The War Report Armed Conflict in 2014

This annual Report on armed conflicts around the world provides detailed information on each conflict which occurred in 2014. The Report sets out the conflicts' classification, applicable norms, key actors, methods of warfare, and the number of casualties. It also analyses key legal issues that arose in the context of these armed conflicts.

This War Report provides detailed information on every armed conflict which took place during 2014, offering an unprecedented overview of the nature, range, and impact of these conflicts and the legal issues they created. In Part I the Report describes its criteria for the identification and classification of armed conflicts under international law, and the legal consequences that flow from this classification. It sets out a list of armed conflicts in 2014, categorising each as international, non-international, or a military occupation, with estimates of civilian and military casualties. In Part II, each of these conflicts are examined in more detail, with an overview of the belligerents, means and methods of warfare, the applicable treaties and rules, and any prosecutions for, investigations into, or robust allegations of war crimes. Part III of the Report provides detailed thematic analysis of key legal developments which arose in the context of these conflicts, allowing for a more in-depth reflection on cross-cutting questions and controversies. The Report gives a full and accessible overview of armed conflicts in 2014. It should be the first port of call for everyone working in the field.

1 - The CIA Torture Report: Was there a Method in the Madness?
2 - Gender Perspectives in Armed Conflicts in 2014
3 - The 2014 Gaza War: Reflections on Conflict in Gaza
4 - The Conflict with Islamic State: A Critical Review of International Legal Issues
5 - Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Conflict-Affected States
6 - Protection of the Internally Displaced in Armed Conflict in 2014: A Critical Review of Law and Practice
7 - The Legality of Detention in Armed Conflict
8 - Engaging with Drug Lords: Protecting Civilians in Colombia, Mexico and Honduras
9 - Protecting the Right to Protest in Armed Conflict
10 - Youth as main victims and perpetrators of violence: are the mechanisms behind joining 'criminal' gangs similar to those for joining violent extremist groups?
11 - Extraordinary Rendition and the European Court of Human Rights
12 - National Trials of International Crimes in 2014: Prosecuting 'Refugees' suspected of International Crimes
13 - War Crimes Trials at Guantanamo Bay: Key Developments in 2014
14 - Tackling impunity for sexual violence
15 - A Review of the Work of the International Criminal Court in 2014
16 - Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Challenges and Opportunities

Annyssa Bellal is a Research Associate at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and legal adviser at Geneva Call. Previously she worked as a legal advisor for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).