Civilians

This theme highlights the protection of civilians in armed conflict, focusing on mitigating harm from explosive weapons, digital threats, harmful information, and challenges in urban warfare, while emphasizing the urgency of implementing international humanitarian law.

Deciding under algorithms: artificial intelligence and the protection of civilian infrastructure in armed conflict

March 12, 2026 10 mins read Analysis / Artificial Intelligence and Armed Conflict / Artificial intelligence in military decision-making / Conduct of Hostilities / IHL / New Technologies / Technology in Humanitarian Action Yéelen Marie Geairon

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision-support systems are increasingly embedded upstream of the use of force, shaping ...

Engaging non-state armed groups on the protection of missing people and their families

March 5, 2026 11 mins read Analysis / Armed Groups / Detention / Generating Respect for IHL / Humanitarian Principles / IHL / Special Protections Tilman Rodenhäuser & Ximena Londoño

The ICRC continues to witness unacceptable levels of suffering when the law designed to protect ...

The adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions: a humanitarian break and colonial continuity

February 26, 2026 12 mins read Analysis / GCIV Commentary / Generating Respect for IHL / History / Humanitarian Principles / Protecting civilians in good faith: a joint symposium on the updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention / Related bodies of law / Scope of application Srinivas Burra

More than seven decades after their adoption, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 remain foundational ...

Islamic law and the right to life in armed conflict

February 24, 2026 12 mins read Analysis / Emerging Voices / Generating Respect for IHL / Humanitarian Principles / IHL / Islamic Law / Law and Conflict / Related bodies of law / Religion Alannah Travers

Islamic legal traditions and the modern framework of international humanitarian law (IHL) emerged from different ...

Protecting civilians in good faith: a joint symposium on the updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention

February 17, 2026 11 mins read Accountability / Analysis / Conduct of Hostilities / Generating Respect for IHL / IHL / Law and Conflict / Protecting civilians in good faith: a joint symposium on the updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention Jean-Marie Henckaerts

Following five years of research and consultations, the ICRC published a new, updated Commentary on the ...

Waging warfare at sea: how exceptional is the maritime domain today?

February 10, 2026 16 mins read Analysis / Conduct of Hostilities / Humanitarian Principles / IHL / New Technologies / Related bodies of law Abby Zeith

Naval warfare has undergone dramatic transformation, expanding across multiple domains and exposing civilian seafarers, infrastructure, ...

“Cognitive warfare”: why the human brain should not become a battlefield

February 5, 2026 15 mins read Analysis / Conduct of Hostilities / IHL / Law and Conflict / New Technologies / Related bodies of law / Weapons Pierrick Devidal

Militaries are gearing up for confrontation on a new battlefield: the human brain. While psychological ...

Bridging IHL and WPS: untapped potential to advance the wellbeing of women in conflict settings

January 29, 2026 13 mins read Accountability / Analysis / Gender / Gender and conflict / Humanitarian Action / IHL / Sexual Violence Jessica Anania

The International Criminal Court recently issued its first conviction for gender persecution as a crime ...

IHL’s lighthouse: navigating towards a digital emblem

January 15, 2026 16 mins read Cyber / Cybersecurity and data protection in humanitarian action / IHL / Law and Conflict / New Technologies / Special Protections / Technology in Humanitarian Action Samit D’Cunha & Mauro Vignati

As cyber operations are increasingly taking place during armed conflicts, and this trend is likely ...

Complying with IHL in large-scale conflicts: How should states prepare to allow and facilitate delivery of humanitarian relief?

December 4, 2025 10 mins read Access / Accountability / Analysis / Complying with IHL in large-scale conflicts / Generating Respect for IHL / Humanitarian Action / IHL / Special Themes Ellen Policinski

Large-scale armed conflicts consistently sever the systems that sustain civilian life, leaving populations without essential ...

Navigating violence: five insights to strengthen humanitarian action in contested territories

November 24, 2025 12 mins read Access / Analysis / Armed Groups / Humanitarian Action / IHL / Social Protection Arjun Claire & Matthew Bamber-Zryd

More than 200 million people live today in contested territories – places where the authority ...

Reaffirming the obligation to protect medical facilities and support their functioning

November 20, 2025 15 mins read Analysis / Conduct of Hostilities / Generating Respect for IHL / Health Care / Health care / IHL / Related bodies of law / Special Protections / Special Themes / Upholding humanity in war: the Global IHL Initiative Supriya Rao & Alexander Breitegger

Restrictions on movement and access to medical supplies have become an often-unseen threat to health ...