ICRC engagement with armed groups in 2025
In line with its mandate, the ICRC engages with all parties to an armed conflict, including non-state armed groups. The ICRC has a long history of confidential humanitarian engagement with armed group...
30 Okt 202521min
The humanity compass: navigating the protection of civilians in naval warfare
The law of naval warfare is a complex collection of international laws, developed in an era that could not anticipate today’s global interdependence, the scale of maritime trade, or the nature of mode...
28 Okt 202517min
Sixty years on: why the Fundamental Principles must be lived, not just remembered
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universal...
23 Okt 202517min
Protecting civilians in good faith: the updated Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention
Following five years of research and consultations, the ICRC has published a new, updated Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV) of 1949. GC IV is the cornerstone of protection for civilia...
21 Okt 202513min
Six ways IHL protects mental health
The impact of armed conflict on mental health is increasingly evident. According to data from the World Health Organization, one in five people who have experienced armed conflict in the last ten year...
16 Okt 202515min
Goodbye is the hardest part: why is ending violence so difficult for non-state armed groups?
For groups involved in long-running non-international armed conflicts, the decision to end the use of violence poses significant challenges – even when it is no longer recognized to be an “effective” ...
9 Okt 202516min
Dialogue, dignity, and the humanitarian contribution to peace
The number of conflicts continues to rise – with the ICRC currently classifying some 130 armed conflicts worldwide – while at the same time, they are rarely brought to an end. The human suffering they...
2 Okt 202515min
The risks and legal limits of involving ‘self-defence groups’ in non-international armed conflict
Across contemporary armed conflicts, the presence of civilian groups who take up arms to defend their communities raises enduring and complex legal challenges. At what point do these groups become par...
18 Sep 202517min
