Shield or Sword? The Struggle Over IHL’s Protective Function

On 23 October 2025, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP), in partnership with the IHL Centre, co-organised a thought-provoking panel discussion at DCAF, Maison de la Paix, exploring how international humanitarian law (IHL) is interpreted—and sometimes misused—in contemporary armed conflicts.

Entitled “Shield or Sword? The Struggle Over IHL’s Protective Function,” the event brought together Geneva’s diplomatic, humanitarian, and academic communities for a rich discussion on the challenges of maintaining the integrity of IHL in an era of increasingly polarised narratives.

The conversation examined how IHL concepts and humanitarian vocabulary are at times distorted to justify unlawful conduct or blur legal categories, threatening to erode the law’s protective purpose. Panelists reflected on the risks of such misinterpretations and on practical ways to preserve IHL’s core humanitarian principles in both discourse and practice.

The panel featured:

• Professor Marco Sassòli (University of Geneva)
• Dr Eitan Diamond (IHL Centre – Israel & Palestine)
• Dr Anne Quintin (International Committee of the Red Cross)
• Janique Thöle (Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)

The discussion was moderated by Dr Annyssa Bellal (GPP). The event drew a full house of practitioners, legal advisers and scholars, underscoring the importance of continued dialogue on how to ensure IHL remains a framework for protection and humanity amidst the realities of war.

In line with GPP’s broader facilitation role, this event exemplifies the Platform’s commitment to creating convening spaces where researchers, practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders can exchange, innovate and test ideas collaboratively. By bringing together expertise from diverse fields, GPP helps strengthen the links between normative frameworks, operational realities and peacebuilding practice—as demonstrated in this timely discussion on IHL.