Rules in War – International Humanitarian Law Under Pressure

From the wars in the former Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s to current conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, the Middle East, or the Democratic Republic of Congo, armed conflicts continue to shape international politics. Images of destroyed hospitals, injured civilians, and humanitarian disasters have become almost daily occurrences, yet for more than a century, international rules have existed that are meant to apply even in war: international humanitarian law. These rules are designed to protect civilians, prohibit certain weapons, and ensure medical care for wounded soldiers.

However, how effective are these “rules of war” today? Enforcement of international humanitarian law is often challenging, as military strategies or political interests repeatedly lead to the destruction of civilian infrastructure or the obstruction of humanitarian aid, even though such actions are prohibited under international law.

Against this backdrop, we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Katja Schöberl on Thursday, 19 March 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe. Dr. Schöberl heads the International Relations and International Humanitarian Law Unit at the German Red Cross (DRK). As the national Red Cross society, the DRK has a statutory responsibility to promote the principles of international humanitarian law in Germany and is also actively engaged internationally in protecting people, providing assistance in crises, and strengthening the protection of civilian populations.

Together with Dr. Schöberl and our participants, we will discuss questions such as the effectiveness of international humanitarian law when violations rarely carry consequences, why serious breaches continue to occur despite clear legal rules, how the protection of civilians, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers can be improved, and what responsibilities states, international organizations, and humanitarian actors bear in ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law.

This event is part of the “Young European Security Talks” series, which aims to provide young people with the opportunity to engage in discussions on current security policy issues in conversation with experts and decision-makers.

We look forward to your participation and kindly ask that you register by 18 March 2026.