When is it actually war? – EJIL: Talk!
In the last few months, suspicious fires in warehouses and aboard aircraft, the severing of undersea power and Internet cables, GPS jamming, cyber operations against critical civilian infrastructure, and allegations of influence operations and election interference have been depicted as ‘hybrid warfare’ by both politicians and the media. So-called ‘hybrid threats’ or ‘hybrid attacks’, as […]
The Impact of a Ceasefire on the Applicability of International Humanitarian Law – EJIL: Talk!
On January 19, 2025, a long-awaited ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel has taken effect. From what is known of the agreement, hostilities in Gaza are to cease for 42 days. During this period, 33 Israeli hostages are scheduled to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees, and Israeli forces will withdraw to […]
The Power of Co-Party Influence on IHL Compliance – EJIL: Talk!
Alex Wentker’s book, which will stand as the definitive work on co-party status for years, offers an extremely careful and comprehensive look at the nature and implications of being a co-party to an armed conflict. In addition to providing a range of insights about how to assess co-party status, his book prompted three reflections. One […]
Making Sense of Hybrid Threats and Grey Zone Conflict – EJIL: Talk!
About a decade ago, hybrid warfare made its big breakthrough. The concept had been around for a number of years, but few people knew what it meant and even fewer seemed to care. In 2014, Russia launched the opening act of its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, taking control of the Crimean Peninsula. It […]
Reparations for Civilians Harmed in Armed Conflict – EJIL: Talk!
Civilian harm in armed conflict has reached staggering levels. The United Nations recently recorded a 72% increase in civilian casualties worldwide, a stark reminder of the devastating human toll of modern warfare. Yet, mechanisms to provide justice and redress for those harmed remain inadequate. Recent developments, including the International Law Commission’s (ILC) renewed focus on […]
A Comment on Alex Wentker’s Book – EJIL: Talk!
I doubt that a doctoral thesis – and then a book – on international law could be more timely than Alexander Wentker’s Party Status to Armed Conflict in International Law. The ongoing wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, among others, raise difficult questions of conflict classification and party status as a matter of […]
Open Source Contributor Journeys into HOT – could you be the next one?
Discover the inspiring journeys of Emir and Faiz, two tech contributors making a real impact with the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). From Python packages to user-centered design, their stories show how open source skills can power humanitarian change. Could you be the next to join HOT’s open source movement? Hi everyone, Petya here – Tech […]
Can low-cost drones contribute to mangrove monitoring and conservation? Testing Drone Tasking Manager in La Paz, Mexico
Drone Tasking Manager (DroneTM) is a digital public good that enables communities to generate high-quality, high resolution aerial imagery using low-cost drones. Discover its potential for community-driven mapping and its use in protecting mangroves in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Revolutionizing Cartography with a Digital Public Good Access to aerial imagery has traditionally been […]
Fortalecimiento de Comunidades en la Conservación de Manglares: Tecnología de Drones y Colaboración Local
Descubre cómo la colaboración con comunidades locales y el uso de drones ligeros están revolucionando la conservación de los manglares en México, fortaleciendo la gestión territorial y promoviendo la resiliencia comunitaria. English version Desde 2022, el Equipo Humanitario de OpenStreetMap (HOT) ha trabajado en proyectos y respuestas a emergencias en América Latina y el Caribe, […]
The [geospatial data] have and have-nots: 15 years of bridging the divide
As we celebrate the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team’s 15 anniversary, we reflect on the role of community-generated geospatial data in solving many of the core challenges we face this century. How can our wider data-centered international community bring in voices that are often left out? Data is everywhere and can be used by everyone to improve […]