No CrossRef data available.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 October 2024
Neutrality, a foundational principle in humanitarian efforts and peace mediation, encounters significant practical challenges in the modern landscape of armed conflicts, particularly in the intermediary role of humanitarian organizations. This study examines the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a neutral intermediary in Yemen, focusing on the release and repatriation of detainees during the 2016–20 peace efforts. Drawing on the ICRC's experience, the analysis highlights the evolving understanding of neutrality from a rigid concept to a more flexible, context-sensitive approach. The findings emphasize the importance of neutrality in fostering trust and facilitating dialogue while acknowledging the operational complexities and strategic considerations involved. This study provides insights into enhancing the contributions of neutral intermediaries to sustainable peace processes.
The advice, opinions and statements contained in this article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ICRC. The ICRC does not necessarily represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided in this article.
1 Kaplan, Robert D., The Revenge of Geography, Random House, New York, 2012Google Scholar.
2 Wani, Kushtrim, Neutrality in International Law: From the Sixteenth Century to 1945, Routledge, Abingdon, 2018Google Scholar.
3 Agius, Christine and Devine, Karen, “‘Neutrality: A Really Dead Concept?’ A Reprise”, Cooperation and Conflict, Vol. 46, No. 3, 2011CrossRefGoogle Scholar.
4 Schmitt, Carl, The Concept of the Political, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, 1996Google Scholar.
5 Richmond, Oliver, “Devious Objectives and the Disputants’ View of International Mediation: A Theoretical Framework”, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 35, No. 6, 1998, p. 707CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Cloke, Kenneth, Mediating Dangerously: The Frontiers of Conflict Resolution, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 2001Google Scholar.
6 Moore, Christopher W., The Mediation Process: Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 2016Google Scholar.
7 Astor, Hilary, “Mediator Neutrality: Making Sense of Theory and Practice”, Social and Legal Studies, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2007CrossRefGoogle Scholar.
8 Fisher, Roger and Ury, William, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, Penguin Books, New York, 2011Google Scholar.
9 Kolb, Deborah M. and Rubin, Jeffrey Z., The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 2018Google Scholar.
10 Mulcahy, Linda, “The Possibilities and Desirability of Mediator Neutrality – Towards an Ethic of Partiality?”, Social and Legal Studies, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2001, p. 505CrossRefGoogle Scholar.
11 H. Astor, above note 7.
12 Peter Wallensteen and Isak Svensson, “Talking Peace: International Mediation in Armed Conflicts”, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 51, No. 2, 2014.
13 Marco Antonio Da Silveira, “Impartiality v. Substantive Neutrality: Is the Mediator Authorized to Give Legal Advice?”, Dispute Resolution Journal, Vol. 62, No. 1, 2007.
14 Jacob Bercovitch and Ayse Kadayifci, “Religion and Mediation: The Role of Faith-Based Actors in International Conflict Resolution”, International Negotiation, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2009.
15 Paul Wehr and John Paul Lederach, “Mediating Conflict in Central America”, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 28, No. 1, 1991.
16 Jacob Bercovitch and Richard Jackson, Conflict Resolution in the Twenty-First Century: Principles, Methods, and Approaches, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI, 2014.
17 Karen Hoglund and Isak Svensson, “Damned if You Do, and Damned if You Don't: Nordic Involvement and Images of Third-Party Neutrality in Sri Lanka”, International Negotiation, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2008; Robert Benjamin, “The Risks of Neutrality – Reconsidering the Term and Concept”, Mediate.com, 12 September 2016, available at: https://mediate.com/the-risks-of-neutrality-reconsidering-the-term-and-concept/ (all internet references were accessed in October 2024).
18 Stephen K. Erickson and Marilyn S. McKnight, The Practitioner's Guide to Mediation: A Client-Centered Approach, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2001.
19 K. Hoglund and I. Svensson, above note 17.
20 Francisca J. Lara and Phil Champain, Inclusive Peace in Muslim Mindanao: Revisiting the Dynamics of Conflict and Exclusion, International Alert, London, 2009; Tony Bogdanoski, “The ‘Neutral’ Mediator's Perennial Dilemma: To Intervene or Not to Intervene?”, Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2009.
21 Kathy Douglas and Rachael Field, “Looking for Answers to Mediation's Neutrality Dilemma in Therapeutic Jurisprudence”, Murdoch University Law Review, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2006.
22 J. Bercovitch and A. Kadayifci, above note 14.
23 Cédric Cotter, “The ICRC as a Neutral Intermediary: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives”, Cross-Files, 24 March 2022, available at: https://blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/the-icrc-as-a-neutral-intermediary-historical-and-contemporary-perspectives/.
24 ICRC, “Neutral Intermediary: An Interview with the ICRC's Head of Operations for South Asia”, 2008 (internal document).
25 UN Development Programme and European Union, Supporting Insider Mediation: Strengthening Resilience to Conflict and Turbulence, Guidance Note, 2014, available at: www.undp.org/publications/supporting-insider-mediation-strengthening-resilience-conflict-and-turbulence.
26 Peter Wallensteen and Isak Svensson, “Talking Peace: International Mediation in Armed Conflicts”, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 51, No. 2, 2014, p. 315.
27 ICRC, “The Neutral Intermediary Role of the ICRC: At the Heart of Humanitarian Action”, Geneva, 7 July 2008, available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/neutral-intermediary-role-icrc-heart-humanitarian-action.
28 P. Wallensteen and I. Svensson, above note 26.
29 Ibid.
30 Dorothea Hilhorst, “Classical Humanitarianism and Resilience Humanitarianism: Making Sense of Two Brands of Humanitarian Action”, Journal of International Humanitarian Action, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2018, available at: https://jhumanitarianaction.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41018-018-0043-6.
31 Melanie Greenberg, “Goal 16: A New Paradigm for Peace and Development”, Peace Policy, 18 May 2016, available at: https://peacepolicy.nd.edu/2016/05/18/goal-16-a-new-paradigm-for-peace-and-development/.
32 Statues of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Adopted by the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross, Geneva, 1986, amended 1995 and 2006, Art. 5(3), available at: www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/statutes-en-a5.pdf.
33 ICRC, Policy Document: The ICRC in Its Role as Neutral Intermediary, Doctrine 46 (internal document).
34 Agreement for the Exchange of Prisoners, Detainees, Missing Persons, Arbitrarily Detained and Forcibly Disappeared Persons, and Those under House Arrest, 13 December 2018 (Prisoners Exchange Agreement), available at: https://osesgy.unmissions.org/prisoners-exchange-agreement.
35 Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, “UN-Backed Prisoner Swap Negotiations in Yemen Blocked in Stalemate”, 7 June 2021, available at: https://sanaacenter.org/publications/analysis/14314.
36 Prisoners Exchange Agreement, above note 34.
37 Ahmed Al-Haj and Samy Magdy, “Red Cross: Yemen Rebels, Saudi Coalition Begin Prisoner Swap”, AP News, 14 April 2023, available at: https://apnews.com/article/yemen-war-prisoner-exchange-saudi-arabia-houthisfe9d0d3cbfaad81818534d7f0b41cecd.
To send this article to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about sending to your Kindle. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save this article to your Dropbox account, please select one or more formats and confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you used this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your Dropbox account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save this article to your Google Drive account, please select one or more formats and confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you used this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your Google Drive account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.