Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas

This theme addresses the devastating impact of explosive weapons in populated areas, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations, civilian protection, and adherence to international humanitarian law to mitigate harm and long-term effects.

ICRC report demonstrates people believe that wars should have limits

December 5, 2016 5 mins read Online publications Helen Durham

The ICRC has published the results of a large survey detailing how people around the world perceive a range of issues relating to ...

Habitat III: The smartest city is a safe city

October 24, 2016 5 mins read Events and highlights / Humanitarian Action Hugo Slim

The humanitarian commitments in the New Urban Agenda are significant and will form clear policy guidance on urban humanitarian action for national governments ...

“The contamination from nuclear test explosions is in every one of our bodies”

October 20, 2016 9 mins read Humanitarian Action / Review-related / Weapons Prof. Tilman Ruff, founding chair of ICAN

Selected passages from Professor Tilman Ruff’s speech, delivered at the Australian launch of The human cost of nuclear weapons, Melbourne, 10 October 2016. ...

Taking the high road in military operations

October 19, 2016 7 mins read Counterterrorism / Events and highlights / Law and Conflict Andreas Kaufmann

Many of today’s armed conflicts involve opponents who significantly differ in terms of military capacity ...

e-Briefing: The human cost of nuclear weapons

October 12, 2016 5 mins read Humanitarian Action / Online publications / Quick Links / Sexual Violence The editors

The ICRC’s latest e-briefing exposes the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. It is being ...

Translating IHL into military operations

September 15, 2016 6 mins read Events and highlights / Law and Conflict The editors

Most of today’s armed conflicts are characterized by asymmetry between the parties. When faced with opponents who significantly differ in terms of military ...

Launch of the ICRC handbook on IHL

September 13, 2016 7 mins read Events and highlights / Law and Conflict Dr Nils Melzer, Human Rights Chair, Geneva Academy

Speech given by Dr Nils Melzer, author of International Humanitarian Law – a Comprehensive Introduction, at the International Institute for Humanitarian Law, Sanremo, ...

Majority of governments vote for negotiations to prohibit nuclear weapons

August 29, 2016 3 mins read Law and Conflict Ellen Policinski

The UN’s open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament (OEWG) adopted a recommendation which may lead to the negotiation of a treaty to prohibit ...

The New Urban Agenda recognizes the humanitarian impact of urban warfare

August 22, 2016 5 mins read Humanitarian Action Raphaël Dallaire Ferland

After intensive negotiations in Surabaya, Indonesia, the latest draft (.pdf) of the New Urban Agenda now gives respect for international humanitarian law and ...

Nuclear weapons: Rising in defence of humanity

July 27, 2016 8 mins read Law and Conflict / Online publications Ellen Policinski & Vincent Bernard

Approximately 340,000 people died immediately and within the five years following the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and ...

Nuclear weapons: 20 years since the ICJ advisory opinion and still difficult to reconcile with international humanitarian law

July 8, 2016 8 mins read Analysis / Law and Conflict / Weapons Louis G. Maresca

Everything we know about nuclear weapons, including the new information and analysis that has come to light in recent years, has only strengthened ...

Parties to conflict should avoid using heavy explosive weapons in populated areas

May 24, 2016 7 mins read Law and Conflict / Videos The editors

In this video, the head of ICRC’s Arms Unit, Kathleen Lawand, discusses the humanitarian consequences and legal implications of the use of explosive ...