Civilian Harm
184 Articles

The Just Security Podcast: The M23 Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo
To explain the M23 conflict, and what the United States can do to pressure Rwanda to withdraw, we have Daniel Levine-Spound and Ari Tolany.

A Decade Ago, the Obama Administration Acted When the M23 Terrorized Eastern DRC. Will Biden Do the Same?
The United States should take immediate steps to halt all security cooperation activities with Rwanda until concrete conditions are met.

Expert Q&A on IHL Compliance in Russia’s War in Ukraine
IHL needs to be respected in the heat of battle. How to achieve that goal - and reduce civilian suffering during hostilities - should become an urgent focus of international attention.

Armed Conflicts Spread Contaminated Water and Disease: Here’s How to Better Protect Civilians
Resolution 2573’s implementation will benefit from a better understanding of the links between damaged infrastructure and public health.

Opaque Transparency on the Use of Force: Observations on the 2022 “1264” Report
The 2022 report illustrates the limits of congressionally mandated reporting requirements on matters of war and peace and the need for Congress to be more proactive in informing…

Starting Bell Rings for U.N. Counterterrorism Negotiations with Big Questions Unanswered
Yesterday, United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General António Guterres released the biannual report on the “Activities of the United Nations system in implementing the United Nations…

Dutch Court, Applying IHL, Delivers Civil Judgment for Victims of 2007 Afghanistan Attack
"Ideally, a judgment like that in the Chora case can provide, in addition to justice for the plaintiffs, a constructive effect towards a better functioning of the military consistent…

The US Needs a Strategy for (Human) Security Cooperation
The result is a frequent perception of enabling rights abuses and atrocities committed by foreign military partners.

The Limits of Remote Warfare: Aligning Values with Interests
The Biden administration should be more circumspect in its reliance on lethal force as a foreign policy tool outside of traditional war zones.

Under the Pentagon’s New Civilian Harm Action Plan, Addressing Credible Cases is a Moral Imperative
If the new CHMR-AP is to have a meaningful impact, it must address families making requests of the Pentagon now.

The FY 2023 NDAA Falls Short on Security Assistance Oversight
The NDAA did little to address the civilian harm, corruption, and weapons diversion linked to U.S. security assistance and cooperation.

Incremental Progress on Civilian Harm in the FY2023 National Defense Bill
The NDAA includes much-needed measures to prevent and respond to civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations abroad.