Protecting the environment in times of armed conflict

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Watch the recording of the webinar here

The environment is frequently a 'silent victim' of armed conflict. Conflicts can cause long-term damage to the environment, harming people's physical and mental health and livelihoods. Too often, the environment is directly or incidentally damaged by the use of certain tactics of warfare. The environmental consequences are manifold. Attacks can destroy pipelines and power plants, leading to various forms of contamination. Explosive remnants of war can contaminate soil and water sources, and harm wildlife. The Russian invasion in Ukraine demonstrates the damage caused to internationally protected wetlands as well as biosphere and national parks. 

In this webinar three experts who have followed the development of the principles for the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict will discuss the principles and the current momentum of this agenda. We ask them if UN's member states, militaries, Non-State Armed Groups, and other actors mentioned in the principles are ready to implement them, and what can be done to move the agenda forward.

Programme
14.00-14.05     Welcome, Finn Stepputat
14.05-14.10     Introduction, Jairo Munive
14.10-14.30     Implementing the Principles, Doug Weir
14.30-14.50     Protection the Natural Environment in Armed Conflicts: An ICRC View, Vanessa Murphy
14.50-15.10     How to meaningfully engage Armed Groups and Defacto Authorities in the protection of the environment, Hiba Mikhail
15.10-15.30     Q&A

Speakers
Finn Stepputat, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Jairo Munive, Independent Researcher

Doug Weir, Research and Policy Director, the Conflict and Environment Observatory
Doug has undertaken research and advocacy on the polluting legacy of armed conflicts and military activities since 2005, founding CEOBS in 2017. He has contributed to a wide range of domestic and international initiatives, currently focusing on the development of the legal framework protecting the environment in relation to armed conflicts.

Vanessa Murphy, Senior Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross
Vanessa Murphy is a Legal Adviser at the Legal Division of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva. Her present work focuses, among other issues, on the protection of the environment in armed conflict and she is a co-author of the ICRC’s updated Guidelines on the Protection of the Natural Environment in Armed Conflict. Her other thematic files include the protection of children, access to education, sexual violence, and gender in armed conflict. She holds an LLM in international humanitarian law from the Geneva Academy, a Graduate Diploma of Law in the UK, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from Yale University.

Hiba Mikhail, Regional Legal and Policy Coordinator, Near and Middle East, Geneva Call
Hiba Mikhail is the Legal and Policy Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa at Geneva Call. Ever since joining the organization in 2014, Hiba has gathered extensive experience engaging local and regional stakeholders, including Armed Groups, De-facto Authorities and community leaders, to advance the protection of civilians in conflict. She holds a Public Law Degree from the Lebanese University and has worked as a consultant for various organizations on issues related to the humanitarian engagement of armed actors as well as security sector governance and reform.

The webinar was held and recorded via Zoom on Tuesday 1 November 2022 at 14.00-15.30.