From Sudan to the Middle East and the Sahel, current conflicts indicate that civilians as well as combatants in armed conflicts are increasingly falling victim to blatant violations of their basic rights as granted by International Humanitarian Law and in particular by the Geneva Conventions. These attacks come together with a widespread feeling of impunity…
Nearly six years after the liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), the horrors endured by the city’s residents remain engraved in every woman, man, and child who lived through the atrocities having been affected by their ruthless violence. As Saber*recounts his harrowing ordeal, he immediately reaches into his shirt pocket to retrieve his…
The 14-year long conflict in Northeast Nigeria and the deeply rooted gender-based inequalities have significantly contributed to exacerbating sexual violence in the country. While all genders are vulnerable to sexual violence, women and girls are more affected, especially those in conflict-affected areas. Data from 2022 show that there has been an increase in recent…
By Federico Borello, CIVIC’s Executive Director Twenty years ago this month, on March 20, 2003, the United States launched its first airstrikes on Iraq. This marked the start of the US-led coalition’s invasion of Iraq and the long descent into the abyss for millions of Iraqis. This was also the start of our story. Center…
By Chris Brew & Lauren Spink The use of deception and disinformation in warfare is not new. Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and military strategist was already writing about the phenomenon in the 5th century BC. But disinformation—defined as the intentional dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information—no longer just travels by word-of-mouth or newspaper. Modern…
It is February 25, 2022, in Kyiv. I am sitting by the window of my apartment as I watch a convoy of military vehicles drive by. They are moving alongside the street where I used to jog. On my way to the metro station, I hear the loud sound of explosions. The incessant boom is…
Auteur: West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Les conséquences de l’insécurité au Sahel, plus particulièrement au Niger, affectent de façon dramatique la vie des populations civiles, y compris leur moyens de subsistance et leur accès aux services sociaux de base. La cohésion sociale du pays est mise en péril tandis que les besoins humanitaires et…
MINUSMA appreciates that its continuous efforts to enhance its CASEVAC procedures to improve the safety and security of its personnel have been acknowledged in this research. This includes an examination of best practices beyond our own experience and an ongoing review of current procedures. This includes recently requesting an evaluation of our processes from specialists…
By John Ramming Chappell and Ari Tolany Recent months have seen a flood of revelations concerning civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations. The last U.S. airstrike of the war in Afghanistan, which killed ten civilians including an aid worker and seven children, was soon followed by news of U.S. operations in Syria targeting and endangering civilians. Reporting from The…