Inclusiveness: The Future of the New and Improved “Normal”

Alma Taslidžan Al-Osta, Humanity & Inclusion

The pandemic has made 2020 an unusual year. It has kept us physically far from each other but united us in the belief that humanitarian disarmament is as relevant, and perhaps even more relevant, than before this pandemic.

Since June, more than 260 civil society organizations have signed an open letter arguing that humanitarian disarmament can help lead the way to an improved post-pandemic normal. A new film, inspired by this civil society movement and produced by Humanity & Inclusion, highlights the letter’s message of inclusion. 

Humanity & Inclusion’s new video on humanitarian disarmament, the pandemic, and the importance of inclusion. Source: Humanity & Inclusion, 2020.

In the film, Mahpekay, survivor and orthotic specialist delivering rehabilitation services in Afghanistan, Elkin, an operator working in Colombian mine-contaminated areas, and Raluca, a humanitarian disarmament advocate in New York, share their experiences about how the pandemic has affected their work. Images from Afghanistan, Belgium, Central African Republic, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, India, New York, Pakistan, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey show how this pandemic is a worldwide concern.

In the spirit of humanitarian disarmament and the open letter, the film’s speakers call on the international community to prioritize human security, reallocate military spending to humanitarian causes, work to eliminate inequalities, ensure multilateral fora incorporate diverse voices, and bring a cooperative mindset to problems of practice and policy. By being inclusive, we can reshape the security landscape for the future and help create a new—and improved—“normal.” 

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