8 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Asia-Pacific Online Session on International Humanitarian Law Session – ARMED CONFLICT AND THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross

ABOUT THE APOS

The Asia-Pacific Online Session on International Humanitarian Law (APOS) was a 6-week introductory training programme on international humanitarian law (IHL) organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The APOS was designed for staff in government, armed and security forces, academia and civil society who have an interest in understanding, promoting, implementing or teaching IHL. This year, the ICRC welcomed around 65 participants from 27 countries across the Asia-Pacific region to the APOS.

Across the APOS, the ICRC offered an introduction to the fundamental rules of IHL as well as to a selection of contemporary thematic issues. Through discussions and presentations with a range of experts, They offered participants an insight not only into the law, but also into the humanitarian issues that the law seeks to address.

PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT

Too often, the natural environment was directly attacked or incidentally damaged by means and methods of warfare, and further impacted by damage and destruction to the built environment. The consequences of such environmental damage for conflict-affected populations are severe and complex, threatening their well-being and survival. These effects have been seen first-hand in the Asia-Pacific region.

The panel explored the international efforts underway to address the impact that wars can had on the natural environment and the interlinked consequences for conflict-affected communities. When environmental degradation collided with climate risks, this made matters worse for people trying to survive in contemporary armed conflicts. In places that had been damaged by decades of war and fragility, people’s coping mechanisms were radically eroded by violence and instability. With weakened resilience they were left vulnerable to further shocks, including from climate change.

Efforts to clarify and strengthen the international legal framework that governs the protection of the environment in armed conflict are ongoing. At the same time, the international legal framework protecting the environment has continued to develop. The International Law Commission (ILC) is engaged in a multi-year process to develop principles that would enhance the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also updated its Guidelines on the Protection of the Environment in Armed Conflict.