ICRC
8 January 2019
Our new War Report article The Syrian Conflict: Nearing the End?, written by Marija Sulce, provides an overview of the current situation in Syria, details the role and involvement of the various armed groups in the multiple and overlapping non-international armed conflicts that are taking place throughout the country, and maps foreign involvement of countries like the United States (US), Turkey, Iran or Russia in the international armed conflicts that are ongoing in Syria.
This short publication also reviews key developments in 2018, as well as war crimes allegations, investigations and prosecutions, including the work of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism.
It will form part, along with other analysis of conflict situations, of the War Report 2018 which will be published in the first quarter of 2019.
The article provides the tools to understand the complex dynamics that are at stake in Syria and recent developments, including the decline of the Islamic State, Assad’s territorial gains and the US announcement on 20 December 2018 of the full withdrawal of its troops.
‘While it seems that the conflict is nearing the end, the current situation in Syria is still highly volatile’ underlines Dr Annyssa Bellal, Strategic Adviser on International Humanitarian Law at the Geneva Academy and Editor of the War Report.
‘Several armed groups continue to operate in Syria, issues such as humanitarian access remain crucial and the involvement of different states like Turkey or Iran generates an extremely complex situation’ she adds.
The article also reviews the main allegations of war crimes committed in Syria by the various parties to the conflict, and the work of the newly established International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism.
The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC) online portal provides information on the classification of the international armed conflicts and non-international armed conflicts that are taking place in Syria, identifies the parties to these conflicts, and the applicable law.
Each year, the Geneva Academy sends a team of students to the Jean-Pictet Competition. Participating in this leading moot court is a life-changing experience and an integral part of our programmes.
Geneva Academy
At the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we hosted a booth with Geneva Call and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
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.
ICRC
This online short course provides an overview of the content and evolution of the rules governing the use of unilateral force in international law, including military intervention on humanitarian grounds and the fight against international terrorism. It focuses on the practice of states and international organizations.
The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.