The inaugural issue of the Asia-Pacific Journal of International Humanitarian Law (APJIHL 2020 Edition) was formally launched on 10 November 2020 via Zoom.

Drawing on their expertise and experience, Judge Raul C. Pangalangan of the International Criminal Court, Dr. Helen Durham of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Prof. Suzannah Linton of China University of Political Science and Law led the discussion on international humanitarian law (IHL) in the Asia-Pacific, with emphasis on the region’s perspective and contribution to the development of this body of rules. Regional Legal Adviser Ms. Sahar Haroon of the International Committee of the Red Cross moderated the discussion.

The Asia-Pacific Journal of International Humanitarian Law 2020 Edition is available here.

The First Edition includes articles focusing on the following issues:

• the complex and diverse IHL landscape in the region;
• the intersection of IHL and applicable legal frameworks on autonomous military systems and civilian aviation;
• the intersection of IHL and use of force in “grey zone conflicts”;
• IHL and criminal law doctrine of command responsibility;
• the compatibility of national gunshot wound reporting regimes and fundamental IHL rules protecting healthcare and access to healthcare;
• IHL and the implementation of international and domestic criminal justice; panel discussion in the margins of the IHL Moot Court Competition in Malaysia in 2019;
• international criminal law narratives on ex-child soldiers; and
• the possibility of establishing ICC jurisdiction over international crimes committed in Syria.

The Asia-Pacific Journal of International Humanitarian Law is a publication of the Institute of International Legal Studies-University of the Philippines Law Center (UP-IILS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).The Journal seeks to produce peer-reviewed scholarly articles, book reviews, and commentary on significant developments and current issues in international humanitarian law and related fields. It has a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region, and is published once a year.

APJIHL is currently accepting submissions for its Second Edition (2021).