Opening Expert Meeting For 'IHL in Focus' Project

22 April 2024

Earlier this year, the Geneva Academy launched the project 'IHL in Focus - Assessing Compliance in Contemporary Armed Conflicts', that will publish a global annual report aiming to provide a timely, comprehensive, methodologically systematic, and publicly available source of analysis on current armed conflicts and related International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations and implementation challenges.

The project will build upon and complement previous projects and know-how of the Geneva Academy, including the RULAC Database, and provide stakeholders, such as states, international organizations, humanitarian actors and NGOs, with an independent, thorough examination of global compliance with IHL.

First Expert Meeting

To kick-start the activities of the project and refine its approach, a two-day expert meeting was convened to discuss key questions arising in the context of IHL monitoring that are of particular importance to this project. The meeting conveyed a diverse group of practitioners from the humanitarian and human rights sector, OSINT specialists, IHL experts and academics. A through presentation of the project was followed by four panels covering;

  • Existing initiatives in the field of IHL monitoring and their complementarity
  • Identifying trends and patterns of IHL violations
  • Methodological aspects connected with data-gathering
  • The translation of such a research project into a relevant tool for IHL advocacy

Gloria Gaggioli, Director of the Geneva Academy, explained, ‘Gathering such a high-level group of experts and practitioners to discuss about the challenging issue of monitoring and reporting on IHL violations at Villa Moynier was a very rewarding experience. Comments, presentations, and informal exchanges have provided us with valuable insights that will play a prominent part in helping us to fine-tune the methodology for the development of the global annual report. This first ‘IHL in Focus’ expert meeting has also been a great opportunity to discuss the challenges that the project will face, and even more importantly, it has reinforced our conviction in the significance of this effort.’

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Yemen,  Sana'a, Faj Attan. Damages to civilian buildings following the fighting. News

A Yearly Global Assessment of IHL Compliance

8 February 2024

We are excited to announce the launch of a new project consisting of the publication of a yearly global annual report assessing compliance with international humanitarian law in contemporary armed conflicts.

Read more

Panel at the summit with the participation of our Research Fellow Dr Hendel News

Two Researchers Participate in Significant International Law Summit in Ukraine

15 December 2023

Our two Research Fellows Dr Jonathan Andrew and Dr Nataliia Hendel participated in a major summit in Lviv, Ukraine, to commemorate the 75th anniversaries of the Genocide Convention and of the Universal Declaration of Human Right.

Read more

AI Image of Military Person using a drone Event

Artificial Intelligence in Military Decision Making: Legal and Humanitarian Implications

14 May 2024, 18:30-19:45

Co-hosted by the ICRC and the Geneva Academy, at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, this event aims to disseminate key findings on the use of artificial intelligence in military decision making.

Read more

A session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

IHL Expert Pool

Started in January 2022

The IHL-EP works to strengthen the capacity of human rights mechanisms to incorporate IHL into their work in an efficacious and comprehensive manner. By so doing, it aims to address the normative and practical challenges that human rights bodies encounter when dealing with cases in which IHL applies.

Read more

Computer screen with warning: civilian infrastucture: do not attack Project

The Digitalization of Armed Conflict

Started in September 2020

This project will explore humanitarian consequences and protection needs caused by the digitalization of armed conflicts and the extent to which these needs are addressed by international law, especially international humanitarian law.

Read more

Cover of Report Publication

Artificial Intelligence And Related Technologies In Military Decision-Making On The Use Of Force In Armed Conflicts: Current Developments And Potential Implications

published on May 2024

Anna Rosalie Greipl, Neil Davison, Georgia Hinds

Read more