Dr Robin McNeill Love, Vice President of the IHFFC, was honoured to be invited to the Launch event of "Conflict, Hunger and International Humanitarian Law – A Practitioner’s Legal Handbook” on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London, UK.
Extracts from the invitation and registration explain the event: “The prevention of food insecurity and famine is a long-standing UK humanitarian and development priority. The UK recognises that armed conflict is a primary cause of many situations of severe food insecurity and famine.
The behaviour of armed actors, and the lack of compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL), is a main driver of this. As part of the UK’s efforts to prevent famine and champion IHL and humanitarian access, the FCDO and the Ministry of Defence have developed a Legal Handbook on conflict-induced hunger.
The Handbook brings together and clarifies the international legal rules that play a role in avoiding and addressing food insecurity in armed conflict. The UK National Committee on International Humanitarian Law has overseen the drafting and publication of this new legal handbook, drawing on expertise from across government departments, the UK’s Armed Forces, academia and civil society. It is the aim of the UK Government to promote an understanding of the relevant law and improve compliance. This Handbook is intended to be accessible by non-experts and to be of practical use in minimising food insecurity during armed conflicts.”
The event was hosted by Mr Paul Berman, FCDO Legal Director and Chair of the UK National Committee on International Humanitarian Law and a distinguished panel of speakers addressed the invited audience.
The invitation to the IHFFC, gratefully received, affirmed the continued support being provided to the IHFFC from the FCDO and the British Red Cross and the increasing presence and visibility of the IHFFC at IHL events.
