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At a highly-anticipated online session on the 12^th November, experts from UGlobe’s (IRW) programme joined those from partner organisations in kicking off the beginning of the ‘Roadmap’ process with the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD).

As part of a consortium with PAX, Airwars, Amnesty International and Open State Foundations, the UGlobe IRW programme has been engaging with the MoD to review and revise the way in which the Netherlands deals with, reports on, and accounts for civilian harm caused by Dutch military interventions. This, after the shocking revelations last year that Dutch forces had in 2015 conducted an air strike in Hawija, Iraq, that led to the deaths of over 70 civilians. Dutch responsibility for the strike, and its harrowing consequences, had been kept hidden from Parliament and public alike.

Transparency and acknowledgement of civilian harm are essential to protecting civilians in contemporary conflict, but also in maintaining parliamentary control over the wars waged remotely in our name. IRW is honoured to be working alongside our civil society partners to translate our unique expertise and insight into real-world benefits on this issue. Following commitments by the Minister of Defence to a review of Dutch transparency and accountability practices, the MoD agreed to work with the consortium to implement a roadmap towards policy change.

During the opening session, attended by senior staff within the MoD as well as representatives from a broad range of military services, the consortium laid out its vision and goals for the Roadmap process. Many speakers stressed that, while the MoD and the consortium hold different views, both are committed to the same goal – reducing civilian harm. To that end, the consortium and MoD will be co-hosting a number of specialist sessions in early 2021 aimed at exploring specific issues in more depth.

IRW will be leading a session focusing on how monitoring and reporting on civilian harm beyond what the law dictates is a vital step towards understanding the impact of remote interventions and their possible blowback effects. We aim to bring the grassroots realities of remote interventions into this session, to question the logic of this way of war, and to reflect on whether there are alternative solutions to these complex political conflicts.