Policy Analysis

Civilian Protection Monitor offers new framework to assess how states protect civilians from their military actions

Writing for Just Security, Airwars Policy Specialist Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen delves into recent developments in the Netherlands

Release marks unprecedented transparency in military casualty reviews

Writing for Opinio Juris, Airwars' Board Member and Policy Specialist analyse latest Dutch developments

Writing for Opinio Juris, Airwars' Board Member and Policy Specialist analyse latest Dutch developments

The results of a four-year review with the Dutch military

Writing for Just Security, Airwars' Policy Specialist raises questions on US and UK commitments to civilian protection in Yemen

Proposals explore implementing the explosive weapons declaration and better protecting civilians

Process should allow civilians and NGOs to formally report allegations of military-caused harm

Breakthrough report directly links casualty recording and human rights obligations

Coalition of rights groups demands Pentagon accountability after strike on 'Al-Qaeda leader' kills Syrian farmer

Declassified Pentagon files reveal systemic failures in target identification that led to civilian deaths, from mistaking children for weapons to faulty surveillance

Nearly a decade after deadly Dutch strike, survivors fight for recognition

Freedom of Information case step towards accountability for victims' families

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

How a future independent Scotland would conduct conflict and protect civilians

Airwars and PAX brief Dutch MPs

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 conducts […]

Recommendations published today urge the Department of Defense to revise its assessment and investigation processes, including through practical steps such as routinely engaging with civil society to ensure that civilian harm policies are informed by civilians affected by US and partnered actions, and casualties are recorded and tracked through transparent processes that are fit for […]

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 […]

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 […]

States edged closer to a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on April 8th, after three days of crunch talks in Geneva. More than 65 states descended on the Swiss city for key talks on the wording of a political declaration that advocates believe would save thousands of lives by […]

State delegates from around the world will meet this week in Geneva for UN-backed crunch talks, working towards a political declaration on restricting the use of wide area effect explosive weapons in urban conflict. If successful, the move could help save thousands of civilian lives. Representatives from more than 60 countries will meet from April […]

On Monday December 13th, Airwars held the launch event for a new report on civilian harm, bringing together British and European MPs with global experts from Airwars, PAX for Peace, and Humanity and Inclusion to discuss civilian protection in the context of the use of explosive weapons in urban environments. Airwars’s new report, ‘Why did […]

More than six years after much of the Iraqi city of Hawijah was devastated following a Dutch airstrike against ISIS, fresh revelations point to major ongoing problems for those seeking answers to the disaster in which at least 70 civilians died. Speaking at the annual PAX for Peace conference on the protection of civilians in […]

Airwars’ Netherlands-based advocacy partner, PAX for Peace, is currently undertaking research in the Iraqi city of Hawijah, where a 2015 US-led Coalition strike against ISIS led to the deaths of at least 70 civilians and the injuring of hundreds more. On the night of June 2nd-3rd 2015, Dutch F-16s bombed an ISIS Vehicle-Borne Improvised Devices […]

This anniversary happens after last month saw a wave of resignations by senior Ministerial staff and frank debate across Parliaments in Europe, including in relation to the sudden and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.  Airwars and Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) urge the new ministers to take a frank look at the mistakes of their […]

Last week marked 20 years since the US-led ‘War on Terror’ began. The conflict has been defined by a series of major military actions in which the UK has supported the US and allies in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The recent chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan saw the reshuffle of Dominic Raab from the Foreign, Commonwealth […]

October 1st marks the anniversary of Belgium relaunching its participation in Operation Inherent Resolve – the international campaign against so-called Islamic State. Throughout its engagement in this coalition, Belgium has been one of the least transparent – and least accountable – countries when it comes to acknowledging civilian harm. In fact, the Government has refused […]

Over the last decade, warfare has undergone significant changes. Countries such as the UK and US have increasingly done their best to avoid large-scale ground deployments of their own troops, focusing instead on supporting local forces, for instance by providing air power. Through the monitoring of nearly 60,000 locally alleged civilian deaths caused by belligerents […]