The 44th Sanremo Round Table on Current Issues of IHL traditionally organised in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross focused on “Pandemics, armed conflict, and international humanitarian law”. The Round Table was held online on September 2021 (Monday 6, Wednesday 8, Monday 13 and Wednesday 15) in form of a webinar series and addressed some of the most topical issues related to the implementation of IHL rules in conflict-affected areas in time of pandemics, with particular attention to the legal and operational challenges arising from such a critical combination of humanitarian crises.

More precisely, the specialised debate dealt with the role of humanitarian actors in providing assistance to the civil population affected by the double threat of pandemic and armed conflict as well as with the protection of civilians living in areas controlled by Non-State Armed Groups during the pandemic. The diversified role played by armed forces in response to the Covid-19 emergency in many countries of the world was also analysed.