Fabrizio Carboni

When the fog of war lingers indefinitely, the trifecta of death, destruction, and displacement becomes a never-ending vicious cycle that is hard to stop; and when the laws of war are disregarded, the moral imperative takes on a life-or-death urgency, not just for immediate humanitarian reasons, but also for the long-term legitimacy and success of any conflict resolution efforts. The laws of war are designed to uphold a fundamental principle: the moral duty to protect human life, even in the direst situations. In his piece, Fabrizio Carboni draws upon personal experiences working in conflict zones to demonstrate how the laws of war, when adhered to, can help humanitarian assistance efforts, and why they are worth protecting—even in the most protracted conflicts.