Investigating in Situations of Armed Conflict: Law, Policy, and Good Practice

About us

States are being called to account for their actions in armed conflict by reference to a duty to investigate alleged violations of applicable international humanitarian law, largely by analogy to standards of international human rights law. There is however a lack of accepted standardised guidelines regarding how investigations should be carried out in situations of armed conflict.

This research project initiated by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights seeks to elucidate the scope and practical application of investigations in armed conflict, and establish the ways in which States can best carry these out. The research is currently focusing on State practice in this area, as well as on relevant developments in international law, in order to propose common guidelines for States, their militaries and other domestic bodies, as well as for international actors engaged in this field.

As of 2017 the project is being conducted in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).