ICRC Law & Policy Newsletter: Guidelines on Investigating Violations of IHL

Law & Policy Newsletter

02 October 2019

Publication: Guidelines on Investigating Violations of IHL

Investigations into alleged violations of IHL by the parties to an armed conflict are key to securing respect for IHL, enabling redress for victims of past violations and preventing future violations. Yet a lack of detail exists with regards to the relevant international law principles, standards and practice. These Guidelines, published by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and the ICRC, aim to add clarity and support for the conduct of effective investigations into violations of IHL.

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ICRC to join the Cyber Law Toolkit project

The ICRC is becoming a partner in the international consortium running the Cyber Law Toolkit, the leading interactive web-based resource on the international law of cyber operations. This Toolkit offers free detailed guidance for practitioners and scholars through the analysis of hypothetical scenarios inspired by real-world cyber incidents. The ICRC will contribute to the development of the Toolkit by offering its expertise on IHL and cyber warfare.

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ICRC participation at United Nation’s General Assembly High-Level Week

ICRC President Peter Maurer and Director General Yves Daccord led the ICRC’s engagement during the High-Level Week at the UNGA. The ICRC enjoyed 33 bilateral meetings enabling in-depth discussions about key operational and fundraising issues with heads of state and other government officials across all regions. The ICRC also participated in a broad range of events, including on counter-terrorism and humanitarian space, Syria, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and co-hosted an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions with China, South Africa and Switzerland, drawing cross-regional engagement. Read the full speech from this event below.

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Blog: Autonomous Weapons Systems - When is the right time to regulate?

The growing debate around the use of autonomous weapons systems sees those in favour of controlling the application and spread of AWS often promoting pre-emptive regulation designed to legally restrict or prohibit activity. But when is the right time to regulate new weapon systems? In this latest blog Neil C. Renic, Researcher at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg, explores the debate around AWS regulation.

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Podcast: The Cost of Doing Nothing - Climate and Conflict

How are climate and conflict risk linked? On this episode of Intercross the Podcast, Julie Arrighi, the Urban Manager and ICRC Partnership Lead at the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre discusses climate-related happenings at the 2019 UN General Assembly week, and the main themes and takeaways from the ongoing Climate Risk, Conflict, and Resilience global policy roundtable series hosted by the ICRC, Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre and Overseas Development Institute.

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Upcoming events/courses/conferences

October

05
2019

War and Peace

Humankind has forever thought about, justified, led, glorified or prepared for war. At the same time, humanity's efforts have continuously sought to limit war's worst violations, condemn its desolation and conceive of, or work towards a more just and peaceful world. The War and Peace exhibition is devoted to the timeless realities of war and peace.

This exhibition is part of a collaboration between the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Martin Bodmer Foundation and the ICRC to bring three exhibitions to the city of Geneva.

Martin Bodmer Foundation, Geneva
5 October 2019 - 1 March 2020

October

08
2019

Exhibition: 100 Years of Multilateralism in Geneva

Presenting unique documents coming from the UN archives, the exhibition explores the evolution of the multilateral system since the creation of the League of Nations to the work of the UN today. It outlines the contours of multilateralism and highlights the exceptional role that Geneva plays on the international level, while revealing some of the little-known aspects of multilateral diplomacy.

United Nations Geneva Museum (see here for full details of access)
8 October 2019 - 30 April 2020

October

30
2019

150 Years of the International Review of the Red Cross

Join the ICRC for the opening event of the special exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the International Review of the Red Cross. This exhibition highlights the role of the journal in disseminating progress in international law related to armed conflict, and innovation in humanitarian response over the past 150 years.

Humanitarium, Geneva
18:00-19:30

Applications are now open for the 2020 Jean Pictet Competition launched

Call for applications: 2020 Jean Pictet Competition launched

The 33rd edition of the Jean-Pictet Competition will take place from 22-29 February 2020 in Denpasar, Indonesia. This edition, open to both Francophone and Anglophone teams, will be followed by an Anglophone edition from 7-14 March 2020 in the same location. Open to legal students worldwide, interested parties should apply by 8 November.

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Yerevan International Conference for Young Researchers on International Humanitarian Law

Call for applications: Young Researchers on IHL Conference

The Russian-Armenian University in cooperation with the Delegation of the ICRC in Armenia is pleased to announce the 12th International Conference for Young Researchers on International Humanitarian Law, to be held from 21-23 November in Yerevan, Armenia. Researchers meeting the criteria are invited to submit an application by 20 October.

Apply

Missed any of these?

Explosive weapons in cities: Civilian devastation and suffering must stop - UN & ICRC joint appeal

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the President of the ICRC, Peter Maurer, issue a joint appeal to States and all parties to armed conflict to adopt policies and practices that will enhance the protection of civilians when warfare takes place in populated areas, in particular limiting the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area.

Blog : IEDs and the Mine Ban Convention: a minefield of definitions?

In many recent conflicts, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has become a common term to describe the frequent and widespread use of improvised anti-personnel mines. Yet the varying nature of this term has caused confusion as to how these weapons should be categorized within existing legal framework definitions. This blog endeavours to contribute to the clarification of this issue.

Watch Again: Seven Decades of Protection - The Geneva Conventions through time

As the world marks the 70th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, what challenges lie ahead for IHL? And what are the ways to continue translating these fundamental laws into genuine protection? At this event IHL scholars discuss how the Geneva Conventions have contributed to protect humanity in war for 70 years and why those texts, and IHL generally, are as much commitments for the future as outcomes from the past.

Watch Again: Voices from the Field

Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, this event highlighted instances of how IHL has had a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable. In an interview-style format humanitarian workers and victims of armed conflicts shared some success stories of respect for IHL from the field.

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Events

Review