Spotlight on IHL: Geneva Academy Briefs EU Delegation on Alarming Conflict Trends

10 April 2025

On 2 April 2025, the Geneva Academy presented the IHL in Focus: Annual Report to a group of UN member states at the Permanent Delegation of the European Union to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The Report offers a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) across 22 conflict zones. It was presented, not only as a reflection of the current state of armed conflicts, but also a critical tool to guide international action and policymaking.

The event was hosted and opened by Ambassador Michele Cervone d'Urso, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. Following introductory remarks by Professor Paola Gaeta, Director of the Geneva Academy, the report was presented by Dr. Erica Harper, Head of Research and Policy Studies at the Geneva Academy, with the participation of Dr. Francesco Romani, Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy. Other panellists included Mathew Truscott, Head of Office at Oxfam International Geneva.

Alarming Shifts in Global Conflict

The report identifies 71 active armed conflicts: 57 non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) and 14 international armed conflicts (IACs). While NIACs saw a slight decline from 61 last year, IACs nearly doubled – from 8 to 14 – signalling a shift toward more intense and potentially destabilizing confrontations between states.
These findings also speak to a broader deterioration in global peace and stability. Coupled with growing economic uncertainty, the rise of populist regimes, and the erosion of human rights protections, the data suggest a worrying trend that could deepen in the coming years.

Deep Dive: Civilian Harm and Conflict Dynamics

Beyond counting conflicts, the report explores the internal dynamics that define them, analysing the behaviour of parties involved and patterns of violence. One of the most disturbing findings is the continued – and in some cases, increasing – targeting of civilians.

In particular, children continue to be recruited in high numbers, while women and girls face high levels of sexual violence. This carries serious implications for individuals and society as a whole. Child recruitment correlates with sexual exploitation and long-term psychological trauma, disrupting education and family life and laying the groundwork for intergenerational cycles of violence. Similarly, sexual violence not only causes profound individual harm but also fractures the social fabric of communities – creating deep wounds that endure long after conflicts end.

EU Delegation Response: Data as a Driver for Change

Member States welcomed the report’s empirical approach, especially its focus on longitudinal data that uncovers trends over time. The findings spurred discussion on why some parties refrain from violating IHL norms, and how such behaviour could be encouraged more broadly.

Participants emphasized the urgent need to better understand the links between IHL violations and the intensity, duration, and resolution of conflicts. To this end, Dr Erica Harper, Head of Research and Policy Studies, reiterated that ‘understanding the when and why behind IHL compliance should enable donors and humanitarian agencies to design more targeted interventions and prevent conflicts from escalating.’ Participants responded by underscoring the importance of using data to shape humanitarian and policy responses – ensuring that interventions are grounded in real-world dynamics and not just political imperatives.

Pathways Forward: From Insight to Action

The report concludes with two key takeaways for improving IHL practice globally:

1. Re-establishing Red Lines Through De-escalation

Respect for IHL rules must be non-negotiable. Acts that dramatically escalate conflicts – such as targeting civilians or employing sexual violence – must be confronted head-on. This means scaling up IHL training, especially during peacetime, and prioritizing IHL compliance in diplomatic discussions, whether at the UN, in regional bodies, or in bilateral fora.

2. Investing in Conflict Prevention

With international norms under strain, the need for proactive engagement is more urgent than ever. States must actively realize their obligations under Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions to ‘respect and ensure respect’ for IHL. Tools such as UN Security Council Arria-formula meetings, Human Rights Council resolutions, and independent fact-finding missions offer important avenues for influencing actors behaviour during conflict.
Moreover, conflict prevention and de-escalation must consider the risk of recidivism. Post-conflict societies grappling with the legacy of IHL violations – deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence – are particularly vulnerable to relapse. Preventing these situations through better IHL compliance is essential to building lasting peace.

In summary, the IHL in Focus: Annual Report is more than an overview of where the world stands on IHL compliance – it is a wake-up call. As the nature of conflict evolves, so too must strategies for protecting civilians and upholding humanitarian norms. For the international community, the report is both a resource and a roadmap to ensure that IHL remains a cornerstone of global peace and security.

More information and a link to the report can be found here.