Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen

Megan is Airwars’ Policy Lead, working across the US, the UK, and several European countries.

New analysis reveals extent of US erosion of civilian protection commitments in 2025
29 May, 2026
Policy, Update

New analysis reveals extent of US erosion of civilian protection commitments in 2025

New analysis released by Airwars’ project the Civilian Protection Monitor details the extent of the US walk-back on its commitments to protect civilians in war, while showing major improvements in policy and practice in the Netherlands. The United Kingdom has maintained its status as ‘Uncommitted’ to mitigating harm to civilians from its own military operations, …
The Netherlands Sets New Path for Investigating Evidence of Civilian Harm in Modern Conflict
justsecurity.org
15 May, 2026
Policy

The Netherlands Sets New Path for Investigating Evidence of Civilian Harm in Modern Conflict

At a time of growing impunity for civilian harm in warfare, the Dutch Ministry of Defense has taken important steps in the right direction
The UK Ministry of Defence admits it lacks tools to track and investigate civilian harm
30 Apr, 2026
Policy

The UK Ministry of Defence admits it lacks tools to track and investigate civilian harm

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) review of the UK’s civilian harm framework has recommended new procedures to track and investigate harm to civilians in UK operations, strengthened use of open-source intelligence and re-instating mechanisms for making amends where civilians suffer death, injury or damage to property. The review reveals that adequate systems to track, investigate …
Toolkit launch: Operationalising the declaration on civilian harm from explosive weapons in populated areas
21 Nov, 2025
Policy

Toolkit launch: Operationalising the declaration on civilian harm from explosive weapons in populated areas

Airwars and Article 36 launch new practical implementation resource for the EWIPA declaration.
Civilian harm mitigation in large-scale combat operations: lessons for UK defence
ceasefire.org
11 Nov, 2025
Policy, Report

Civilian harm mitigation in large-scale combat operations: lessons for UK defence

Writing for Ceasefire, Airwars' Policy Specialist lays out noticeable gaps in the UK approach to tracking, mitigating, and responding to civilian harm
In preparing for large-scale conflicts, states neglect lessons on civilian protection at their peril
justsecurity.org
14 Aug, 2025
Policy

In preparing for large-scale conflicts, states neglect lessons on civilian protection at their peril

Airwars' Policy Specialist and colleagues at the Civilian Protection Monitor set out the continued need for civilian protection in large-scale wars
The Netherlands expands its civilian harm mitigation and response mechanisms
civilianprotectionmonitor.org
6 Aug, 2025
Policy

The Netherlands expands its civilian harm mitigation and response mechanisms

Writing on the Civilian Protection Monitor, Airwars' policy specialist analyses new developments in the Netherlands
Airwars and PAX launch major new assessment tool for state efforts to protect civilians
15 Apr, 2025
Policy, Update

Airwars and PAX launch major new assessment tool for state efforts to protect civilians

Civilian Protection Monitor offers new framework to assess how states protect civilians from their military actions
The Netherlands apologises for involvement in Hawija airstrike and lays out further reforms
justsecurity.org
11 Apr, 2025
Policy
Iraq

The Netherlands apologises for involvement in Hawija airstrike and lays out further reforms

Writing for Just Security, Airwars Policy Specialist Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen delves into recent developments in the Netherlands
Dutch MoD releases results of largest ever assessment of civilian harm allegations from the war against ISIS
14 Mar, 2025
Policy

Dutch MoD releases results of largest ever assessment of civilian harm allegations from the war against ISIS

Release marks unprecedented transparency in military casualty reviews
Policy recommendations to meaningfully mitigate civilian harm in military operations: a view from the Netherlands (part II)
opiniojuris.org
24 May, 2024
Policy

Policy recommendations to meaningfully mitigate civilian harm in military operations: a view from the Netherlands (part II)

Writing for Opinio Juris, Airwars' Board Member and Policy Specialist analyse latest Dutch developments
Policy recommendations to meaningfully mitigate civilian harm in military operations: a view from the Netherlands (part I)
opiniojuris.org
24 May, 2024
Policy

Policy recommendations to meaningfully mitigate civilian harm in military operations: a view from the Netherlands (part I)

Writing for Opinio Juris, Airwars' Board Member and Policy Specialist analyse latest Dutch developments
Looking back to look forward: recommendations for the Dutch MoD on civilian harm mitigation
23 May, 2024
Policy

Looking back to look forward: recommendations for the Dutch MoD on civilian harm mitigation

The results of a four-year review with the Dutch military
Analysis: U.S. declares its military actions worldwide killed no civilians in 2022
1 May, 2024
Policy, Research
Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen

Analysis: U.S. declares its military actions worldwide killed no civilians in 2022

The US declares its military actions in 2022 resulted in no civilians killed or injured. Airwars finds otherwise
US-UK strikes in Yemen raise questions about commitments on civilian harm mitigation
justsecurity.org
1 May, 2024
Policy
Yemen

US-UK strikes in Yemen raise questions about commitments on civilian harm mitigation

Writing for Just Security, Airwars' Policy Specialist raises questions on US and UK commitments to civilian protection in Yemen
Workshop report: exploring military perspectives on the Explosive Weapons declaration
18 Apr, 2024
Policy

Workshop report: exploring military perspectives on the Explosive Weapons declaration

Proposals explore implementing the explosive weapons declaration and better protecting civilians
Dutch Ministry of Defence announces new civilian harm reporting mechanisms
22 Dec, 2023
Policy
Iraq

Dutch Ministry of Defence announces new civilian harm reporting mechanisms

Process should allow civilians and NGOs to formally report allegations of military-caused harm
United Nations urges states to support casualty recording
14 Jul, 2023
Policy

United Nations urges states to support casualty recording

Breakthrough report directly links casualty recording and human rights obligations
Hawijah: Eight years on, civilians are still waiting for answers
5 Jun, 2023
Policy
Iraq

Hawijah: Eight years on, civilians are still waiting for answers

Nearly a decade after deadly Dutch strike, survivors fight for recognition
Характер шкоди, завданої цивільному населенню внаслідок дій Росії в Харківській області згідно з повідомленнями місцевих джерел
18 May, 2023
Research
Ukraine

Характер шкоди, завданої цивільному населенню внаслідок дій Росії в Харківській області згідно з повідомленнями місцевих джерел

Airwars задокументувала 275-438 смертей цивільних у Харківській області лютий-травень 2022 від російської вибухової зброї
Patterns of civilian harm from alleged Russian actions in Kharkiv oblast
18 May, 2023
Policy, Research
Ukraine

Patterns of civilian harm from alleged Russian actions in Kharkiv oblast

Russian forces killed hundreds of Kharkiv civilians during the 2022 invasion, research finds
What next for the Explosive Weapons declaration?
25 Nov, 2022
Policy

What next for the Explosive Weapons declaration?

When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, over 90% of those harmed are civilians. This declaration could curb such use; success depends on honest implementation
SNP launches paper on the protection of civilians with extensive civil society input
23 Nov, 2022
Policy
Iraq, Syria, Ukraine

SNP launches paper on the protection of civilians with extensive civil society input

How a future independent Scotland would conduct conflict and protect civilians
Dutch Parliament set to debate improvements in policies to protect civilians
27 Oct, 2022
Policy
Iraq, Syria

Dutch Parliament set to debate improvements in policies to protect civilians

Airwars and PAX brief Dutch MPs
United States new Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan cautiously welcomed by civil society
26 Aug, 2022
Policy

United States new Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan cautiously welcomed by civil society

Airwars joins our civil society partners in welcoming the publication of the much awaited Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) , released yesterday by the US Department of Defense. The CHMR-AP reflects a years-long process of sustained pressure by individuals, civil society, journalists, activists and legislators to challenge the way the US military …
Airwars joins ten civil society organisations to call for the UK to urgently address civilian harm policies
27 May, 2022
Policy
Iraq, Syria

Airwars joins ten civil society organisations to call for the UK to urgently address civilian harm policies

As the UN Secretary General’s annual Protection of Civilians report welcomes steps by the United States to develop new civilian harm mitigation and tracking mechanisms, a coalition of civil society organisations specialised in the subject call on the United Kingdom to follow suit. After devastating revelations published in The New York Times late last year …
After Hawija: Dutch Ministry of Defence maps route forward
22 Apr, 2022
Policy
Iraq

After Hawija: Dutch Ministry of Defence maps route forward

The Dutch Ministry of Defence, Defensie, has finally outlined to Parliament the steps it expects to take in both the short and long term, to address civilian casualties from Dutch actions. Since late 2020, Airwars has been part of a consortium of civil society and academic organisations working with the Defensie to help improve the …
“Why did they bomb us?” Urban civilian harm in Gaza, Syria and Israel from explosive weapons use
8 Dec, 2021
Policy, Report

“Why did they bomb us?” Urban civilian harm in Gaza, Syria and Israel from explosive weapons use

‘ Why did they bomb us?’ Urban civilian harm in Gaza, Syria and Israel from explosive weapons use ‘ – which is published in Arabic, Hebrew and English – provides the first comparative analysis of two very different Israeli military campaigns. Applying the same open source monitoring methodology Airwars uses to track civilian harm caused …