From war crimes to drug-running claims – UK’s Special Forces’ risks shredding its revered history of honour and heroism.

My article for Byline Times on why the SAS, grappling with a litany of accusations, needs comprehensive oversight and reform.

bylinetimes.com/2024/04/25/sas…

Bodies “buried deep in the ground & covered with waste”

“among the deceased were allegedly older people, women & wounded”

“Some of them had their hands tied”

This is not war.

UN rights chief ‘horrified’ by reports of mass graves at two Gaza hospitals theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

Over the years I have attended many UN and other official meetings to discuss the impact of war on civilians. They always have well dressed, slim officials with neat haircuts and polished shoes. The sandwiches are plentiful, the coffee flows, the talk of the dead dominates on…

Thank you Dr Iain Overton & Action on Armed Violence - great to share my views on the role of data-driven and #blastengineering approaches for informing the protection of civilians from blast, the #EWIPA #PoliticalDeclaration and broader advocacy efforts.

It's great when powerful, impactful work is produced by charity board members. Here's something headed by @aoav's Professor Ismene Gizelis:
Gendered patterns in explosive violence: a policy brief on understanding the impact of explosive weapons on women
aoav.org.uk/2024/gendered-…

To implement the #Declaration , we need to understand the blast effects of what we are trying to protect people from.

Action on Armed Violence and IBRN's Dr Jack Denny explored why engineering-perspectives matter when discussing the protection of civilians from #EWIPA .👇

aoav.org.uk/2024/implement…

'Addressing the needs of those affected by explosive weapons demands a comprehensive approach: emergency healthcare, psychological aid, clearance, risk education & community rehabilitation. Collaboration between local & international actors is essential' - Alma Taslidžan @ #EWIPAOslo

'Data collection and sharing on the use and impact of #EWIPA will increase transparency, accountability and strengthen the protection of civilians.'rboer.

🔗Read the full statement here: inew.org/wp-content/upl…

#EWIPA Oslo
#StopBombingCivilians

The second session of the international conference on implementing the Declaration, organised by Norway MFA, is on understanding direct and indirect effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, moderated by Robin Geiss, Director, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

🧵 A thread
#EWIPAOslo

Katherine Young of Explosive Weapons Monitor speaks at #EWIPA Oslo on how harm to civilians is widespread and a global issue, and that 2023 saw a significant increase in civilian casualties, attacks on education and humanitarian aid.

#EWIPA

Our dialogue with the civil society is crucial to understanding the consequences of #EWIPA

Foreign Policy CAN
#EWIPA Oslo

HE Ambassador ammar hijazi states “the effects of #EWIPA on children cannot be understated” in a discussion on understanding the direct and indirect effects of EWIPA.

#EWIPA Oslo

Action on Armed Violence reported that it recorded 47,000 deaths and injuries from explosive violence globally in 2023. This is the highest numbers since records began, with women and children particularly being effected.

Action on Armed Violence
#EWIPA Oslo
#EWIPA

Katherine Young from the Explosive Weapons Monitor draws attention to the indirect effects of EWIPA, highlighting for instance that attacks on aid agencies increased five-fold in 2023; as a result, aid agencies are often forced to stop the delivery of aid when it is most needed

Katherine Young of Explosive Weapons Monitor: harm to civilians is widespread and a global issue.

In 2023, there was a significant increase in civilian casualties, attacks on education and humanitarian aid. Indirect harms are also frequent, including food insecurity and psychosocial harm

The RAF’s Dan Beard talks to a conference in Norway on explosive violence in populated areas. Impressive words but does the RAF credibly stand by its strange claim it’s only killed one civilian in its air strikes over Iraq and Syria, but taken out over 4,300 militants?

Transparency and leadership are needed in the implementation of the #EWIPA Declaration. Need to review policy, identify gaps and work to restrict and refrain. Cross-sector dialogue is critical.

Laura Boillot of Article36

Today's first session will look at military policies and practices in the context of the Political Declaration.

🧵A thread highlighting remarks by the panel, moderated by Wendy MacClinchy, INEW representative from CIVIC

Norway MFA
#EWIPAOslo
#StopBombingCivilians