ICRC Law & Policy Newsletter no 88

Law & Policy Newsletter

04 September 2019

IHL Digital App: International Humanitarian Law in your pocket

Discover the new IHL Digital App - developed by the ICRC and digital agency SQLI – giving instant access to more than 75 treaties and other documents relating to international humanitarian law (IHL). Designed for legal practice, reference and discussion, the app enables mobile and tablet users to search, save and share, anytime, anywhere, whether on or offline.

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Article - 5 myths about the Geneva Conventions as they turn 70

Last month the Geneva Conventions turned 70. Marking this milestone Dr Helen Durham, Director of International Law and Policy at the ICRC, shares five myths about the Geneva Conventions that show why, 70 years on, they remain as necessary and life-saving as they were intended to be.

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Blog: Courage, responsibility and the path towards a world without nuclear weapons

What will it take to build a path towards a world without nuclear weapons? 74 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Magnus Løvold, Policy Adviser in the Arms Unit in the Legal Division of the ICRC, looks at actions that are required to achieve the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) aims.

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New IHL Casebook highlight – The Geneva Conventions of 1949: a 70-year path protecting humanity in war

New Casebook highlight – The Geneva Conventions: a 70-year path protecting humanity in war

Providing an overview of the Geneva Conventions throughout their 70 year existence, this highlight includes a model teaching outline for the preparation of a two-lesson course on these landmark treaties. A select list of case studies and resources aims to illustrate the relevance and influence of those instruments to bring humanity in the midst of armed conflict.

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Upcoming events/courses/conferences

September

11
2019

Justice denied? Access to justice for victims of sexual violence

Sexual violence is recognised as an international war crime, yet few survivors ever see their attackers brought to justice. At this panel event experts will share the challenges and solutions to supporting access to justice for victims.

Humanitarium, Geneva
18:30

September

12
2019

Seven decades of protection: the Geneva Conventions through the test of time

The Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations and Other International Organizations, Geneva, and the ICRC mark the 70th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions with an expert discussion on the historical contribution and future challenges facing the Conventions.

Humanitarium, Geneva
17:30-19:00

September

18
2019

Voices from the Field

Join Switzerland and the ICRC to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. At this event humanitarian workers and victims of armed conflicts will share their stories, profiling instances of respect for IHL.

Humanitarium, Geneva
17:30 - 19:30

Report: Autonomy, artificial intelligence and robotics - Technical aspects of human control

What are some of the technical aspects required to maintain human control over autonomous systems? This new report combines a summary of discussions based on an ICRC-convened roundtable meeting with experts in autonomy, AI and robotics, with additional research, to highlight the ICRC's main conclusions.

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Podcast: Are the 1949 Geneva Conventions Still Relevant?

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, ICRC Deputy Legal Advisor Andrea Harrison explores the Geneva Conventions of 1949 to ask how have the contents of the Geneva Conventions changed over time? And given every state in the world is party to the Conventions, what does this say about their significance and importance - including at a time when the nature of conflict may be radically evolving?

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Missed any of these?

"The Geneva Conventions are for all of us" says ICRC President

In his briefing to the UN Security Council last month, ICRC President Peter Maurer appealed to the enduring and common humanity of the 1949 Conventions, calling upon states to keep watch over their legal responsibilities and continue to take the steps to implement IHL. Read the full speech.

70 years of the Geneva Conventions - Milestones in South Asia

What are the effects of respecting IHL? Since their creation, there have been many instances when the application of the Geneva Conventions has offered real protection to those caught between conflict. These examples make clear that complying with IHL can make a meaningful difference.

Now available – 2019 IHL Bibliography first issue

The first issue of the IHL Bibliography for 2019 is now online. This resource contains a list of recently published IHL documents from the first half of 2019, of use for ICRC delegations, movement National Societies, schools, universities, research centres, legal professionals, and others working regularly on IHL.

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Events

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