IHL in Focus

November 2023 - Present

IHL in Focus is the Geneva Academy’s flagship research initiative dedicated to analysing contemporary armed conflicts through two complementary lenses: armed conflict classification and patterns of civilian harm. Combining rigorous legal methodology with verified open-source information, the project contributes to a clearer understanding of how IHL applies and is respected—or violated—in today’s conflicts.

It strengthens the Geneva Academy’s long-standing contribution to IHL monitoring and operates in continuity with earlier initiatives such as the Rule of Law in Armed Conflict (RULAC) project, now fully integrated into this programme.

IHL in Focus responds to the growing need for reliable, legally grounded analysis in complex conflict settings.
The project aims to:

Determine whether and when situations amount to international or non-international armed conflicts.
Map and analyse patterns of civilian harm, including death, injury, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Clarify the applicable legal framework and assess compliance with IHL.
Support humanitarian diplomacy, accountability efforts and policymaking with evidence-based, transparent findings.

This initiative integrates the legal classification work previously conducted under the RULAC project into a broader analytical framework.

The project relies on:

Internationally recognised legal criteria drawn from treaties, jurisprudence, and state practice for conflict classification.
Open-source investigation techniques to identify, verify and analyse civilian harm.
Transparent, structured assessment methods, ensuring analytical independence and consistency.
Internal and external review, including expert consultation through the Advisory Committee.

The analysis does not rely on unverified claims or sources that do not meet defined methodological standards.

IHL in Focus is closely interconnected with the Geneva IHL Lab, the Academy’s applied teaching and research platform through which students contribute directly to the project’s activities.

The 2024–2025 Geneva IHL Lab, led by Christopher Gosnell, focuses on incident documentation, data verification and legal assessments.

The 2025–2026 Geneva IHL Lab, led by Stuart Maslen, will expand analytical depth and thematic coverage while strengthening the integration of student research into IHL in Focus outputs.

The Lab ensures a continuous flow of high-quality research support and provides students with unique practical training in conflict analysis and IHL monitoring.

Research Team

The team includes legal researchers, analysts and project staff contributing to conflict classification, civilian harm analysis and thematic research.

Stuart Casey-Maslen

Special Advisor to the IHL in Focus Project

Christopher Gosnell

Independent Researcher

Eugénie Duss

Research Fellow

Anna Rosalie Greipl

Researcher

Francesco Romani

Research Fellow

Advisory Committee

IHL in Focus benefits from the guidance of an Advisory Committee composed of recognised experts in IHL and conflict analysis. Their input strengthens methodological consistency and quality assurance:

Jelena Aparac, Sareta Ashrap, Andrew Clapham, Gloria Gaggioli Gasteyger, Jann Kleffner, Mona Rishmawi, Mathew Truscott

External Consultants

The project also relies, when necessary, on external consultants who provide specialised technical and analytical expertise to support specific components of the research.

Funding

IHL in Focus is supported by external funding that does not influence the project’s methodology or conclusions:

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) – Directorate of International Law (DDIP) – supports the legal classification of armed conflicts

The project operates with full independence in its analytical choices.

IHL in Focus generates:

Spot reports on emerging issues in armed conflict, IHL violations and civilian harm
Annual analytical reports on conflict classifications and trends
Digital resources and visual products, including integration into platforms such as War Watch
Policy dialogues, expert meetings and academic contributions
Practical opportunities for student engagement through the Geneva IHL Lab

The project enhances understanding of IHL implementation, informs humanitarian and accountability efforts, and contributes to global debates on civilian protection.