Through academic research and partnerships ...
Engage in cutting edge research on central dilemmas and challenges of international humanitarian law and policy
Through expert analysis and policy recommendations
Bridging research and practice through critical analysis of dilemmas of law in action, and crafting policy recommendations for organizations working to protect civilians in armed conflict
Through engagement and mobilization of professionals
Build core competencies and critical skills through professional development and the engagement with practitioner communities in humanitarian action
Through advisory services and engagement with policy makers
Engage and support policy makers and their organizations to address humanitarian challenges, including by thinking critically and strategically about the role of law in protecting civilians in armed conflict transforming institutions
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advancing the protection of civilians in armed conflict

 

Featured Research

Monitoring, Reporting, and Fact-finding
This project examines mechanisms that investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in armed conflicts and internal disturbances.  The project aims to convene a working group of high-level professionals and to facilitate a process of developing a community of practice in the domain of monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding.

Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action
The Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action (ATHA) is designed to enhance the knowledge and capacity of humanitarian NGOs operating in complex environments through training courses, policy support, networking and dialogue. The ongoing project cycle 2010-2013 is focused on the management of humanitarian assistance. 

Humanitarian Law and Policy Forum

With the Humanitarian Law and Policy Forum, HPCR facilitates the emergence of an active global community of practice, bringing together humanitarian professionals from around the world to access forum discussions and interactive seminars, and to engage with experts and peers on contemporary challenges to the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

International Humanitarian Law in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory Developed in consultation with the United Nations and other international agencies, this project focuses on issues surrounding the application of international humanitarian law in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Read more...

IHL in Air and Missile Warfare

Following a series of informal consultations with scholars and governmental experts, the HPCR launched in 2003 a multi-annual Project, with a view to restating the existing law of air and missile warfare. This initiative, culminated in the formulation of the present HPCR Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare (hereinafter: the HPCR Manual).

International Humanitarian Law Research Initiative Two central elements of IHLRI include the IHL Research Portal and a series of informal expert meetings. Regularly updated by a team of Harvard-based researchers, the IHL Portal offers access to a comprehensive database of on-line academic and policy-oriented research materials related to international humanitarian law.

Featured Events

Humanitarian Assistance Webcast
Jun 12 2012 - 9:30am
Online, United States
Click here to register (required) Click here to find your time zone More information is forthcoming
Live Web Seminar
Jun 26 2012 - 9:30am
Online, United States
Click here to register (required) Click here to find your time zone's start time More information is forthcoming

About Us

The Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research is an international research and policy program based at the Harvard School of Public Health. The Program offers a multidisciplinary approach to new challenges in the field of humanitarian affairs. Key sectors of activity include:

Human security - a complement to state-centric security models with a focus on individual and community needs as an important guarantor for sustainable peace and stability
Conflict management - theoretical and operational strategies to contain and resolve hostilities persisting between state parties and/or non-state actors
International humanitarian law - deriving from the Hague Regulations, the Geneva Conventions, and the Additional Protocols, a set of rules intended to regulate the conduct and effects of armed conflict.

Read more...

Recent Blog Posts

The Promise of Social Media for Humanitarian Action? by Jason Cone @jtcone1977
May 10 2012 - 9:34am Comments

No More Babies Born with HIV by 2015 by Claudia Gonzalez @claudiagonzalez
May 9 2012 - 1:10pm Comments

Who will tell Scisa’s story? by Melissa Fleming @melissarfleming
May 7 2012 - 1:04pm Comments