Civilian Casualties (CIVCAS)
209 Articles

Before Leaving Somalia, African Union Should Provide Compensation for Civilian Harm
The mission serves as an important precedent for others, so the international community must provide funding as a gesture of respect.

Membership in a Non-State Armed Group in the DoD Law of War Manual
A critical assessment of the U.S. DoD Law of War Manual's approach to membership status in non-State armed groups.

Nine Stories That Deserved More Attention in 2023 – and That May Shape 2024
What stories or topics merited more attention in 2023, with a particular eye toward what might inform law and policy conversations in 2024?

Keeping Sight of Our Moral Compass as the Israel-Hamas War Rages
Too many on either side speak to themselves as if the other side didn’t exist or isn’t relevant.

Unhuman Killings: AI and Civilian Harm in Gaza
Israel’s expanded use of AI in the war in Gaza may partially explain widespread civilian harm.

The US Must Adapt Foreign Policy and Aid to an Aging World
In armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, and climate-induced disasters, older people often suffer disproportionately. First in a series.

Law and Survival in Israel and Palestine
International law is critical to survival in Israel and Palestine.

Policy Alert: Key Questions in Hamas’ Attack on Israel and What Comes Next
Officials are scrambling to gauge foreign involvement and intelligence failures, even as they decide how to respond militarily and otherwise.

Ethiopia’s Conflict Is Spreading, But UN Human Rights Council May End Expert Investigation Anyway
EU presses to let mandate end despite commission finding that “past and current abuses in these four regions demand further investigation.”

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…

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House of Representatives' FY24 NDAA missed the mark in strengthening arms transfer law, which is currently opaque and outdated.

Civilian Protection Gains Stagnate in FY24 House NDAA
As the Senate considers the NDAA, U.S. policymakers should rally around the passed House amendments poised to make progress for civilians.