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.

The Review is made up of four main sections:

• The first contains articles on the theme under discussion in the respective issue.
• Selected articles on international humanitarian law not related to that theme may be published in the second section, according to their originality, importance and academic standard.
• The third section, entitled Notes and comments, contains shorter contributions and comments on specific events, legislation or judgments. Like the selected articles on humanitarian law, these notes and comments need not necessarily be linked to the particular theme of the Review concerned. They are also meant to take up current issues giving rise to debate.
• Finally, in the Reports and documents section, the Review publishes official ICRC documents, conference reports, etc.

FUTURE THEMES
march 2009 - 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.


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?

Possible topics:

• Basic typology of armed conflict (socio-political)
• Intractable conflicts (socio-psychological)
• Warlords or economic armed conflicts (sociological)
• A single definition of armed conflict (legal)
• The qualification of armed conflicts (legal)
• Begin and end of occupation (legal)
• Armed conflicts in failed states (legal)
• Jihad (legal)
• United Nations operations (legal)
• Humanitarian action in different types of war (humanitarian)

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?

Possible topics:

• Who is a victim? (philosophical and sociological aspects)
• Different perceptions of victims throughout history (historical)
• To be a victim (socio-psychological)
• Victims approach in Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (legal)
• Victims in international humanitarian law (legal)
• Reparations to victims (legal)
• Memory of victims (historical)
• Hierarchy of victims: Poverty, sickness, war and non-discrimination (sociological)
• Victims approach in humanitarian action: Direct and indirect victims of war/holistic vs. specific approach (humanitarian)
• Demilitarisation and reintegration of soldiers
• Helping victims : Protection or Assistance of victims (humanitarian action)
• Victims' empowerment and capacity building (humanitarian action)

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?

Possible topics:

• Reasons for displacement and different types of migrants (sociological)
• Illegal immigrants (legal)
• Climate refugees (legal)
• Internally displaced persons (legal)
• Terrorism and non-refoulement (legal)
• Settlement and integration of migrants (sociological)
• Role of National Societies in migration (humanitarian)

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.

Possible topics:

• The particular importance of some International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conferences (historical)
• Problems of participation at International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conferences (legal)
• The contemporary relevance of the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles (legal)
• The importance of the International Conference for National Societies (sociological)
• Decisions of the "supreme deliberative body of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (legal)
• Red Cross law making (legal): development of IHL
• Analysis of practical influence of resolutions of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conferences

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.

Possible topics:

• Woman and war in history (historical)
• Woman soldiers (sociological)
• Woman perspective on international humanitarian law (legal)
• Family reunion (legal)
• Female detainees (legal)
• Dealing with rape (humanitarian-psychological)
• Woman as humanitarian actors (humanitarian)

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.

Possible topics:

• Humanitarian effects of growing urbanisation (sociological)
• Root-causes of urban violence (sociological)
• Applicable law in urban violence (legal)
• Urban warfare (legal)
• Combating Organized crime (legal)
• Possible role of the military in law enforcement operations (legal)
• Red Cross response to the phenomenon of urban violence (humanitarian)

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.

Possible topics:

• Climate risk assessment (sociological)
• Security related consequences of climate change (legal)
• Climate change and Justice (legal)
• Attack on the environment (legal)
• Migration and conflict (sociological)
• Climate refuges (legal)
• The right to water (legal)
• Addressing the consequences of climate change (humanitarian)
• Community based disaster reduction (humanitarian)
• Role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (humanitarian)