Year in Review 2016

Abstract

The year 2016 was marked by several noteworthy events with particular relevance to international humanitarian law, such as: the continuance of the conflict in Syria, the prolongation of violence in Libya, the intensification of hostilities in Yemen, the proliferation of armed groups in Mali, the decline of the Islamic State (IS)’s territorial control in Iraq, Libya and Syria and the conclusion of a peace agreement in Colombia; the release of four reports on the use of chemical weapons in Syria by the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIT) established last year by the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); the publication of a new Commentary on the First Geneva Convention by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and several key decisions by international, hybrid, and national courts related to the adjudication of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, including landmark judgments in the Bemba and Al Madhi cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and in the case of Hissène Habré at the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC). This chapter addresses a number of these issues amongst other events of note. The Year in Review is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of all events that occurred in 2016, but rather a sampling of events of note with particular relevance to international humanitarian law.

Kate Pitcher is a former research assistant for the T.M.C. Asser Instituut who contributed to this chapter between 24 March 2016 and 26 February 2017. Sophie van der Valk is PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin. Geneviève Girard was the Editorial Assistant of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law 2016 (vol. 19).