predictable and preventable, yet under-protected. Placing maternity care at the centre of foreign policy is essential for…

  • Humanitarian Aid under Pressure

    Humanitarian Aid under Pressure

    —

    by

    Marie Klostermeier
    in

    The 11th Humanitarian Symposium Munich was devoted to the topic “Humanitarian aid in the light of the current geopolitical situation”. Accordingly, the agenda was filled with a series of experts from the field, which allowed us to draw conclusions about the recent geopolitical impacts on humanitarian aid worldwide.

  • The Failure of R2P’s Third Pillar

    The Failure of R2P’s Third Pillar

    —

    by

    EPIS Think Tank
    in

    What barriers are there to the adoption and enforcement of the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine? Through the case studies of Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this article examines how strategic and economic interests serve as a barrier to R2P’s implementation. Application of human rights law remains selective.

  • Use of Aid After the 2023 Turkey–Syria Quake

    Use of Aid After the 2023 Turkey–Syria Quake

    —

    by

    Burak Baran
    in

    – Was international aid provided after the Turkish–Syrian earthquake used appropriately? – Despite substantial funding, centralised administration in Turkey and authoritarian control in Syria led to political interference, weak oversight, and selective allocation, limiting effective distribution of aid. – Strengthened monitoring, local participation, and conditional donor coordination are crucial to preventing politicisation of aid and…

  • Accountability and Corruption in Humanitarian Aid

    Accountability and Corruption in Humanitarian Aid

    —

    by

    Celia Ball
    in

    Main question: How can humanitarian aid stay efficient while preventing corruption? Argument: Strong, system-wide accountability, coordination, and community feedback reduce corruption risks in crisis response. Conclusion: Accountability and rapid action are compatible; investing in adaptive oversight and participation protects aid integrity and ensures assistance reaches those in need.