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3-11-2008 International Review of the Red Cross Future themes for the International Review of the Red Cross, December 2008 - September 2010  Aim and scope of the Review
The aim of the International Review of the Red Cross is to promote reflection on humanitarian law, policy and action in armed conflict and other situations of collective armed violence. A specialized journal on humanitarian law, it endeavours to promote knowledge, critical analysis and development of this law and to contribute to the prevention of violations of rules protecting fundamental rights and values. The Review also offers a forum for discussion on contemporary humanitarian action and for analysis of the causes and characteristics of conflicts so as to give a clearer insight into the humanitarian problems they generate. Structure and composition of the Review
The Review is made up of four main sections:
FUTURE THEMES December 2008 - September 2010 The following list of topics indicates areas of reflection, debate and critical analysis for contributions to the Review. Within the parameters of the journal’s aim, topics may be examined from a historical, legal, political, military-security, psycho-sociological or humanitarian perspective, taking either a general or a regional approach. The points of interest mentioned below by no means exhaust the various subjects that could be addressed in relation to the future themes. The dates given below for each theme indicate the planned dates of publication of the respective issue of the Review. Articles must be submitted not later than four months ahead of publication, e.g. by the end of May 2007 for the September 2007 issue. See also information for contributors and guidelines for referencing. Participation in Hostilities (December 2008) Deadline for submission: end of August 2008
Under international humanitarian law, civilians enjoy immunity from attack unless and as long as they take direct part in hostilities. The question is what exactly the term "direct participation in hostilities" means and how it can be interpreted in a realistic way. This issue of the Review also deals with the historical development of the exception of "direct participation in hostilities" to civilian immunity, with the consequences this phenomenon has on today's conflicts and the operational and legal limits of targeting civilians.
Typology of Conflicts (March 2009) Deadline for submission: end of November 2008
With the "global war on terror", high levels of internal violence and the international community intervening in internal conflicts, the classification of conflicts as either international or non-international has become more difficult. What is the nature of today's conflicts? What differentiates international from internal armed conflicts? What are the legal criteria for identifying the beginning and the end of an armed conflict or occupation?
Victims (June 2009) Deadline for submission: end of February 2009
The concept of a victim has greatly evolved since the beginning of the twentieth century. Wounded and sick combatants are no longer seen as the primary victims of war. The “ideology of victim” or victim approach raises a number of questions for humanitarian law and action. Is the current state of international humanitarian law able to adequately protect these newly recognised categories of victims of war? Is a general protection approach or a specific approach based on categories of victims more efficient? Are there more or less armed conflicts and victims?
Displacement (September 2009) Deadline for submission: end of April 2009
The Council of Delegates of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement recognized, already in 1991, that “new forms of movements of persons, due principally to economic and social hardship, frequently leading to severe malnutrition and famine conditions, and often associated with political instability, have emerged, and that these persons, while not fulfilling the international criteria for refugee status, are in need of humanitarian support. “ What is the impact of international migration and how the Red Cross, and particularly the national societies, can respond to the humanitarian needs?
Red Cross Law Making (December 2009) Deadline for submission: end of July 2009
The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is called "the supreme deliberative body for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement". The representatives of the components of the Movement and of the States Parties to the Geneva Conventions examine and decide upon humanitarian matters of common interest and other related matter. In these conferences, the ICRC proposed and prepared many treaties in international humanitarian law. While there have been Conferences of major importance to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the development of international humanitarian law, others have not resulted in any concrete changes or important decisions. The Review will take a critical look at the efficiency and importance of the Conferences, as well as their role in developing the law. It will also review some of the fundamental principles of the Movement and the ICRC in light of today's conflicts and political constellations.
Gender (March 2010) Deadline for submission: end of October 2009
Gender inequality reflects power imbalances in social structures that exist in pre-conflict periods and that are exacerbated by armed conflict and its aftermath. What's more, armed conflicts negatively affect both women and men and result in gender-specific disadvantages. To this end, gender issues are attracting more attention and are increasingly taken into account in post-conflict programs. Gender-related disadvantages need to be recognised and addressed by conflict and reconstruction processes.
Urban Violence (June 2010) Deadline for submission: end of January 2010
In a number of countries, urban violence is taking more lives than some "low-intensity" armed conflicts. The violence the urban population is facing can be of different nature. It can amount to "urban warfare" and armed conflict, or it can be gang violence, violence of organized criminal groups and/or violence in the family. The ICRC, together with the national societies is active in providing assistance and protection to victims of such violence.
Climate Change (September 2010) Deadline for submission: end of April 2010
The global climate is changing and people all over the world are confronting new and more severe risks. The expected increase of floods, droughts, cyclones, diseases and the rising sea level will affect everybody and especially millions of the most vulnerable people who have contributed the least to these developments. Furthermore, it must still be explored to what extent environmental degradation can become a "threat multiplier", by inducing resource scarcity, the collapse of weak governments, increasing natural disaster and other risks to security. Climate change is also a matter of security as it increases at least the risk of conflict through scarcity of resources, higher competition, migration and political instability.
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