The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project is an initiative of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights to support the application and implementation of international law in armed conflict. Through its global database and analysis, the Project aims ultimately to report on every concerned State and disputed territory in the world, considering both the legal norms that apply as well as the extent to which they are respected by the relevant actors.

NEWS

Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: ATT Process 

Alka Pradhan, "Outside the United States, Extraordinary Rendition on Trial", ASIL Insights, Vol. 15, Issue 29, 2 November 2011

The analysis discusses three pending cases before the European Court of Human Rights, El-Masri v. Macedonia, Al Nashiri v. Poland and Abu Zubaydah v. Lithuania, which highlight allegedly illegal acts committed by European countries in connection with the U.S. extraordinary rendition program.

"UN report warns of disturbing trend of attacks against schools during armed conflicts", UN News Centre, 11 May 2011

An increasing number of parties to armed conflicts around the world are deliberately attacking schools or forcing them to close in a growing trend, according to the annual report of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

UN Security Council Resolution 1976 (2011), 11 April 2011

Following the publication of the Report of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Legal Issues Related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia in January 2011, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1976 on piracy, wherein it emphasized the need to "urgently consider" plans for specialized courts and prisons for Somali pirates.

Recent developments
		Judicial decisions Joined Cases C-411/10 and C-493/10, N. S. v. Secretary of State for the Home & M. E. et al. v. Refugee Applications Commissioner et al., European Court of Justice Judgment, 21 December 2011 - The ECJ found that asylum seekers could not be transferred to a member state where substantial grounds existed that they would face a real risk of being subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment.
		Judicial decisions Prosecutor v. Callixte Mbarushimana, International Criminal Court, Decision on the confirmation of charges, 16 December 2011 - The Court decides no to confirm the charges and to release the accused from custody.
		Judicial decisions Case of Othman (Abu Qatada) v. UK, European Cout of Human RIghts Judgment, 17 January 2012 - The first time the ECtHR has found that, because the use of evidence obtained through torture makes a fair trial impossible, an expulsion would be in violation of Art. 6.
		Judicial decisions International Court of Justice, Jurisdictional Immunities of the State (Germany v. Italy: Greece intervening), Judgment, 3 February 2012 - The Court finds that Italy has violated its obligation to respect the immunity enjoyed by Germany under international law.