Françoise Bouchet Saulnier has devoted 35 years of her life to putting her legal knowledge to the test in practical applications in support of Médecins Sans Frontières’ humanitarian work in countries affected by conflict or other emergencies. In doing so, she has gained operational expertise in international humanitarian law that goes far beyond mere academic knowledge.
This knowledge has been enriched by her direct involvement as legal advisor and then legal director of MSF in various conflict zones and by her practical management, alongside operational teams, of the many challenges and dilemmas encountered by MSF's medical and humanitarian relief efforts from 1991 to the present day.
The Practical Dictionary of Humanitarian Law was developed as an answer to concrete and recurring problems and dilemmas encountered by field teams in situations of armed conflict and other emergencies. For each concrete problem, the dictionary provides an overview of the applicable international legal framework, enabling operational managers to understand the legal and operational issues at stake with regard to vulnerable populations and individuals, the scope for negotiation and the valid or abusive arguments put forward by the political or armed leaders concerned, as well as the validity of the arguments that can be used by MSF.
This dictionary was designed to serve as a basic resource for humanitarian operations managers. It contains the legal elements necessary to inform their decisions and enable them to act in a defensible, responsible, and ethical manner in deregulated and violent environments. It provides the foundation for rigorous dialogue and legitimate communication with political and military leaders, as well as with civil societies affected by crisis and conflict situations.
International humanitarian law is presented as a tool in the service of humanitarian action, thereby avoiding the legalistic trap of subordinating action to a restrictive interpretation of the law. The absolute priority for humanitarian actors must remain taking the risk to act in a relevant and legitimate manner, without seeking to comply strictly with every norm or to rule out every potential legal risk.
