The ICRC Regional Delegation for India, Bhutan and the Maldives announces the second edition of Humanitarian Tiffin Talk to be held at the delegation’s New Delhi office. This time, the topic of discussion is Cyber Warfare and International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

This edition of Tiffin Talk will feature three speakers — Jamie Williamson, the head of unit for relations with armed and security forces at the ICRC, who will join us online from Geneva; Professor Stephen P Marks, visiting professor at Jindal Global Law School; and Lt General (Retd) Davinder Kumar, who retired as the Signal Officer-in-chief after 41 years of service in the Indian Army. In the Chair will be Gudmundur Eiriksson, former ambassador of Iceland to India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore and South Africa.

The speakers will present on the topic of the talk, Cyber Warfare and IHL, followed by a question-and-answer session and high tea at the delegation.

About the topic: When developing or acquiring any new weapon, means or method of warfare, it is vitally important that a State assess whether it complies with international humanitarian law. Technological developments have given rise to new methods and means of warfare, such as cyber attacks, armed drones and robots, raising new humanitarian and legal challenges. However, application of pre-existing legal rules to a new technology require sufficient clarity about its foreseeable humanitarian impact.

The ICRC, as the guardian of international humanitarian law, constantly reappraises the laws to ensure they are geared to the reality of contemporary conflicts including cyber warfare.The panel of experts will examine the applicability and application of the rules of war on the conduct of hostilities using computer network attacks to help facilitate a lively discussion and exchange of views.