Armed Conflict
Civilian Harm
306 Articles

Congress Should Pass the SAFEGUARD Act to Overhaul Arms Sales Law and Protect Human Rights
The SAFEGUARD Act provides a pathway for Congress to push for accountability for the violence linked to U.S. arms sales.

How to Get Away With Crimes Against Humanity: The Statutory Gap in US Law
Congress can bring justice for victims of crimes against humanity by passing a statute with universal jurisdiction.

The Just Security Podcast: A New Standard for Evidence of Civilian Harm?
Joining the show to discuss the Baghdadi raid and the U.S. response to claims of civilian harm are Airwars Director Emily Tripp and Conflict Researcher Anna Zahn.

Ten Years on From the Ghouta Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria: What Lessons Have Been Learned?
The Syrian government still has not been held accountable for its brutal chemical weapons attack on Ghouta ten years ago.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Unheard Humanitarian Crisis
Since MSF raised the alarm about sexual violence and the crisis in eastern DRC as a whole, a slew of diplomats, U.N. officials, and local authorities have visited and expressed…

The Legal Takeover of the Manifestly Unlawful Order Doctrine in Israel
The involvement of lawyers allows combatants to absolve themselves from thinking about human rights considerations as long as they believe the military functions as part of a democratic…

Starvation as a Means of Genocide: Azerbaijan’s Blockade of the Lachin Corridor Between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
The US, Russia, and other world powers have avenues both to halt the current situation and to pursue justice and accountability.

Baghdadi Raid Documents Suggest New US Standards for Assessing Civilian Harm
If the U.S. government requires metadata to prove evidence of civilian harm, it essentially means researchers will have to find the exact person who took the original image, speak…

Collective Reparations for Victims of ISIS
French cement company LaFarge paid a large criminal forfeiture for their support of ISIS in Syria; that money should be used for reparations.

Department of Defense Issues Update to DoD Law of War Manual on Presumption of Civilian Status and Feasible Precautions to Verify Military Objectives
Commentary by Department of Defense General Counsel Caroline D. Krass

Missed Opportunities in House FY24 NDAA for Human Rights Progress in U.S. Security Assistance
The House of Representatives' FY24 NDAA missed the mark in strengthening arms transfer law, which is currently opaque and outdated.

What You Need to Know: International Humanitarian Law and Russia’s Termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative
Following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, what does IHL have to say on food security, Russia's attacks on Ukrainian food export infrastructure, and the…