Abstract

CAVANELLAS, Luciana B.. 50 years of Doctors without Borders and the reflections of contemporary humanitarian work. Laboreal [online]. 2021, vol.17, n.2, e18139.  Epub Dec 03, 2021. ISSN 1646-5237.  https://doi.org/10.4000/laboreal.18139.

The international NGO Doctors Without Borders (DWB) turns 50 years old in December 2021. Its history and actions reveal important events that are necessary to understand the contemporary humanitarian movement. From negotiations in complex political contexts to the personal experiences of workers who risk themselves to provide aid and solidarity, the conflicts and dilemmas are constant when it comes to reconciling medicine and witnessing human suffering. To ground and enrich the reflection, this text seeks to present contributions from scholars and protagonists of humanitarian work, willing to show the difficulties faced and the contradictions to be overcome. With more than 45 thousand professionals, working in over 70 countries, MSF continues to preserve its principles, challenging borders and seeking to bring care to those in need.

Keywords : humanitarian movement; doctors without borders; care; witness; solidarity.

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