News
New report calls for fresh approach to UK investigations of civilian harm by military forces
26 November 2024 A report published today by the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights finds recurrent and systemic shortcomings in the UK’s practice of investigating civilian harm caused by its military forces, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. The response of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to alleged extrajudicial executions of
Strengthened parliamentary oversight needed for UK Special Forces, says new policy brief
A new policy brief from the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights calls for urgent reforms to improve accountability and parliamentary oversight of UK Special Forces (UKSF) amid recurring allegations of civilian harm. Accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes committed by military forces, including Special Forces, is
UK military accountability: New government should change how it decides to go to war
In 2020, Keir Starmer vowed there would be ‘No more illegal wars’ under his Labour Party leadership. After a landslide election on 4 July, the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights calls on the new prime minister and his government to change how the decision to go to war is made.
Escalating violations in Syria’s Afrin
A year after the region was hit by a devastating earthquake, the human rights situation in Afrin in Turkish-occupied Syria is deteriorating further, finds a new submission to the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria by Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights and YASA Kurdish Center for Studies and Legal Consultancy.
UK war powers convention now devoid of content: New report
The constitutional Convention requiring Parliament to be consulted if the UK goes to war has now been emptied of any substantive content, argues a new report published by the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision in January 2024 to commence ongoing airstrikes against Ansar Allah (‘the
Iraq: Rise in family-based violence against women linked to conflict
An increase in domestic violence against women is closely linked to the legacy of conflict in Iraq, finds a new report by Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights. As a result of conflict violence, women and girls experienced higher rates of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their
UK & other states must act to prevent further war crimes in Israel/Palestine
The UK, the US and other states supporting Israel, and those states supporting Hamas, including Iran, must implement their responsibility to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and to prevent further war crimes, said Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights on the eve of major escalation in the conflict in Israel/Palestine.
Israel’s justice system shields security forces from accountability – Launch of major new database
The operation of the Israeli justice system is now effectively shielding Israeli Security Forces (ISF) from accountability for civilian harm caused in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), shows a new map of nearly 500 Israeli court cases published by Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights.
Yemen’s cycle of impunity must end: Urgent international action needed for justice and accountability
12 June 2023 Sana’a/London – After nearly a decade of war, civilian victims in Yemen still await justice and accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law violations and abuses, many of which may amount to international crimes, according to a joint report released today by Mwatana
Ceasefire’s Iraqi partner addresses UN Security Council on women’s rights
May 2023 Ms Khanim Rahim Latif, Director of Asuda, Ceasefire’s partner NGO in Iraq, briefed the UN Security Council this month on the widespread violence faced by women throughout Iraq, including the targeting of women human rights defenders. Speaking in New York on 18 May to the Security Council under
Expansion in UK military partnerships threatens civilian lives – new report
The global expansion of the UK’s partnered military operations risks increasing civilian harm and decreasing accountability, finds a new report from Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights.
Spring writing competition
Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights is delighted to announce our first Spring Writing Competition! The competition involves the submission of a 1,000-word opinion or comment piece on one of the following questions: In what way could a rights-based approach affect the situation of civilians in armed-conflict zones? How is accountability
20 years on, Iraqis still wait for justice
March 2023 After 20 years of war since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi families who have suffered death, injury and forced displacement are still left without justice, said the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights in a statement. Over 5 million Iraqis were forced from their
The Bill of Rights threatens access to justice for civilians and service personnel – Ceasefire and RSI joint briefing
The UK government’s plans to abolish the Human Rights Act (HRA) and replace it with the Bill of Rights poses a serious threat to the human rights of both civilians and service personnel. Ceasefire and Rights & Security International have published a joint briefing on the impact of the Bill
Ceasefire holds their first fundraising concert in Islington on 4 November with Ukrainian concert pianist Sasha Grynyuk
Ceasefire are set to host their first fundraising concert in support of their work to empower civilians caught in conflict zones, including Ukraine, and the Middle East and North Africa. St James’ Church in Islington London has generously provided their beautiful venue for the event, where the concert will be held on Friday 4 November 7.30pm.
Reparations for Ukraine: An international route map
To bring justice to Ukraine’s civilians and enable them to rebuild their lives will require reparations. But while firm progress has been made on instituting war crimes investigations following the Russian invasion, international planning for the delivery of reparations has lagged behind, finds a major new report by Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights.
Ceasefire joins ten civil society groups in calling on the UK to urgently address civilian harm policies
On Protection of Civilians Week, Ceasefire joins eleven civil society organisations request to meet the UK Secretary of State for Defence to discuss improvements on the way the UK mitigates, accounts and investigates instances of civilian harm. As the United States announces a review of its approach to how it
The protection of civilians and siege warfare: CEASEFIRE and the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK host event
From Mariupol and other cities in Ukraine, to Mosul, Aleppo and other cities in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia and the Philippines, the global resurgence of siege warfare and its devastating impact on civilian populations have raised serious questions about the implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL) and military strategy and
CEASEFIRE addresses key Geneva talks on explosive weapons use in populated areas
CEASEFIRE participated in talks with delegates from over 65 countries at the Palais des Nations in Geneva in April focused on a political declaration on restricting the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). Delegates from governments and civil society met for three days of discussions on the wording
Global resurgence of siege warfare traps civilian populations on the frontline – new report
Read CEASEFIRE’s latest report on siege warfare here A resurgence across world regions of the tactics of siege warfare has trapped civilian populations at the frontlines of today’s battles, finds a new report by the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights. From Mariupol and other cities in Ukraine, to Mosul, Aleppo and
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