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LAW & POLICY NEWSLETTER

1 December 2022

International Humanitarian Law in a Divided World

Rural Damascus, Mouadamieh. Conflict in Mouadamieh left vast destruction in its wake. Thousands were forced to flee and today the streets bear a physical reminder of the toll taken by urban conflict.

"International humanitarian law provides minimum standards of humanity that must be respected in armed conflict. Its rules must be applied by all parties, irrespective of their motivation to go to war."

First public speech given by ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric at the Graduate Institute in Geneva on 28 November 2022.

READ THE FULL SPEECH

Humanitarian needs in dozens of countries from Yemen to Somalia, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are rising, a pattern that the ICRC expects to continue in 2023. We launch our 2023 appeal to fund our work in helping people most in need of protection and assistance.

Humanitarian Law & Policy Blog: latest releases

A lot of times, the end of hostilities does not mean the end of suffering. What is the legal framework that ensures assistance and protection for people in the aftermath of conflict? Read the latest analysis in our "IHL in the aftermath" blog series to learn more.

Created in 2011 with the independence of South Sudan, the South Sudan Red Cross is a relatively young National Society. The latest blog in our "Back to basics" series explores how the Fundamental Principles guided the South Sudan Red Cross in its initial setup and through the nascent country’s armed conflict.

The Review: launch of two new editions

How International Humanitarian Law Develops

The Review launched its double-edition entitled "How International Humanitarian Law Develops" through an online event on 17 November 2022. Get free access to the full edition and watch the event recording providing closed captions now.

WATCH THE RECORDING

READ THE EDITION

Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937 © Succession Picasso / 2022, ProLitteris, Zurich
High resolution photo provided by: Photographic Archives Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.

“Lest the ghosts of Guernica keep haunting us…”

Keynote speech by Nils Melzer, Director of International Law, Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy at the Review's launch.

READ THE FULL SPEECH

Persons with Disabilities in Armed Conflict

Through thirty thought-provoking contributions, including many authored by persons with disabilities, this Review edition takes stock of the legal protections (and lack thereof) for persons with disabilities in armed conflicts, and reflects critically on how to move the legal and policy debates forward in the next few years.

READ THE EDITION

💡 In the spotlight

| Political Declaration |

80 States endorsed The Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas on 18 November 2022. For the first time in history, States formally acknowledge the gravity of the problem and commit to taking concrete actions to address it.

| News |

The ICRC opens a new delegation for cyberspace in Luxembourg. The office will benefit from cutting-edge infrastructure and a supportive ecosystem to create a safe testing ground for research and development on issues of technology, policy, operating modalities, and law related to cyberspace.

| Report |

Learn about a decade of diverse efforts and achievements of the Health Care in Danger (HCiD) initiative in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in this report.

| Policy brief |

ICRC's latest recommendations to guide efforts to address the issue of food insecurity in conflict are now available in English, French, and Arabic.

📅 Upcoming events

1 December 2022

Join ICRC’s Head of the Centre for Operational Research and Experience Fiona Terry and other stellar panelists for a compelling discussion on the principle of neutrality and beyond.