What is meant by 'humanitarian intervention'?

Humanitarian intervention refers to the use of military force by a state or a coalition of states in another state's territory, specifically aimed at preventing or stopping widespread human rights abuses, such as genocide, war crimes, or ethnic cleansing. This concept is grounded in the belief that there is a moral obligation to protect individuals in situations where their fundamental rights are under severe threat, regardless of national borders.

The essence of humanitarian intervention is that it often overrides the principle of state sovereignty. States may take military action when they believe that the government of a state is unable or unwilling to protect its citizens from serious harm. Examples of humanitarian interventions in history include NATO's intervention in Kosovo in 1999 and the United Nations' engagement in the Rwandan Genocide.

In contrast, economic assistance to developing nations focuses primarily on boosting economic growth and stability rather than direct intervention in human rights abuses. The sharing of resources between countries involves collaboration and mutual benefits rather than the use of force. Lastly, while diplomatic negotiations are crucial for conflict resolution, they do not involve military action aimed at protecting populations from violations of human rights, which is a central aspect of humanitarian intervention.