Protection of Environment During Armed Conflicts

Authors

  • Tajudeen Sanni Faculty of Sharia and Law, Villa College, Maldives Author
  • Swaleh H. Wengo Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64306/bpvgr210

Keywords:

Armed Conflict , International Humanitarian Law , Environmental Protection, International Criminal Court

Abstract

Armed conflict inflicts profound and often enduring harm on the natural environment, with direct consequences for civilian survival, public health, and post-conflict recovery. This article examines the evolving international legal framework for protecting the environment during armed conflict, focusing on three major instruments: the International Law Commission’s Draft Principles on the Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts, the International Committee of the Red Cross’s Guidelines on the Protection of the Natural Environment in Armed Conflict, and the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s 2025 Policy on Addressing Environmental Damage through the Rome Statute. It argues that, taken together, these instruments signal a significant normative shift from viewing environmental harm as an incidental by-product of warfare towards an integrated approach combining prevention, operational guidance, and individual criminal accountability. At the same time, the paper highlights persistent legal and practical gaps, particularly in contemporary conflicts marked by urban warfare, prolonged occupation, and large-scale ecological devastation, as illustrated by the situation in Gaza. The article concludes that strengthening interpretation, implementation, and accountability is essential to align legal norms with the realities of modern armed conflict and ecological vulnerability.

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Published

04-03-2026

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2025): IUM Journal of Laws (IUMJOL)

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

Sanni, T. ., & H. Wengo, S. . (2026). Protection of Environment During Armed Conflicts. IUM Journal of Laws (IUMJOL), 2(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.64306/bpvgr210