Forced Migration Review issue 46 - to be published in April 2014 - will include a feature on 'Faith-based organisations and responses to displacement'.
Deadline for submission of articles: Monday 9th December 2013
Individuals and organisations inspired by their faith or religion to assist people in need have long played important roles in humanitarian assistance. They are - from the point of view of the recipients of assistance - in most ways no different from others who provide assistance, and yet they are sometimes seen, and sometimes want to be seen, as different.
Moreover, many of the world's conflicts have a faith or religious dimension which potentially complicates the work of faith-based humanitarian actors and their reception or acceptance by local communities and displaced people; secular organisations may also find that they lack an aspect that is important to those whom they wish to help. However, there is little written for a wide audience about actual experiences and how communities and organisations deal with the interfaces between faiths and rights, protection, needs and assistance.
See full call for articles at www.fmreview.org/faith
The FMR editors invite reflective, analytical and practice-oriented submissions about faith-based or faith-inspired humanitarian activities focusing on situations of forced displacement and addressing questions such as the following:
. What is it about faith that inspires humanitarian response? Does this affect cooperation or partnership with non-faith-based agencies and/or with agencies taking their inspiration from different faiths?
. Is there any conflict between the human rights approach to assistance and protection for forced migrants and an approach based on faith claims, particularly in respect of humanitarian norms, standards and accountability?
. Do displaced persons potentially identify with and/or trust organisations inspired by faith more than secular organisations?
. Do some groups of displaced people prioritise a match between their own faith and that of the providers of assistance, or vice versa?
. Do faith-based agencies ever implement assistance in a discriminatory way or link it to activities designed to proselytise? If so, how do they justify this?
. What expectations do affected people have of faith-based organisations? Are faith-based organisations better placed to implement assistance in a more holistic fashion and, if so, what are their advantages?
. Are there ways in which their faith can be a barrier to some kinds of assistance work? Is the provision of some forms of assistance hindered by some beliefs or faith cultures and, if so, how can these barriers be overcome?
.What are the potential advantages and challenges of faith-based organisations providing assistance to different members of displaced groups, including women and children, older people, and sexual, ethnic and national minorities? In what respect, if any, do faith-based organisations - and in particular local faith-based organisations - have comparative advantages available to no other governmental, non-governmental or inter-governmental agency in immediate, mid-term or long-term responses?
. What challenges do faith-based organisations face as providers of humanitarian assistance?
. What challenges should secular (non-faith-based) providers of humanitarian assistance recognise as potentially resulting from their secular nature?
. What steps are being taken or could be taken to a) improve the role, practice, behaviour or approaches of faith-based organisations in humanitarian response, and b) improve cooperation and collaboration between faith-based organisations and between faith-based and other organisations?
We are looking for examples of good, replicable practice and experience as well as sound analysis of the issues at stake. We are particularly keen to reflect the experiences and knowledge of communities and individuals directly affected by these questions.
Please note that this issue of FMR will not address the issue of religions as contributory causes of conflict or displacement.
Deadline for submission of articles: 9th December 2013
Maximum length of article for submission: 2,500 words
Please note that space is always at a premium in FMR and that published articles are usually shorter than this maximum length. Your article, if accepted for publication, may well be shortened but you will of course be consulted about any editing changes.
If you plan to submit an article, please consult our Guide for authors at www.fmreview.org/writing-fmr and, if possible, let us know in advance what particular aspect/s you propose to write about; email us at [log in to unmask]
We also welcome articles on other subjects relating to forced migration for consideration for publication in the 'general articles' section of the issue.
We would be grateful if you would forward this email to those whom you think might be interested in the theme. For details for other forthcoming issues, please see http://www.fmreview.org/forthcoming
If your contact details have recently changed, or if you would like us to remove you from our email alerts list, please let us know. Thank you.
With apologies for any cross-posting of this message.
Best wishes
Marion Couldrey & Maurice Herson
FMR Editors
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