The adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions: a humanitarian break and colonial continuity
More than seven decades after their adoption, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 remain foundational to contemporary international humanitarian law (IHL). Efforts to update their Commentaries testify...
26 Helmi 16min
Islamic law and the right to life in armed conflict
Islamic legal traditions and the modern framework of international humanitarian law (IHL) emerged from different contexts and traditions, but they share many underlying values – such as restraint, hum...
24 Helmi 16min
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”: the ICRC’s approach to Common Article 3 in its updated Commentary
The updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV) includes a number of important updates to its treatment of Common Article 3 (CA3). These relate primarily to three areas: the treatm...
19 Helmi 16min
Protecting civilians in good faith a joint symposium on the updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention
Following five years of research and consultations, the ICRC published a new, updated Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV) of 1949 in October 2025. GC IV is the cornerstone of protection...
17 Helmi 13min
Waging warfare at sea: how exceptional is the maritime domain today?
Naval warfare has undergone dramatic transformation, expanding across multiple domains and exposing civilian seafarers, infrastructure, and global supply chains to new and evolving risks. As modern ma...
10 Helmi 18min
“Cognitive warfare”: why the human brain should not become a battlefield
Militaries are gearing up for confrontation on a new battlefield: the human brain. While psychological operations aimed at deceiving enemies or manipulating soldiers and civilian populations have lon...
5 Helmi 21min
Bridging IHL and WPS: untapped potential to advance the wellbeing of women in conflict settings
The International Criminal Court recently issued its first conviction for gender persecution as a crime against humanity, alongside related convictions for rape as a war crime under international huma...
29 Tammi 18min
Deaths and separations in migration: lessons from migrant women and children
Many women and children are exposed to violence, exploitation and other risks, including death and family separation, during their migration journeys. Despite the recognition that gender and age shape...
22 Tammi 13min
