The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The State of IHL
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Feb 26, 2026 Stuart Casey Maslen, head of IHL in Focus at the Geneva Academy and IHL scholar, outlines worrying global trends. He discusses two decades of IHL erosion, the spread and dangers of armed and autonomous drones, rising sexual violence, enforcement and accountability gaps, and whether new treaty rules are needed. Short, urgent takes on law, technology, and civilian protection.
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Precision Tech Exists But Is Often Ignored
- Advanced precision technology exists that could reduce civilian harm but parties often choose not to use it.
- Maslen contrasts precision-guided munitions and drone capabilities with deliberate Russian strikes in Kherson that target civilians.
Sexual Violence And Drone Proliferation As Twin Trends
- Two recurring trends stand out across conflicts: a rise in sexual violence and explosive growth in armed drone use.
- Maslen highlights gang rapes in Sudan and drone proliferation from Nagorno-Karabakh to Ukraine as key examples.
Cheap Drones Democratize Lethal Capability
- Armed drones have spread rapidly to non-state actors, raising overall civilian risk.
- Maslen notes cheap quadcopters can be armed by cartels or ISIS variants, and full autonomy is the next likely step.