About the author(s):
Katharine Fortin is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University where she teaches IHL and IHRL. Before joining Utrecht University, she worked at the ICTY, ICC and Norton Rose Fulbright. She is the author of The Accountability of Armed Groups under Human Rights Law (Oxford University Press, 2017) which won the 2018 Lieber Prize. She has written widely about the framework of law that applies to armed groups in non-international armed conflicts and is one of the editors of the Armed Groups and International Law blog.
On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul which starts on Monday, the ICRC is launching its new Humanitarian Law & Policy blog powered by the International Review of the Red Cross. Focusing on the interplay between international law and the policies that shape humanitarian action, the blog aims to gather academics, lawyers and aid workers concerned with improving humanitarian action and limiting the effects of armed conflict and violence.
Echoing the editorial line of the Review, Humanitarian Law & Policy first looks at a contemporary challenge, then seeks solutions in the interplay between international law and the policies that shape humanitarian action.
For 2016, a few key challenges to be covered on the blog include: migration and forced displacement, attacks on health care, sexual violence, detention, torture and other forms of ill-treatment; in terms of legal issues, compliance with IHL and the prevention of atrocities in conflict, the protection of civilians and civilian objects, new technologies of warfare; in terms of humanitarian policy, aid architecture and coordination, humanitarian financing and protracted crises, principles guiding humanitarian action.
The launch of Humanitarian Law & Policy coincides with ICRC’s aspiration to further develop its contribution to the global and regional debates on humanitarian law and policy issues. The new platform aims to gather informed authors and commentators in an open-minded and interactive environment, where innovative ideas may be fleshed out and tested against the expertise of other practitioners, researchers and policymakers.
The blog editors have announced that they welcome a diversity of voices across regions, from both within and beyond the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The editors encourage the blog’s readers to join the debate through the Comments section of blog posts, as well as on social media and other channels. They also welcome readers to get in touch if they have ideas for a meaningful contribution to the blog.