Interview: Belgium does not acknowledge civilian harm in its air war against IS
IRW researchers talks to the Belgium media about their book on remote warfare, civilian harm and democratic control.
Here you will find our own research output and a variety of other thematically relevant publications, blogs, events and podcasts we have been inspired by in our investigations into the Intimacies of Remote Warfare.
Remote warfare is only remote for some. While politicians portray it as humanitarian, so-called ‘precision’ airstrikes often lead to mass civilian casualties. The distance at which this type of war is waged and the inaccessibility of its battlefields often leads to these casualties being overlooked. In recent years, however, a growing community of NGOs have utilised remote-sensing techniques to monitor local claims of civilian harm. The resulting contestation of the exact numbers of civilian casualties has provoked intense debate. This raises pressing questions about the impact of the violence executed and democratic control.
Podcast: Reverberating civilian harm effects
On episode 68 of the Asymmetrical Haircuts podcast, IRW’s Lauren Gould dives into the ripple civilian harm effects of the Dutch 2015 airstrike on Hawija, Iraq.
Public Event: Who holds our military to account?
Join IRW researchers in the Tivoli for the launch of their latest book and a lively debate on remote warfare, civilian harm and democratic control
Journal Article: Reverberating civilian harm effects under IHL
Dr. Machiko Kanetake reflects on IRW’s 'After the Strike' report and the way its findings should influence debates in international humanitarian law.
Book: First Book on Hawija
In its latest book publication, IRW brings together researchers, politicians, NGOs, lawyers, and victims of the 2015 Dutch F16 bombing of Hawija to reflect on remote warfare, civilian harm and democratic control.
Op-ed: ‘Increased defense budgets should result in victim compensation funds’
In an op-ed in Het Parool, IRW’s Jip van Dort and PAX’s Erin Bijl argue that a modest part of the increased Defence budget should be invested in the creation of victim compensation funds.
Lecture: The Remote Warfare Paradox
On Tuesday 14 June from 20:00 to 21:30 CEST, dr. Gould will lecture on the ‘remote warfare paradox’ and her successful efforts to expose the civilian harm effects of the 2015 Dutch airstrike of Hawija at the Instituto Cervantes, Utrecht.
Op-ed: ‘Armed drones are not some kind of superweapon’
While the war in Ukraine rages on, the Dutch state seems to be laying the political foundations for the armament of its military drones. In an op-ed in Het Parool, IRW’s Lauren Gould and Jip van Dort reflect on the shortcomings of this political process.
Rewatch: Launch of IRW’s joint report ‘After the Strike’
The recordings of the sold-out live event in De Balie with, among others, Pulitzer Prize winner Azmat Khan are now available online.
Reflection: On new civilian harm transparency policy of the Dutch MoD
IRW and partners reflect on the recent policy changes they helped shape