Afghanistan: A Land in Shadow
By Chris Johnson, Oxfam (UK and Ireland), Oxford, 1998

One more in the series of Oxfam Country Profiles, this book presents a concise account of the historical and political background leading up to the present situation in Afghanistan. It examines how the country’s long
history of war and armed resistance has affected the lives of ordinary people and finds examples of people rebuilding their lives and maintaining the bonds of family and tradition, despite the suffering and poverty.

Available in English from Oxfam
(UK and Ireland), 274 Banbury Road,
Oxford OX2 7DZ, UK.

The Silent Menace: Landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina
By Ian Woodmansey and Louis Maresca, ICRC in collaboration with UNHCR, Geneva, 1998

This detailed study looks into the human, social and economic impact of mine contamination in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It describes efforts currently being undertaken to address the situation and offers some recommendations on how the response to the problem could be improved.

Available in English from the ICRC. Sfr 6.

Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Prepared by Rachel Hodgkin and Peter Newell, UNICEF, Geneva, 1998

Since its adoption in 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has achieved almost universal ratification. The Implementation Handbook is a useful tool for all those involved in implementing the principles and provisions of the Convention and realizing the human rights of children.

Available in English from UNICEF Regional Office for Europe, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; or UNICEF, UNICEF House, Three United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA.

Silence rompu
By Raymond Depardon, Editions La Joie de Lire, Geneva, 1998

“We must break the silence. Too many children are alone, horribly alone,” writes Raymond Depardon in the introduction. Featuring
photographs of children living in an orphanage in Romania with text from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Depardon makes evident the continued suffering of children juxtaposed with the ideals expressed in the Convention.

Available in French from Editions La Joie de Lire, 8 cours des Bastions, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland. Sfr28.

Panorama: Fires still burning
ICRC, Geneva, April 1998

This is the latest in the series which uses powerful black and white images to convey the
suffering and despair of victims of war. The publication stresses that the number of conflicts around the world shows no sign of abating and that as many people as ever are affected.

Available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, German, Japanese and Russian from the ICRC.

The SIrUS Project: Towards a determination of which weapons cause “superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering”
Edited by Dr Robin Coupland, ICRC Health Operations Division, 1997

The SlrUS Project is the work of a group of experts in the domain of the effects of weapons which was undertaken at the invitation of the ICRC. The Project proposes that the effects of conventional weapons, which are well documented, give a definition of what is not “superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering” and suggests four criteria by which the effects of any weapon can be measured against those of conventional weapons. Buried anti-personnel mines, blinding lasers and “non-lethal” weapons are examined in this context.

Available in English from the ICRC. Sfr 5.

Blood Programme – Quality Manual
International Federation, Geneva, 1997

This manual contains recommendations on the management of a well-functioning blood programme, including the recruitment and retention of donors and the format for a memorandum of understanding between a National Society and the government.

Available in English, French and Spanish from the International Federation. Sfr 15.

Blood Programme – Development Manual
International Federation, Geneva, 1997

This manual covers all aspects of a blood service from donor recruitment and blood storage to documentation and maintenance of equipment.

Available in English, French and Spanish from the International Federation. Sfr 15.

International Humanitarian Law and Protection
Carlo von Flüe, ICRC, Geneva, 1997

In November 1996 the ICRC and a group of NGOs gathered for a three-day meeting to discuss issues relating to international law, in particular humanitarian law and human rights law, in an attempt to reach a common definition of the notion of protection.
This is a report of that workshop, presenting the debates and exchanges of views which will hopefully lead to the drafting of principles governing protection activities, in the same way as ethical guidelines have already been laid down for the conduct of emergency relief operations.

Available in English from the ICRC. Sfr 15.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Amnesty International, Le Cherche-Midi Editeur, Paris, 1998

Fifty years have gone by since the United Nations drew up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in response to the atrocious crimes perpetrated during the Second World War. Lest we forget, and to coincide with the 50th anniversary, Amnesty International has produced this handy little book detailing the 30 articles of the Declaration in six major world languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese. The texts are accompanied by powerful colour illustrations by Christine Lesueur.

Available from Le Cherche-Midi Editeur, 23 rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris, France.

A Peace of Timbuktu
By Robin-Edward Poulton and Ibrahim ag Youssouf, UNIDIR, New York and Geneva, 1998

This study published by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) brings the Malian model of peacemaking to the awareness of governments and policy-makers around the globe. It contains a very frank account of the conflict and the efforts to contain it, but also an insightful analysis of which efforts to restore peace were effective and why.

Available in English from UNIDIR, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

The Complete Guide to Fund-Raising
By P.W. and P.F. Sterrett, Mercury Business Paperbacks, London, 1988

The authors give practical advice on the administration and organization of fund-raising events. They highlight the problems and suggest ways in which firms and individuals can be persuaded to part with their money. Finally, they illustrate a host of exciting fund-raising ideas.

Available in English from Mercury Book, Golden Arrow Publications Ltd, 862 Garratt Lane, London SW17 0NB, UK. GB£6.99.

Non-Governmental Organisations – Performance and Accountability
Edited by Michael Edwards and David Hulme, Save the Children Fund – UK, Earthscan Publications Limited, London, 1995

The last decade has seen some significant changes in international development and in the status of non-governmental organizations. Not only has the number of NGOs virtually doubled; many of them have seen a considerable growth in their budgets. This book takes a hard and critical look at the issues surrounding this expanding area, and describes how NGOs can, and must, improve the way they measure and account for their performance.

Available in English from Earthscan Publications Ltd, 120 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JN, UK. GB£9.95

When Aid is No Help
By John Madeley, Immediate Technologys Publications Ltd, London, 1991

The $50 billion a year official aid effort has the potential to help the poorest – but it needs to change and become more appropriate to their needs. The book suggests what changes are needed and ends with 12 guidelines for aid policy-makers.

Available in English from Immediate Technologys Publications Ltd, 103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH, UK.

Le Financement de l’Aide Humanitaire
L’exemple du Comité International de la Croix-Rouge
By Jean-François Golay, European University Studies, Editions Peter Lang SA, Berne, 1990

This book is the result of the author’s interest in the financing of international organizations and his encounter with the ICRC, which gave him access to documents normally not available to the public. It traces the history of the ICRC from a financial point of view and looks at the problems facing international relief organizations, caught between a restricted donor community and the ever-increasing needs of the beneficiaries.

Available in French from Editions Peter Lang SA, Berne.

Shattered Lives
ICRC, Geneva, 1998, 5 minutes

Using music by Australian songwriter Bernard Carney and images taken by a number of dedicated photographers, “Shattered Lives” presents a five-minute overview of the landmine epidemic. The clip illustrates the results of the use of these indiscriminate weapons in countries such as Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia and Mozambique and recognizes the efforts undertaken by the ICRC, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and numerous NGOs to achieve a total ban on landmines.

Available in English (with paper translation of the lyrics in French and Spanish) from the ICRC. VHS Sfr 20. BetaSP tapes available for broadcast use.

Hands On, Somalia: Fishing for Change
Produced by TVE International/
Intermediate Technology for BBC World
(first TV broadcast March 1998), 1998,
4 minutes 30 seconds

There is little tradition of eating fish in Somalia, but attitudes are changing. This video focuses on an innovative project run by the ICRC, the Somali Red Crescent and local Somalis to set up a sustainable small-scale fishing industry.

Available in English from the ICRC. VHS Sfr 20.

Water after war
ICRC, Geneva, 1998, 18 minutes

Present-day conflicts often end in stalemate, with neither war nor peace prevailing. In such cases emergency aid cannot be withdrawn from one day to the next. Time is needed for basic services, such as water-supply systems, to start functioning normally again. This film features three different types of water programme carried out by the ICRC in cooperation with local bodies.

Two urban water-supply projects are shown in Mogadishu, Somalia, and Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as one carried out in a rural setting, on the Lake Kivu island of Idjwi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The last part of the film focuses on the ICRC’s water and sanitation programme aimed at improving sanitary conditions in Rwanda’s overcrowded prisons.

Available in English, French and Spanish from the ICRC. Shorter versions also available in English. VHS Sfr 20. BetaSP tapes available for broadcast use.