International Humanitarian Law

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Targeting Schools as a Method of Warfare

This article examines the targeting and militarisation of schools during armed conflict and the protections granted to educational facilities under International Humanitarian Law. It highlights how attacks on schools violate the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, while exposing children to death, trauma, displacement, and loss of education. The piece argues that stronger accountability is urgently needed to ensure schools remain protected civilian spaces during war.

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Does the Use of Chemicals Amount to War Crimes?

This article examines whether the use of chemical substances such as white phosphorus can amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law. Using southern Lebanon as a case study, it highlights the severe civilian harm, environmental damage, and long-term risks caused by white phosphorus strikes in populated areas. The article argues that legal accountability should focus not only on how weapons are classified, but on their actual impact on civilians, land, and protected communities.

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Human Safaris and the Bosnian Siege: Uncovering Allegations from the 90s

The breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s reactivated nationalist tensions and led to the war in Bosnia. During the siege of Sarajevo, reports emerged of so-called “human safaris,” in which foreign individuals allegedly paid to shoot at civilians from the surrounding hills. Italian writer Ezio Gavazzeni brought these allegations to justice, and testimonies and documents from the Hague Tribunal have reinforced calls to investigate the case. In 2025, the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into possible intentional homicides linked to these events.

Photo Source: Image showing people walking through a heavily destroyed urban area in Gaza. Jaber Jehad Badwan, via CC portal.
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International Crossroads on Palestine

In recent months, international diplomacy around Gaza has intensified, yet conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate. While world leaders announced new political initiatives, displacement and humanitarian collapse have persisted across the Strip. The contrast between renewed diplomatic efforts and the reality faced by civilians has only deepened, underscoring the fragility of current negotiations and the failure of existing mechanisms to halt the violence.

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India’s Pragmatic Turn: The Human Rights Cost of Embracing the Taliban

India’s recent engagement with the Taliban, marked by the visit of Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in October 2025, signifies a strategic pivot in its diplomatic stance. Initially marking opposition to Taliban governance post-August 2021, this meeting indicates India’s desire to regain influence in Afghanistan amid deteriorating Iraq-Pakistan relations. However, this realpolitik approach raises concerns for Afghan citizens, particularly women and minorities, due to ongoing rights abuses under Taliban rule. India’s shift prioritizes geopolitical balance over its historical support for democracy in Afghanistan, risking the legacy of its previous aid and initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized groups. While the Taliban’s visit aimed to bolster legitimacy and seek investment, India’s silence on human rights issues during the discussions has garnered criticism. The current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan exacerbates these concerns, highlighting the necessity for any engagement to be anchored in accountability for human rights violations, as the consequences of normalizing relations without addressing these core issues could further legitimize Taliban oppression.

6th GHRD International Film Festival: Human Trafficking Edition
Submission Deadline: 9th August 2026
Submission Form