Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research Harvard University
Spotlight On
Live Web Seminar: Beyond the attack on Bin Laden: Implications for Regulating Future Military Operations
HPCR will host a Live Web Seminar on "Beyond the attack on Bin Laden: Implications for Regulating Future Military Operations," on June 15, 2011. Click here to register (required), and access background materials here.
Live Web Seminar: Cote d'Ivoire: Assessing the International Response
HPCR hosted a Live Web Seminar on "Cote d'Ivoire: Assessing the International Response," on May 12, 2011. A recording is available here, and access background materials here.
HPCR Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare and its Commentary
The Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research at Harvard University is pleased to announce the launch of HPCR Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare and its Commentary.
Selected Reports
Typology of Conflict: Terrorism and the Ambiguation of the Laws of War
8 July 2010 (Jackson Nyamuya Maogoto and Gywnn MacCarrick)
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Privileging Asymmetric Warfare?: Defender Duties Under International Law
8 July 2010 (Samuel Estreicher)
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Law and Policy of Targeted Killings
8 July 2010 (Gabriella Blum and Philip Heymann)
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The Thickest Grey: Assessing the Status of the Civilian Response Corps Under the Law of International Armed Conflict and the U.S. Approach to Targeting Civilians
8 June 2010 (Dan E. Stigall )
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The Interpretive Guidance on the Notion of Direct Participation in Hostilities: A Critical Analysis
27 May 2010 (Michael N. Schmitt)
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Global: The dangers of promising to protect
24 May 2010 (IRIN)
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DR Congo: New Round of LRA Killing Campaign
21 May 2010 (Human Rights Watch)
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Rights group accuses Sri Lanka, Tamil rebels of war crimes at end of conflict
17 May 2010 (Krishan Francis)
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Obama's Drone Handicap
17 May 2010 (Andrin Hauri / ISN Security Watch)
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Rights group urges UK to set up judicial inquiry on torture
15 May 2010 (Erin Bock / Jurist)
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Selected News
The Dark Sides of Convergence: A Pro-civilian Critique of the Extraterritorial Application of Human Rights Law in Armed Conflict
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Multi-national Operations, Unity of Effort, and the Law of Armed Conflict
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Islamic Jurisprudence and the Regulation of Armed Conflict
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Introduction to Islamic Law
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Private Security Contractors in the OPT: An IHL Perspective
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IHL Issue Exploration
A number of short primers on international humanitarian law and policy issues of contemporary relevance are available. Read more of our IHL Primer Series.
What is IHL?
IHL is a legal framework applicable to situations of armed conflict. IHL can be generally defined as the laws and customs aiming to limit the effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons.
Sexual Violence
Among weapons used in armed conflict, rape and other forms of sexual violence are especially pernicious.
White Phosphorus Munitions
Recently the U.S. accused the Taliban of using white phosphorus (WP) in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in civilian areas in Afghanistan, as well as in mortar and rocket attacks against U.S. forces.
Site Search
E-Library 
Highlights
- Official Records of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts, Geneva, 1974-77
- International Criminal Court, Legal Texts and Tools
- U.N., Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, International & Operational Law Department Documents