21 October 2024
Our spot report, ‘Food Insecurity in Armed Conflict and the Use of Siege-like Tactics’ addresses the urgent issue of food insecurity caused by siege tactics in conflict zones and explores how international humanitarian law can mitigate these impacts.
Armed conflicts are a major driver of food insecurity, with a significant portion of acutely food-insecure individuals residing in areas affected by violence. The report reveals how certain tactics, such as restricting access to essential resources, deepen civilian suffering and can even lead to famine or starvation.
The report’s key findings include:
Paola Gaeta, Director of the Geneva Academy and Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute, emphasizes the urgency of the findings: ‘While siege-like tactics are not outright prohibited, Parties to conflict must respect IHL obligations. However, recent cases illustrate the severe consequences on civilians when these tactics are employed. This report highlights the importance of respecting IHL to protect civilians and secure access to essential resources.’
This publication is part of the ‘IHL in Focus’ project, which aims provide states, international organizations, civil society and academics with tools of IHL analysis that are independent, impartial and pursued in accordance with the highest academic standards to support advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy, with the ultimate goal of contributing towards increased respect for IHL.
Alarming conflict trends from the IHL in Focus report were presented to members of the UN at the EU Delegation in Geneva by members of the Geneva Academy.
Adobe
Our latest research brief examines how Private Military and Security Companies have reshaped warfare, international law, and global stability.
Wikimedia
In this Geneva Academy Talk Judge Lətif Hüseynov will discuss the challenges of inter-State cases under the ECHR, especially amid rising conflict-related applications.
ICRC
Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.
UNAMID
This project will develop guidance to inform security, human rights and environmental debates on the linkages between environmental rights and conflict, and how their better management can serve as a tool in conflict prevention, resilience and early warning.
UN Photo/Violaine Martin
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.