The year 2025 was marked by far too many events that challenged the effective implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL). The need for humanitarian protection and assistance has never been more pressing. Current global challenges, with more than 130 armed conflicts ongoing, demonstrate that the proper application of IHL, including in the face of new forms of warfare and emerging technologies, is crucial. Civilians continue to be targeted by parties to conflicts. Access to aid is deliberately obstructed. Humanitarian workers, those who risk everything to save lives, are increasingly exposed to danger.
These are some of the findings of the 9th report on the EU Guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law. This 9th report covers the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to provide a concise, coherent, transparent and factual overview of the EU’s most relevant actions in 2025. Its aim is to monitor all actions undertaken by the EU, increase the visibility of measures promoting IHL, and facilitate the assessment of its action in this area. Previously published by the Council Working Party on Public International Law (COJUR), the annual implementation report is, as of this year, jointly published by Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, and Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said:
“International humanitarian law (IHL) aims to protect people, civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel. Yet current conflicts too often disregard these rules. Whether it is people taking refuge in metro stations in Ukraine, families fleeing drones in Sudan, or civilians trapped in armed conflicts stretching from Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, these lives could be spared if IHL were respected by the warring parties. The EU has long been at the forefront of defending IHL, and our voice will only grow stronger.”
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said:
“Accountability for violations of international and humanitarian law is fundamental. When humanitarian crises result from political failures, impunity and the erosion of fundamental norms, the response must be political determination and collective action. We must fight impunity and ensure accountability for the most serious crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression. Accountability cannot be selective, otherwise the entire rules-based international order is called into question. In 2025, we mobilised to defend international humanitarian law in the face of Russia’s war against Ukraine, in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Yemen.”
