International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
648 Articles

The Eroding Norms Against Chemical Weapons Use Will Need More Than Another Syria Censure to Survive
A challenge inspection and an expanded mandate for a new investigations team are among options to halt the global backsliding.

Dispatch from Israel on Human Shields: What I Should’ve Said to a Dad on the Playground
Who's responsible for the deaths of those civilians in Gaza who were near areas where Hamas operates?

The Illegality of Targeting Civilians by Way of Belligerent Reprisal: Implications for U.S. Nuclear Doctrine
It is time for the United States to acknowledge that customary international law today prohibits targeting civilians in reprisal for an adversary’s violations of the law of war.

Ukraine’s Pandemic-Era Obligations to Civilians in Crimea and Donbas Under Humanitarian Law
Russia is not the sole State with such responsibilities. As the displaced sovereign, Ukraine retains certain residual obligations towards its citizens.

At 100 Days, Grading Biden’s Progress Toward a More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy
As we near the 100-day mark of this administration, and with the president delivering a “State of the Union”-like address this evening, now is a good moment to assess its arms…

National Security Last Week at the United Nations (April 2-9)
United States Lifts Sanctions Against ICC Officials On April 2, President Joe Biden reversed one of former President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which imposed sanctions…

Opportunity Missed: New Zealand Defense Force’s Order on Civilian Harm in Wartime
On Feb. 11, 2021, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced new rules on responding to civilian harm. Defence Force Order 35 (DFO 35) introduces NZDF-wide procedures for responding…

UN Human Rights Council Outlines Sri Lanka Abuses, But Demurs on Action
It’s not the robust independent mechanism victims campaigned for, or the referral to the ICC that they deserve, but it is a potential path to justice.

When War Criminals Run the Government: Not Too Late for the International Community to Vet Sri Lankan Officials
Developing such a list of individuals would signal to survivors some measure of recognition of the atrocities they have suffered.

Protecting the Information Space in Times of Armed Conflict
What, if any, limits exist concerning digital information operations in armed conflict? Does the humanitarian legal framework adequately capture the protection needs that arise…

Sri Lanka’s Evasion of Accountability Tests the Limits of the International Human Rights System
Twelve years of failed justice must trigger an honest debate on the ability of these mechanisms to prevent violations and deal with historical atrocities.

Kunduz Airstrike Before European Court of Human Rights: Future of Jurisdiction and Duty to Investigate
The future of European Human Rights Court's jurisdiction and the future of States' duty to investigate civilian casualties in wartime.