Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law – serie

To publish and produce the first comprehensive and really international Yearbook on international humanitarian law! That idea and challenge emerged during the aftermath of the Geneva War Victims Conference in 1993 at the Legal Depart­ ment of the Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It would take another five years, numerous discussions with experts in the Netherlands and abroad, and the expertise and knowledge of the staff of the T. M. C. Asser Instituut, before the first volume could be presented. A major inducement for the publication and the preparatory work was also the research which was undertaken at our Institute by young, dedicated scholars in the field of humanitarian law, including state practice, the frequent contacts with Professor Dr. Horst Fischer and his 'Institute for International Humanitarian Law' at the University of Bochum and the cooperation in the publication of the Bofax Newsletter. It was Alan Stephens of Kluwer Law International who came up with most useful comments and sugges­ tions concerning the focus and structure of the new Yearbook Gradually, the 'idea' turned into a reality and all ingredients for the official project launch were present when the search for a competent and enthusiastic managing editor was successful: Avril McDonald, with research experience and having been employed at the Yugoslav Tribunal, turned out to be the right person at the right place at the right time.

Milestones, particularly those as special as the twin-birth of a new century and millenium,lendthemselvestorhapsodyandtheurgetosaysomethingpositiveand forward-looking. The Yearbook is not merely succumbing to this tendency, however, when it observes that, in some important respects, 2000 proved itself an auspiciousopening. Therewasaflurryofactivityamongstatestoimplementint- national humanitarian law (IHL), most of it a consequence of states ratifying the several humanitarian law treaties that were concluded in the late-Nineties. States are starting to indicate that they are taking humanitarian law, and parti- larlyitspenalprovisions,moreseriouslythanhitherto. Agrowingnumberofstates are amending their penal codes (or examining the need to do so) to criminalise 3 serious breaches of humanitarian law. A major incentive is the need for states wishingtoenterintotheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)regime,andtotakefull advantage of the principle of complementarity, to adjust their national law to the requirements of the Rome Statute. This can be a one, two or several step process, and the legal and constitutional obstacles and challenges vary widely from state to state. Particularly encouraging are early signs that some states have been prepared togobeyondthesubstantivelawaslaiddownintheStatuteto,forinstance,provide 4 broader definitions of crimes. Ratification and implementation of the ICC Statute presents a unique opportunity for states to contribute to the progressive develop- 5 mentofcustomaryinternationalcriminallaw. Giventhefactthatratificationofthe Statute has been proceeding apace, and that it is expected to come into force in 2002, much more activity in this sphere can be expected in the next few years. We may then see the emergence of layers or parallel systems of criminal enforcement of humanitarian law: by ad hoc international courts, the ICC and by states.

The defining moments of 2001, the terrorist attacks of September 11 against the UnitedStatesofAmerica,markedaturningpointininternational lawandrelations. Bytheirscaleandaudaciousness, overnighttheyhelpedtopropeltheissueofint- national terrorism to the top of the international security agenda and particularly that of the USA, with consequences for many branches of international law, including the jus ad bellum, the jus in bello, international law relating to terrorism, international human rights law and international criminal law, that were just beginning to be felt as the year closed. The September 11 attacks were immediately characterised by the United States 3 as an act of war,an armed attack on such ascale asto constitute an armed conflict. Its immediate response was to declare a so-called 'Global War on Terrorism'. Avowedly acting in self-defense, on 7 October the US launched armed attacks against Afghanistan, notbecause Afghanistan wasconsidered tobelegally resp- sible for the September 11 attacks but for harbouring and refusing to surrender members of Al Qaeda, including its leader, Osama Bin Laden, and refusing to dismantle terrorist training camps.Although the main target of the attacks was Al Qaeda, the armed conflict that ensued was an international armed conflict between the US and its allies and the state of Afghanistan, notwithstanding that the US never recognised the Taleban as the government of Afghanistan.

3 On 22 February 2002, Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, who led the UNITA rebel move- 4 ment during the bloody armed conflict in Angola and who had battled to take power by force since Angola’s independence from Portugal in 1975, was killed in 5 a gun battle with the Angolan Army. During the Cold War, Savimbi was a proxy for the United States against the then-Marxist government of Angola. But after the end of the Cold War, he lost international support for rejecting peace efforts. He was accused of perpetuating a bloody internal conflict to advance his own interests 6 and was exposed to international sanctions. Meanwhile, the government of Presi- 7 dent José Eduardo dos Santos moved closer to the United States. The 27-year-long armed conflict is believed to have killed approximately one million people and driven four million others from their homes, creating a humani- 8 tarian crisis. In addition, the conflict destroyed almost all of the country’s inf- structure, and effectively disrupted every effort by the government to start the long desired national reconstruction after independence, and the building of prosperity for the nation’s children. Savimbi was viewed as the primary obstacle to peace, personifying the ‘corrupt- 9 ing influence of ambition, mineral wealth, and the grinding brutality of war’. His 3. ‘UNITA’ is the Portuguese acronym for ‘National Union for the Total Independence of Angola’ (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola). It was founded in 1966 by the late Mr Jonas Savimbi.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. The Yearbook also includes a selection of documents from the reporting period, many of which are not accessible elsewhere, and a comprehensive bibliography of all recent publications in humanitarian law and other relevant fields. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index.Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. The Yearbook also includes a selection of documents from the reporting period, many of which are not accessible elsewhere, and a comprehensive bibliography of all recent publications in humanitarian law and other relevant fields. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index.Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.​

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. The Yearbook also includes a selection of documents from the reporting period, many of which are not accessible elsewhere, and a comprehensive bibliography of all recent publications in humanitarian law and other relevant fields. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index.Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. The Yearbook also includes a selection of documents from the reporting period, many of which are not accessible elsewhere, and a comprehensive bibliography of all recent publications in humanitarian law and other relevant fields. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index.Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.​

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. The Yearbook also includes a selection of documents from the reporting period, many of which are not accessible elsewhere, and a comprehensive bibliography of all recent publications in humanitarian law and other relevant fields. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index.Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. The Yearbook also includes a selection of documents from the reporting period, many of which are not accessible elsewhere, and a comprehensive bibliography of all recent publications in humanitarian law and other relevant fields. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index.Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index. Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index. Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws of armed conflict, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this highly topical branch of international law. Ease of use of the Yearbook is guaranteed by the inclusion of a detailed index. Distinguished by its topicality and contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

‘Child Soldiers and the Lubanga Case’ and ‘The Tallinn Manual on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare’ are the two central themes of this volume. Each of these timely topics is addressed from three different angles, providing a truly comprehensive analysis of the subject. The book also features an article on the duty to investigate civilian casualties during armed conflict and its implementation in practice and an elaborate year in review, discussing developments that occurred in 2012. The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

This volume contains several articles on the topic ‘Detention in non-international armed conflict’, including the Copenhagen Process, and moreover features contributions on autonomous weapons systems, Apartheid and the second Turkel Report. It also contains an elaborate Year in Review and a special section on the high-level Boundaries of the Battlefield symposium, including a conference report and several in-depth reflections on various other aspects of the symposium. The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world's only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

This volume commemorates the centenary of the FirstWorld War (1914-2014) and aims to capture 100 years of warfare evolution. Amongthe main issues addressed are the changing nature of means and methods ofwarfare, the law of weaponry, and challenges to humanitarian assistance andprotection of the civilian population affected by armed conflict. Specifictopics include the legal regime governing nuclear weapons, the prohibition ofchemical weapons and arms control, the evolution of naval warfare, asymmetricconflicts, the law of occupation and cultural property. A comprehensive Year in Review also describes themost important events and legal developments that took place in 2014.The Yearbook ofInternational Humanitarian Law is the world's only annual publicationdevoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a trulyinternational forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusingon this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporaryrelevance, the Yearbook of InternationalHumanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves asa useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civilservants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The general theme of this volume is contemporary armed conflicts and their implications for international humanitarian law. It is elaborated upon in several chapters, dealing with a variety of topics related to, among other things, the situations in Libya, Transnistria, Mexico, Syria/Iraq (Islamic State) and Israel/Gaza. Besides these chapters that can be connected to the general theme, this volume also contains a chapter dedicated to an international criminal law topic (duress), as well as a Year in Review, describing the most important events and legal developments that took place in 2015.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International HumanitarianLaw bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The general theme of this volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Lawis armed groups and the challenges arising from the participation of such groups incontemporary armed conflicts. It is elaborated upon in several chapters, addressingthe organisation criterion, respect for and compliance with international humanitarianlaw and international human rights law, targeted sanctions and accountability issues,among other things. Besides these chapters that can be connected to the general theme,the book also contains a chapter dedicated to the ‘knock on the roof ’ practice, a Year inReview, describing the most important events and legal developments that took place in2016, as well as the final report from the ILA Study Group ‘The Conduct of HostilitiesUnder International Humanitarian Law - Challenges of 21st Century Warfare’.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publicationdevoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly internationalforum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucialbranch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbookof International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice andserves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civilservants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The main theme of this volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Lawis the development and interpretation of international humanitarian law (IHL). It iselaborated upon in several chapters that examine the role of non-state armed groupsin the development and interpretation of IHL, the impact of international criminal lawon the development of IHL, the notion of external non-international armed conflicts,and the regulation of prolonged occupation under international law. The second theme of this volume is dedicated to targeting in armed conflicts. Specifictopics include precautions in attack in urban and siege warfare, the targeting of theIslamic State’s religious personnel in Iraq and Syria, and the targeting of illicit cropsthrough aerial spraying in Colombia. Besides the chapters that address both themes,this volume also contains a Year in Review describing the most important events andlegal developments that took place in 2017. The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publicationdevoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly internationalforum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucialbranch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbookof International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice andserves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civilservants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The main theme of this volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is weapons law. In several chapters, how International Humanitarian Law (IHL) copes with old and new weapons as well as political developments in regard to military technology is discussed, while in two chapters the significance of non- or less-lethal weapons in peace-keeping and law enforcement operations as well as the legality of lethal autonomous weapon systems under IHL are analysed. Moreover, the volume describes the current status of nuclear deterrence under international law. Another layer is added by examining how IHL influences the programming of automatic target recognition systems using artificial intelligence.The second part of the book contains a historic perspective on the roots of IHL in Europe, which can be traced back to the ninth century, as well as a Year in Review describing the most important events and legal developments in the area of IHL that took place in 2018.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The main theme of this volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is weapons law. In several chapters, how International Humanitarian Law (IHL) copes with old and new weapons as well as political developments in regard to military technology is discussed, while in two chapters the significance of non- or less-lethal weapons in peace-keeping and law enforcement operations as well as the legality of lethal autonomous weapon systems under IHL are analysed. Moreover, the volume describes the current status of nuclear deterrence under international law. Another layer is added by examining how IHL influences the programming of automatic target recognition systems using artificial intelligence.The second part of the book contains a historic perspective on the roots of IHL in Europe, which can be traced back to the ninth century, as well as a Year in Review describing the most important events and legal developments in the area of IHL that took place in 2018.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The main theme of this volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The evolution of these crucial treaties and international humanitarian law more generally comes back in six chapters addressing topics such as sieges, compliance, indiscriminate attacks and non-state armed groups.The second part of the book contains a chapter on the acquittal on appeal of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo by the International Criminal Court on the basis of command responsibility for war crimes, as well as an extensive Year in Review describing the most important events and legal developments in the area of international humanitarian law that took place in 2019.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

The main theme of this volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The evolution of these crucial treaties and international humanitarian law more generally comes back in six chapters addressing topics such as sieges, compliance, indiscriminate attacks and non-state armed groups.The second part of the book contains a chapter on the acquittal on appeal of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo by the International Criminal Court on the basis of command responsibility for war crimes, as well as an extensive Year in Review describing the most important events and legal developments in the area of international humanitarian law that took place in 2019.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the world’s only annual publication devoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

This volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law takes a close look at the role of so-called “expert manuals” in the interpretation and development of the international law of armed conflict and connected branches of international law relating to military operations. While these manuals can and do play an undoubtedly useful role, their proliferation raises a number of questions. What degree of authority do they have and how much weight should be given to the views expressed in them? What is the methodology they employ and how effective is it in ensuring an as objective and impartial interpretation of the law as possible? What is their place in the doctrine of sources? While there is already a considerable body of literature addressing these and other relevant questions, this volume aims to contribute further to this discussion with contributions by three experts involved in one or more of these manuals in one capacity or another. Alongside these three contributions on this year’s special theme, the second part of the book comprises three chapters that address timely and relevant issues of International Humanitarian Law. These range from starvation as a method of warfare, to emerging technologies of warfare, and also includes reflections on humanitarian assistance. Lastly, the volume concludes with the Year in Review, describing the most important armed conflict-related events and legal developments that took place in 2020. The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is a leading annual publication devoted to the study of international humanitarian law. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

This volume of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law takes a close look at the role of so-called “expert manuals” in the interpretation and development of the international law of armed conflict and connected branches of international law relating to military operations. While these manuals can and do play an undoubtedly useful role, their proliferation raises a number of questions. What degree of authority do they have and how much weight should be given to the views expressed in them? What is the methodology they employ and how effective is it in ensuring an as objective and impartial interpretation of the law as possible? What is their place in the doctrine of sources? While there is already a considerable body of literature addressing these and other relevant questions, this volume aims to contribute further to this discussion with contributions by three experts involved in one or more of these manuals in one capacity or another. Alongside these three contributions on this year’s special theme, the second part of the book comprises three chapters that address timely and relevant issues of International Humanitarian Law. These range from starvation as a method of warfare, to emerging technologies of warfare, and also includes reflections on humanitarian assistance. Lastly, the volume concludes with the Year in Review, describing the most important armed conflict-related events and legal developments that took place in 2020. The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is a leading annual publication devoted to the study of international humanitarian law. It provides a truly international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

Volume 24 of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is dedicated to investigating IHL’s universalist claims from different perspectives and regarding different areas of IHL. While academic debates about “universalism versus particularism” have dominated much of the critical scholarship in international law over the past two decades, they remain relatively underexplored in the field of IHL. The current volume fills this gap in IHL literature by focusing on the ways in which different interpretive communities approach questions of IHL from differing perspectives. Authors were invited to use the concept of culture to deconstruct and take critical distance from the production, interpretation, and application of IHL, and those keen on challenging the idea that IHL needs critical deconstruction were also invited to argue their case.The Volume contains four articles dedicated to the subject of cultures of IHL. It also features a book symposium on Samuel Moyn’s Humane: How The United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War (2021) and ends, as usual, with a Year in Review section.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is a leading annual publication devoted to the study of international humanitarian law. The Yearbook has always strived to be at the forefront of the debate of pressing doctrinal questions of IHL and will continue to do so in the future. As this volume shows, it is also a forum for taking a step back and reflecting on the broader, theoretical issues that inform the practice and thinking about the field. The Yearbook provides an international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law.Distinguished by contemporary relevance, it bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.

Volume 24 of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is dedicated to investigating IHL’s universalist claims from different perspectives and regarding different areas of IHL. While academic debates about “universalism versus particularism” have dominated much of the critical scholarship in international law over the past two decades, they remain relatively underexplored in the field of IHL. The current volume fills this gap in IHL literature by focusing on the ways in which different interpretive communities approach questions of IHL from differing perspectives. Authors were invited to use the concept of culture to deconstruct and take critical distance from the production, interpretation, and application of IHL, and those keen on challenging the idea that IHL needs critical deconstruction were also invited to argue their case.The Volume contains four articles dedicated to the subject of cultures of IHL. It also features a book symposium on Samuel Moyn’s Humane: How The United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War (2021) and ends, as usual, with a Year in Review section.The Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is a leading annual publication devoted to the study of international humanitarian law. The Yearbook has always strived to be at the forefront of the debate of pressing doctrinal questions of IHL and will continue to do so in the future. As this volume shows, it is also a forum for taking a step back and reflecting on the broader, theoretical issues that inform the practice and thinking about the field. The Yearbook provides an international forum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucial branch of international law.Distinguished by contemporary relevance, it bridges the gap between theory and practice and serves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civil servants, diplomats, human rights workers and students.