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THE 2023 FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
21 October - 17 November
FoSS and ESRC logos

Caught in the Crossfire: Civilians in Armed Conflict

City skyscape under attack

What’s on offer?

Join us for a panel discussion where leading experts explore the law of war. Participants will have the capacity to submit questions to the panel

What’s it about?

Recent events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as, since February 2022, the Russia Ukraine War, have, once again, raised an important moral, legal, and political question, namely, what is the status of civilians in times of conflict? In the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, commentators frequently demand that civilians in Gaza should be protected and that Israel should conduct its military campaign according to the law of war. But what do these laws say? What obligations do they impose on belligerents? Even if legal requirements are met by belligerents, can we still morally judge their actions? What, for example, is proportionality? What are the practical issues faced by those seeking to protect civilians? And finally, why do civilians often end up in the crossfire? 

Hosted by the Centre for International Intervention (cii), this event brings together experts and researchers from law, philosophy, as well as the humanitarian and policy sector, to discuss these questions.  

Who’s leading the event?

Chair: Sir Michael Aaronson, Professor in Practice & Department of Politics, University of Surrey

Dr Joshua Andresen, School of Law, University of Surrey

Dr Alex Leveringhaus, cii & Department of Politics, University of Surrey

Claire Sanfield, Save the Children

Dr Jamie Shea, ex-NATO & Professor-of-Practice, University of Surrey

Open to

This event is open to adults and young people