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LAW & POLICY NEWSLETTER
MAY 2026
LAW & POLICY NEWSLETTER
MAY 2026
Lebanon's wartime decision to ban anti-personnel mines
Lebanon's wartime decision to ban anti-personnel mines
Lebanon’s accession last week to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) comes not in a time of peace, but amid ongoing insecurity – precisely when the consequences of inaction are most visible. In communities across the country, particularly in the south, anti-personnel mines are not relics of past wars, but active threats shaping daily life, obstructing return, and undermining recovery. Lebanon’s decision reflects a stark reality: weapons that continue to harm long after hostilities end cannot be reconciled with the protection of civilians.
In this post, Brigadier General Ziad Rizkallah of the Lebanese Army traces how Lebanon’s lived experience with contamination, clearance, and community recovery informed its choice to formalize long-standing practice into legal commitment. He underscores that drawing limits in conflict is neither theoretical nor deferred; it is grounded in operational reality, where the effects of certain weapons cannot be contained in time, space, or intent.
Explore how feminist critiques reveal the gendered limitations embedded in international humanitarian law (IHL), particularly within the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV). Read Fionnuala Ní Aoláin’s assessment of the updated Commentary, which advances interpretation yet remains constrained by the Convention’s structural biases.
The growing reliance on information and communication technologies is transforming modern warfare and raising urgent questions about civilian protection. Discover key legal and humanitarian challenges, along with ongoing efforts to strengthen the implementation of IHL in an increasingly digital battlespace.
Large-scale armed conflict drives mass displacement, disrupts family ties, and strains both affected and host communities. Explore why advance planning is essential for states to uphold IHL and better protect displaced populations in times of war.
🔎Your Symposium Wrap-Up - First round
Explore the joint symposiumon the updated ICRC Commentary on GC IV, bringing together expert insights on the protection of civilians in contemporary armed conflict. Co-hosted with editors of Just Security and EIJL:Talk!, this first round of posts highlights key legaland interpretive developments shaping today'sapplication of GC IV.
The ICRC invites professional photojournalists to submit their work for our Humanitarian Visa d’or award, on the theme “The fate of civilians in armed conflicts.” The award recognizes powerful visual storytelling and offers €8,000 to support future projects. Read how to apply and submit your entry by 27 May 2026 (11:59 pm CEST).
Conventional weapons, e.g., landmines, cluster munitions, explosive weapons in populated areas, continue causing widespread civilian harm during and long after conflicts end. Read this new online casebook highlight and explore the regulation of conventional weapons under IHL and relevant teaching materials, including case studies illustrating these rules in practice.
Synergy in Action: IHL and Islamic Law for Humanitarian Outcomes This timely event will take place on 11 May 2026 (14:00–15:30) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, bringing together international and other organizations to explore shared perspectives on protecting human dignity in armed conflict. Read more and register here to attend and obtain UN accreditation.
🔖 Missed any of these?
Contribute to“Emerging Voices” series: Share your insights and influence the discourse on humanitarian law and policy.
For the millions of people in countries reliant on humanitarian assistance, greater support is desperately needed to save lives and avert further suffering. You can help the people you are reading about.
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