“On target”: precision and balance in the contemporary law of targeting

The law of targeting lies at the heart of international humanitarian law (IHL). As such it is the fulcrum around which discussion of combat operations revolves. The efficacy of this body of law depends on maintenance of the delicate balance between military necessity and humanitarian concerns. Mischaracterization or misapplication of IHL norms risks imbalance, thereby jeopardizing the innocent and potentially eroding State support for IHL’s application. Regrettably, while some of the current debate and commentary surrounding, inter alia, drone operations, autonomous weapons systems, cyber operations, and the current conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Ukraine, to name just a few, is highly sophisticated, much of it has been characterized by imprecise, skewed, or wrong assertions regarding the law of targeting. It is therefore a propitious moment to revisit the structure and content of targeting law. After briefly placing the law of targeting in the broader context of IHL, this article examines the five constituent elements of a targeting operation: (1) target; (2) weapon; (3) execution of the attack; (4) collateral damage and incidental injury; and (5) location. The legality of an engagement depends on full compliance with the rules falling into each category

Principled Exclusion: A Revised Approach to Article1(F)(a) of the Refugee Convention

The focus of this contribution is Article 1(F)(a), a section of the exclusion clause that has increased in both use and profile in recent years. Article 1(F)(a) applies to individuals who may be implicated in crimes against peace (more commonly known today as crimes of aggression), war crimes, or crimes against humanity as such crimes are defined in relevant international instruments. Where a decision maker finds that “there are serious reasons for considering that” an asylum seeker has committed one of these acts, the remainder of the Refugee Convention does not apply, and any protections to which the claimant would otherwise be entitled are consequently unavailable. Article 1(F)(a) is a particularly important part of the exclusion clause because it applies to those who have committed acts so wrongful that the international community has agreed to standards of universal applicability. It is a provision committed to ensuring that perpetrators of the worst international crimes do not subsequently benefit from the robust international protections available to refugees. The 2013 Michigan Colloquium on Challenges in International Refugee Law brought together experts committed to articulating a principled approach to exclusion under Article 1(F)(a). This paper was drafted as the background study for that meeting and was designed to provide general principles for study and debate. In particular, the paper calls for a revised paradigm for determining when an asylum seeker ought to be denied protection on the basis that he or she is individually responsible for the international crimes listed in Article 1(F)(a)

El Derecho Internacional ante los crímenes cometidos contra la poblacion civil

La población civil se ha convertido en uno de los principales objetivos de los ataques armados producidos en las situaciones de violencia actuales. La normativa internacional establece el régimen de derechos y obligaciones exigibles en estas circunstancias excepcionales (las normas). Además, el derecho internacional regula las actuaciones que los sujetos pueden llevar a cabo para responder a dichos ataques armados dirigidos contra la población civil (los sujetos).The civilian population has become one of the main targets of armed attacks in the situations of violence. International law establishes the regime of rights and obligations in these exceptional circumstances (rules). In addition, international law regulates the actions that subjects can take to respond to these armed attacks directed against the civilian population (subjects).La population civile est devenue l’une des principales cibles des attaques armées dans les situations de violence. Le droit international établit le régime des droits et obligations applicables dans ces circonstances exceptionnelles (les normes). En outre, le Droit international régit les actions que les sujets peuvent prendre pour répondre à ces attaques armées dirigés contre la population civile (les sujets)