ex gratia/condolence payments

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An overhead view of the Pentagon building in Washington, DC.

For Another Year, DoD Fails to Make Condolence Payments to Civilian Harm Victims

Despite recent reforms, the Pentagon still has not made any condolence payments for civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations.
Ugandan soldiers of African Union's peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) patrol in Merka, Southern Coastal Somalia, on September 19, 2019. (Photo TINA SMOLE/AFP via Getty Images)

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.
Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters in front of a sign saying "Defend Our Nation."

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.

Pentagon Investigation into Syria Strike: A Litmus Test for Civilian Harm Response

The Pentagon's investigation into the May 3 drone strike in Syria is a litmus test for broader efforts to address civilian harm.

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.
A child stands near two US army vehicles, which carry American flags. Nearby is a male American military officer.

How the FY23 NDAA Can Strengthen Oversight and Transparency of U.S. Security Assistance and Civilian Harm (Part II)

The draft NDAA contains a number of important provisions for preventing and responding to civilian harm.
A child stands near two US army vehicles, which carry American flags. Nearby is a male American military officer.

How the FY23 NDAA Can Strengthen U.S. Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Civilian Harm (Part I)

Overhauling U.S. policies for preventing and responding to civilian harm will require sustained engagement from Congress.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller Mike McCord, testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill.

DoD Can’t Move Forward on Civilian Casualties Without Looking Back

"Neglecting past cases would be a grave mistake that could damage the credibility of an otherwise promising process."
Coalition Force service members set up a perimeter under the cover of darkness on the edge of Shurakian in Helmand province. The image is taken through a green night vision lens and multiple vehicles are shown.

Ending the Forever War, But Leaving a Legacy of Impunity in Afghanistan

The international military forces withdrawing from Afghanistan leave behind a legacy of impunity that threatens to undermine hopes for peace and justice in Afghanistan for years…
Just Security

AFRICOM’s Improved Civilian Casualty Reporting System Still Leaves Gaps for Somalia

Only with more ways to submit reports and the proper followup can the U.S. military start to rebuild trust among communities harmed by its actions.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley, testify about the Defense department budget during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 4, 2020.

DOD’s New Ex Gratia Policy: What’s Right, What’s Wrong, and What’s Next

On June 22, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued an interim policy regulation for providing ex gratia payments to civilians harmed as a result of U.S. military operations. It…
Smoke billowing out of buidlings following a coalition air strike in the western al-Daraiya neighbourhood of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqa on September 5, 2017.

Toward a Consistent and Coherent Ex Gratia Policy for Civilian Casualties

The summer of 2017 was an extended nightmare for the Badrans. Over the course of several weeks, 39 members of Rasha Badran’s family, most of them women and children, were killed…
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