1. "We are not sure that words can always save lives, but we know that silence can certainly kill." "Silence has long been confused with neutrality, and has been presented as a necessary condition for humanitarian action. From its beginning, MSF was created in opposition to this assumption." -Dr. James Orbinski during his 1999 Nobel Prize acceptance speech on behalf of MSF Image: www.whitepinepictures.com

2. Founded in 1971 by a small group of French doctors and journalists Act independently of any political, religious or economic powers. Provides health care and medical training in war-torn regions and developing countries. Serves ~70 countries Over 26,000 full time volunteers Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 Image: Penn State University

3. Principles “Bring help to all victims in need without discriminating based off race, politics, religion or philosophy.” – MSF’s Charter Statement Medical Ethics Independence Impartiality and Neutrality Bearing Witness Accountability Covers their persistence to provide actually high quality medicine to everyone, regardless of any politics or borders, and to be a first hand, credible witness to any crimes against human rights that they see. Movie Poster for documentary on MSF, “Living in Emergency” msf.org

4. Field Missions What They Do:Who Works For Them: Help Local Hospitals Open Sustainable Clinics Vaccination AIDS Treatment, Testing & Education Public Education Example: Haiti since 1991 Physicians Nurses Other Specialists Medical Coordinators/Logisticians Psychologists/Psychiatrists Nutritionists Engineers Epidemiologists Water/Sanitation Specialists Non-Medical *Can be dangerous for volunteers msf.org

5. Finances & Accountability 86¢ of every dollar goes to MSF programs 90% of funding from private donors 4 out of 4 stars for Accountability and Transparency by Charity Navigator Charity Navigator Screenshot

6. Get Cheaper drugs by avoiding patent protection Round 2, 2001 The Indian drug company Cipla offered to make AIDS drugs available at sharply reduced prices (<$1 per day!) to Doctors without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) Kumar S. (2001) 'Indian company offers low cost AIDS drugs', the Lancet, 357:616 February 24

7. Criticisms: Drugs Campaign for Essential Medicines MSF received criticism for their distribution of HIV/AIDS medication, citing its expense. The money could be spent better elsewhere rather than expensive, life- long treatments. Launched in 1999 MSF responded by citing that in developed countries, people receive full HIV treatment and care so why should poorer countries be stripped of this care? Should funds being used for HIV drugs in developing countries be used for other prevention and treatment methods?

8. Criticisms: Advocacy and Politics Neutrality vs. Advocacy Is it possible to remain neutral while advocating for human’s rights in such intense, complex political settings? Issues with MSF Advocacy:Politics: Deterritorialism Francois Debrix- Political Science Professor at Virginia Tech University Debrix critiques MSF and like organizations for deterritorialism. He argues that MSF extends past territorial borders and by declaring a state of victimhood, they inevitably create new boundaries. Debrix, Francois “Deterritorialised territories, borderless borders: The new geography of international medical assistance.” Third World Quarterly.

9. Citations Debrix, Francois “Deterritorialised territories, borderless borders: The new geography of international medical assistance.” Third World Quarterly. "Doctors Without Borders, USA." Charity Navigator. "Doctors Without Borders USA." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 2014. Dorozynski, Alexander. "Medicines Sans Frontieres: 20 years old." British Medical Journal. Vol. 303 Issue 6817, Dec. 21, 1991: 1591(2). Kulkarni, Kaustubh, and Suchitra Mohanty. "Novartis Loses Landmark India Cancer Drug Patent Case." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 01 Apr. 2013. Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders. Dir. Mark N. Hopkins. Bev Pictures, 2010. MSF.org

10. Stefan Hansen