As of October 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates that 204 million people live in areas controlled or contested by armed groups – 30 million more than in 2021. In many such areas, the rule of law never took hold; where it did, it has now collapsed, replaced by rule through arms. Life in contested areas, however, is not always “nasty, brutish and short.” But coping implies harrowing trade-offs – complying with the rules imposed by armed groups to avoid retaliation, keeping children away from school for safety, or hiding targeted family members.
Exploring the lived experience of people in contested territories, the ICRC conducted field research between July 2024 and January 2025 in Cameroon, Iraq, and the Philippines. From this work, the ICRC’s policy report, entitled “Navigating Violence: Learning from Civilian Experiences and Strengthening Humanitarian Responses in Contested Territories” will be launched in November 2025.
Organized by the ICRC through panel discussions featuring ICRC experts, national civil society actors, and State representatives , this event aims not only to present the report but also to serve as a platform to engage the broader humanitarian sector in a topic of shared concern and to initiate dialogue on improving protection and assistance in contested territories – moving from a mindset of “what is possible” to “what is needed.”
- International sign language interpretation will be provided at this event. -