Victim assistance
AOAV is a founding member of the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW). We believe, as our data routinely shows, that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas causes severe harm to individuals and communities. This suffering can and should be reduced so that unnecessary deaths and injuries can be prevented. We call on States to cease the use of explosive weapons in towns and cities. This page examines victim’s rights and the provision – or lack of – victim assistance when civilians are faced with the horrors of armed violence.
24 Apr 2023The importance of civilian casualty reporting in conflict: examining NATO member states’ practices and progress
AOAV explores the need for and challenges of civilian casualty reporting in conflict, with a focus on the practices and progress of NATO member states.
11 Apr 2023Unresolved cases of the “disappeared” continue to haunt Northern Ireland: the quest for closure and reconciliation
In this review of Rory Carroll's Guardian article, we explore the ongoing impact of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, particularly the unresolved cases of the "disappeared."
3 Mar 2023Transforming lives: a review of Lindsey Fitzharris’s ‘The Facemaker’ and the pioneering work of Harold Gillies in plastic surgery during World War I
"The Facemaker" by Lindsey Fitzharris chronicles the incredible work of Harold Gillies, a compassionate and skilled plastic surgeon who transformed the specialty during World War I and helped thousands of soldiers with facial disfigurements literally face the world again.
27 Feb 2023Nearly one in every 10 hospitals in Ukraine have been damaged by attacks since Russia’s invasion
There have been over 700 attacks on Ukrainian health care infrastructure and personnel by Russian forces, with nearly one in ten Ukrainian hospitals damaged and 200 medical workers either killed, injured, kidnapped, or arrested during the war.
21 Feb 2023Children in Ukraine endure a year of horror amid escalating conflict
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell reports that one year after the escalation of the war in Ukraine, children have been significantly impacted, with violence, fear, loss, and tragedy disrupting every aspect of their lives.
15 Feb 2023Number of women reporting rape at knifepoint triples in 10 years
Government responses fall short as bladed weapons involved in sexual violence rise in past decade
14 Feb 2023Why the UK should stop arming Saudi Arabia
Oxfam report accuses UK of arming Saudi-led coalition in Yemen despite evidence of IHL violations; CAAT lawsuit launched to end arms sales, temporary halt in 2019 overruled in 2020, leading to public criticism and questioning of trade deals vs human rights.
1 Feb 2023The continuing threat of banned weapons in Ukraine: the need for sustained support for landmine clearance
The use of banned weapons such as landmines and cluster munitions by Russia in the conflict in Ukraine poses a threat to civilians and impedes reconstruction efforts.
4 Jan 2023A hidden war: the lingering effects of US airstrikes in Afghanistan
Tom Mutch and Elhan Afzali visit Sangin, which was at the epicentre of the Taliban-led insurgency, and discover the ongoing devastation of Afghan lives
29 Nov 2022Casualty recording and the importance of States to do so: an interview with Professor Susan Breau
An interview with Professor Susan Breau - an expert on the legal obligations of States to record casualties in conflict
17 Oct 2022UK military prosecution rate in Afghanistan laid bare
AOAV's investigation found only one in 20 serious complaints led to prosecution
22 Aug 2022Rwanda’s refusal to let AOAV report on its treatment of refugees should be a warning call to the UK
Twelve refugees were killed by Rwandan police in 2018 and the country is attempting to shield itself from scrutiny – this should concern us all, writes Iain Overton