In the latest Volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, published by T.M.C. Asser Press and Springer, key controversies relating to the application of international humanitarian law raised by the armed conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are identified, unpacked, and analysed.
Contemporary armed conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine, have propelled questions of international humanitarian law (IHL) to the centre of public discourse. Not only has this development provoked fundamental legal debates among scholars, it has also put unprecedented pressure on the core principles of IHL. Taking this as its starting point, Volume 27 of the Yearbook of IHL is dedicated to analysing the core areas of tension and controversy within contemporary IHL.
Within the Volume, seven chapters examine unique areas of IHL that currently suffer from pressure and debate. Among these include Jessica Dorsey and Luke Moffett’s chapter on the increasing use of artificial intelligence in decision-support systems during targeting operations, as well as Antonio Mariconda’s chapter, which argues that IHL’s protection of healthcare has been placed under significant pressure in hostilities in Gaza. Other topics analysed include siege warfare, forcible displacement, the law of targeting, harmful speech during armed conflict, and the protection of marine species. Finally, the Year in Review describes and analyses the most important IHL-related developments that took place during 2024.
The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is a leading annual publication devoted to the study of IHL. It has always strived to be at the forefront of the debate of pressing doctrinal and theoretical questions f IHL, and provides an international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed research on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice, serving as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers, and students.
Access the full volume here.
In the public interest: Accountability of the state and the prosecution of crimes
This research strand examines the accountability of states, both individually and collectively (e.g., the United Nations or the European Union), in light of public interest standards in the context of counterterrorism. Moreover, this strand looks into the prosecution of individuals for international and transnational crimes in the public interest. Finally, to ensure both the accountability of states and the prosecution of individuals for international and transnational crimes in the public interest, this research strand also investigates the role of journalists, digital media, human rights NGOs, and academics in protecting and promoting public interest standards.