Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has devastated schools and kindergartens throughout the country, Human Rights Watch said in a report and video released today. Since February 2022, over 3,790 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to Ukrainian government figures, severely interrupting access to education for millions of children. The 63-page report, “Tanks on the Playground,” documents the damage and destruction of schools and kindergartens in four Ukrainian regions during the first months of the fighting. Most of the damage to educational facilities resulted from aerial attacks, artillery shelling, rocket strikes, and, in some cases, attacks using cluster munitions – causing significant damage to roofs, the collapse of walls, and major debris in classrooms. Russian forces frequently looted and pillaged schools they occupied, a war crime.  

It is within the Israeli  authorities power to turn on the  water supply and ensure that there's fresh  drinking water available to hospitals and to families,  to civilians who are living under bombardment at the moment.

Collective Punishment of Palestinians is a War Crime

Tirana Hassan's address to the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights on Israel, Palestine and international humanitarian law.

(Beirut, October 26, 2023) – Drone strikes by Turkish Armed Forces on Kurdish-held areas of northeast Syria between October 5 and 10, 2023, damaged critical infrastructure and resulted in water and electricity disruptions for millions of people, Human Rights Watch said today.

All Hostages Should be Immediately Released Safely and Unconditionally

ICC Has Mandate to Probe Attacks as War Crimes 

But what is international humanitarian law, and how does it apply to these hostilities?

Rockets fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.