b. Human rights and humanitarian operations
The link between humanitarian law and human rights law was discussed in the introduction. There is increasing consensus that humanitarian operations must integrate human rights into conflict situations. Humanitarian operations are established in conflict or complex emergency situations where priorities have traditionally focused on addressing the most immediate needs – the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It is now understood that needs-based operations should also incorporate a human rights-based approach which serves to address both immediate needs and longer-term security.
In conflict and complex emergency situations, identification of human rights violations and efforts to protect those rights are essential, particularly as States may be unwilling or unable to protect human rights.

Human rights issues are being integrated into humanitarian operations in vari- ous ways. The Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs brings together relevant departments of the United Nations thus ensuring a co-ordinated and integrated approach to humanitarian issues. The Office of the High Commis- sioner for Human Rights is involved in the work of the Committee: this ensures the incorporation of a human rights dimension into the work and policy development in this field. Steps are being taken to guarantee that humanitarian field staff are trained in methods of basic human rights inter- vention, standards and procedures; to secure close field cooperation between human rights and humanitarian bodies; to ensure that a human rights dimen- sion is included when developing strategies for major humanitarian efforts; and to encourage human rights monitoring in humanitarian operations.