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BACKGROUND: This study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories. METHODS: We conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts on the national and regional armed conflict and the medical mission, and 26 female health workers who were victims of attacks. RESULTS: Experts and female health workers reported attacks to health activities, facilities, equipment, and personnel, including attacks to traditional doctors belonging to indigenous communities. The most frequent attacks were threats and retention of health personnel; theft of supplies and medicines; damage and use of infrastructure and means of transport for purposes other than health care; and hinderance of health service provision. The attacks occurred in a framework of structural violence that intersects with poverty, racism, and gender bias. The impacts of these attacks include gender-based violence, significant disruption of the lives of health workers, and physical, emotional, psychological, social, and economic effects on the victims and their families. The government response to protect victims and populations has been absent or insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Attacks to health care were reported in all the studied territories obstructing adequate health care. Impacts of these attacks affect negatively the professional and personal life of the workers and are aggravated by structural violence and absent or little institutional response.

The article examines the qualification features of illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction of a person by a representative of the authorities under martial law. It is concluded that the qualification of illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction of a person by a representative of the authorities in the conditions of martial law has been not the subject of an indepe ndent scientific analysis. The aim of the research is to determine the algorithm for the qualification of illegal actions of a representative of the authorities, which are related to the illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction of a person under martial law. To realize the aim of the article, the following scientific methods have been used, such as: formaldogmatic one has been used for legal analysis of the powers of servicemen of the Territorial centers of recruitment and social support and policemen during mobilization measures; the method of comparative analysis makes it possible to compare the degree of social danger of individual criminal offenses associated with liberty deprivation of a person by a representative of the authorities; the statistical method makes it possible to determine the quantitative indicators of individual criminal offenses related to the deprivation of liberty of a person by a representative of authorities. The methods of analysis and synthesis makes it possible to propose specific algorithms for criminal offenses qualification related to the deprivation of liberty of a person by a representative of the authorities. The research emphasizes that the mechanism of limiting constitutional human rights and freedoms in Ukraine under martial law conditions does not determine the possibility of limiting the rights and freedoms guaranteed in Art. 29 (right to freedom and personal integrity), Art. 55 (right to judicial protection), Art. 62 (presumption of innocence), Art. 63 (right to protection) of the Constitution of Ukraine. It was established that due to incorrectly set priorities and the absence of a clear mechanism for the implementation of mobilization norms, some representatives of the authorities distorted the mobilization by committing criminal offenses, in particular, illegal deprivation of liberty or abduction of a person. Artificial latency of criminal offenses related to mobilization committed by representatives of the authorities has been established. Qualification algorithms of the government representative actions who commits certain illegal actions during mobilization under martial law are proposed, such as: according to Art. 365 of the CC of Ukraine; Part 5 of Art. 426-1 of the CC of Ukraine; according to Part 1 of Art. 146-1 of the CC of Ukraine; according to Art. 186 of the CC of Ukraine; according to Art. 187 of the CC of Ukraine; according to Art. 397 of the CC of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the analysis of the provisions of international human rights law and international humanitarian law regarding the protection of the right to property, in particular the permitted limitations of this right, the relevant practice of international human rights courts and international criminal tribunals, the connection between the institution of derogation and the law of armed conflicts, as well as problematic issues of the protection of the right to property damaged during the russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. The author considers the provisions of some international treaties, which provide for the protection of the right to own property in peacetime, as well as the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights related to the violation of the right of applicants to own their property in accordance with Protocol No. 1 to the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in connection with an international armed conflict or a situation of occupation. The author also analyzes the provisions of some sources of international humanitarian law regarding property as an object that must be protected during armed conflicts, in particular in occupied territories, and also provides examples of cases of international criminal tribunals, in whose decisions the destruction of property was recognized as a component of crimes against humanity. The author examines the question of the relationship between the sources of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the context of the protection of the right to peaceful possession of property. The peculiarities of the institution of derogation in the context of the right to property in the conditions of an international armed conflict are analyzed. Ukraine's derogation from its obligations under international human rights treaties, including the right to peaceful possession of property, in the conditions of russian armed aggression, is studied. In addition, in the context of the armed conflict between Ukraine and russia, the objects of property rights and the interested subjects of the right to property, which is violated or limited as a result of military operation, are singled out, and the collective dimension of the right to property, which was damaged during the russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific article is dedicated to the study of international and foreign practices of compensation for war crimes. The article analyzes legal mechanisms and tools used for compensating victims of war crimes in various countries of Europe and the world. The main focus is on the practice of international courts, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as national judicial institutions that handle war crime cases. Specific cases and decisions that have influenced the development of law enforcement practices in this area are examined. One of the key aspects of the work is the analysis of international treaties and conventions that regulate compensation issues, including the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, as well as the Rome Statute of the ICC. Various compensation models are considered, including monetary compensation, rehabilitation, and other forms of reparation. The article also explores the role of non-governmental organizations and international funds in the process of compensating war crime victims. The effectiveness of different approaches and mechanisms used to ensure justice and restore the rights of victims is ana lyzed. The work pays attention to the problems and challenges faced by law enforcement agencies when handling war crime cases, as well as the prospects for improving the international legal mechanism for protecting the rights of victims. The research is based on the analysis of specific cases, court decisions, and legal acts, allowing conclusions to be drawn about the current state and possible ways of developing the compensation system for war crimes. Thus, the article contributes to the scientific discussion on improving the mechanisms of legal protection for victims of war crimes and ensuring justice in in ternational law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan has caused mass displacement, affecting mental health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma among refugees, internally displaced, and nondisplaced people, while also examining the link between displacement type, PTSD severity, and associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 to assess PTSD symptoms and the General Health Questionnaire-28 to evaluate depression. Data were collected from 642 participants, targeting general social media groups for those within Sudan and specific groups for refugees outside the country. Sociodemographic and trauma event data were also gathered. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, applying one-way ANOVA and independent t-tests to compare PTSD and depression. Binary logistic regression identified associations between sociodemographic factors and PTSD symptoms. Results: Among the 642 participants, 46.3% were internally displaced people (IDP), 42.1% were refugees, and 11.7% were non-displaced individuals. Clinically significant PTSD symptoms were identified in 36.6% of the participants. Refugees had a significantly greater percentage of traumatic events (M = 4.31, SD = 2.605, p <.01). Depression symptoms were found to be strongly associated with clinically significant PTSD (p <.001). Factors significantly linked to depression symptoms included female gender (p = 0.015), being single (p = 0.048), younger age (p = 0.036), dissatisfaction with living conditions (p < 0.001), and unemployment (p = 0.021). Dissatisfaction with living conditions also significantly influenced the likelihood of developing PTSD (p <.001). Conclusion: The study found that 36.6% of participants experienced PTSD, with refugees having a 1.4 times greater risk of developing PTSD compared to IDP and non-displaced individuals. Traumatic events were moderately correlated with PTSD symptoms, though non-displaced individuals had higher exposure to such events. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly for refugees and those affected by traumatic events. Further research using probability sampling is necessary to confirm these results and inform more effective mental health policies and programs for displaced populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the use of historical analogies by political leaders during foreign policy crises. Specifically, we focus on the German, Polish and Czech leaderships' reactions to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and investigate the historical analogies which leaders invoked to justify their responses to Russia's aggression. The existing scholarship recognizes the importance of historical analogies in foreign policy decision-making, but the literature focuses predominantly on several high-profile analogies (i.e. the Munich Agreement or the Vietnam War) and lacks comparative perspective. We employ a dual-method approach that combines qualitative coding with semantic network analysis, and conduct a comparative analysis of the full spectrum of analogies used by Polish, Czech and German policy-makers. We find that politicians did not focus on a single overarching analogy, but employed a wide array of historical references. We also find that even though the countries' policies largely aligned and that their leaders often invoked the same events, the meaning of analogies and the signals they sent differed substantially across cases. Analysing the full spectrum of analogies demonstrates that justifications for supporting Ukraine were shaped more by these states' own historical traumas than by their sympathy for Ukraine, support for international law, or desire to uphold the rules-based international order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of the world as a global village has brought about various transnational problems. One of these problems is the transition of forced marriages into the modern form of slavery. Forced marriage continues to be a violation of human rights specifically in the context of modern slavery, usually existing during armed conflicts. Such a violation is linked to modern slavery as it constitutes slavery-like practices, including abuse, sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, and so on. In literature and practice, forced marriages in times of armed conflicts are usually labelled as personal problems requiring personal solutions. Factors such as financial crisis, threats to honour, and family protection lead to forced marriages in conflict zones. Such factors have been overlooked, resulting in the absence of legislation across the globe to prohibit forced marriages during conflicts. Consequently, international laws need to be on the same page in the categorization of forced marriages as modern slavery by considering it a specified form of human rights violation. Inconsistent labelling in this regard has produced ambiguity in resolving the issue through practical mechanisms. Severe violations of human rights continue to occur due to the absence of an explicit prohibition of forced marriage in armed conflicts, as highlighted through multiple case studies in this research. A preventive solution is required to hinder the practice that is feasible through the codification of the prevention mechanisms under International Law (IL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is indicated that the realization of rights and freedoms is the practical implementation by citizens and other participants of social life of the demands provided for by the constitutional norms to satisfy requests and needs or obtain the necessary material and spiritual benefits in the manner established by law. Therefore, the mechanism for the realization of rights and freedoms is, first of all, a complex procedural and legal order for the realization of rights, freedoms and obligations, in which the law establishes a certain algorithmic nature of the order of implementation, its procedure: the sequence of actions of the bearer of rights and freedoms and the obliged subjects rights, as well as the content of these actions, the implementation of which is aimed at the most complete and accurate use of the right or freedom. In the opinion of the authors, since the factors influencing the consolidation of the value guidelines of the constitutional system are usually found at each specific stage of the development of the state, and which certainly affect the content of the principles in general, and the principles of the constitutional system in particular, the above list should be supplemented, at least one is the level of ensuring national security of the state. Considering the above, according to the authors, it would be quite logical to take advantage of the situation of potential reform of the fundamental principles of the constitutional system. Within the scope of the research, taking into account the issue of violation of the state sovereignty of our country, the modernized Constitution of Ukraine is intended to become a nationwide political and legal treaty and a fundamental law of national law. At the same time, the amended Constitution of Ukraine must ensure the proper implementation of all value guidelines of the constitutional system: people's sovereignty, human rights, the rule of law in relation to the universal principles of modern constitutionalism - legality, proportionality, legal certainty, responsibility and subsidiarity in the legal provision of rights and freedoms person and citizen, the independence and impartiality of the court, the prohibition of the retroactive effect of the law, etc. (which are now doctrinally considered as components of the principle of the rule of law). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to conduct an assessment of the damage caused by the two year war in Tigray on some of the cultural heritage from Eastern Tigray. Field surveys and interviews with local inhabitants were used to collect relevant data. The gathered data were analyzed and interpreted using a qualitative approach. The survey results showed that churches, monasteries, mosques, towns, and villages were frequently shelled by combatants and that there was significant and deliberate destruction of built heritage sites and looting of sites and treasures. These data suggest that the aims of this destruction were to (1) dominate local historical narratives and identities, (2) suppress communities, and (3) exploit resources for personal gain. The hate speech engraved on the walls indicated that cultural heritage in Eastern Tigray was targeted with intention. This intentional destruction of important cultural heritage was expressed in the horrific massacre of civilians and religious leaders. The current preliminary assessment overall shows that iconic cultural resources were heavily damaged and historic documents and treasures were looted following the two-year war in Tigray. We conclude this study with an urgent call for recovery projects aimed at preventing further loss of cultural heritage in Eastern Tigray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria face a high burden of mental health disorders, with limited access to evidence-based, culturally relevant interventions. Life skills education (LSE) is a promising approach to promote mental health and psychosocial well-being in humanitarian settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a culturally adapted LSE program delivered through in-person and mobile platforms among IDPs in Northern Nigeria. Methods: This cluster-randomized hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial will be conducted in 20 IDP camps or host communities in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Sites will be randomly assigned to receive a 12-week LSE program delivered either through in-person peer support groups or WhatsApp-facilitated mobile groups. The study will recruit 500 participants aged 13 years and older. Intervention effectiveness outcomes include the primary outcome of change in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms assessed using the PCL-5 scale, and secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, well-being, and life skills acquisition. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Both sets of outcomes will be compared between the in-person and mobile delivery groups. Quantitative data will be analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression models, while qualitative data will be examined through reflexive thematic analysis. The study will be guided by the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Discussion: The RESETTLE-IDPs study addresses key gaps in the evidence base on mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations. It focuses on underserved IDP populations, evaluates the comparative effectiveness of in-person and mobile-delivered LSE, and incorporates implementation science frameworks to assess contextual factors influencing adoption, fidelity, and sustainability. The study employs a community-based participatory approach to enhance cultural relevance, acceptability, and ownership. Findings will inform the development and scale-up of evidence-based, sustainable mental health interventions for IDPs in Nigeria and other humanitarian contexts. Trial sponsor: Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06412679 Registered 15 May 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supportive social connections are a crucial determinant of the mental health and adjustment of youth in conflict-torn regions. Conflict-affected youth face particular risks to their well-being due to high levels of trauma exposure and perpetration of violent acts as members of armed groups and post-conflict discrimination. However, little is known about the possible protective role of close relationships with caregivers in the aftermath of trauma. This study examined whether a higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers would attenuate the associations between exposure to traumatic experiences and four indicators of adjustment (posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], emotional problems, behavioural problems, criminal behaviour) in a sample of 268 war-affected youth (61.2% male, Mage = 16.31 years) living in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than half of the present sample (56.7%) were former members of armed groups. Methods: Data were collected using quantitative structured interviews and analyzed through regression models using the PROCESS macro. Results: Higher cumulative trauma exposure was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS and emotional problems, while more frequent perpetration of war-related violence was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS, behavioural problems, and criminal behavior. The perceived quality of relationships with caregivers significantly moderated the associations between youth's cumulative trauma exposure and all four outcomes. At higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers, the associations between trauma exposure and emotional problems, behavioural problems, and criminal behaviour were no longer significant and the association with PTSS was significantly weakened. Higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers was also directly significantly related to lower levels of mental health problems and criminal behaviour. Conclusions: The findings suggest that interventions that focus on strengthening relationships with caregivers are crucial for supporting the mental health and functioning of youth who experienced and perpetrated war-related violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence generated on utilization of maternal health services during times of conflict can inform the development of targeted interventions. The deadly war in Tigray caused the health system to collapse. However, utilization of maternal health services is not well documented that might help in design effective interventions applicable during armed conflict. Thus, this study aimed to assess maternal health service utilization and bridge the gap in healthcare provision and support during conflict.. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among mothers of children under the age of 1 year in six accessible zones of Tigray from August 4–20, 2021. The study participants were selected through a random sampling method. The study was conducted during the armed conflict where the access to health services was limited due to the damaged and looted health facilities. A descriptive study was used to characterize the study population and data were presented using proportions and percentages. A Chi-square test was used for categorical variables and a P-value of 0.05 was considered significant.. Results: A total of 4,381 participants were included in the study. Modern contraceptives were used by 1002 (22.9%) of women, and injectable contraceptives were the most common method used by 472 (47.1%) women. Likewise, only 830 (36.5%),1956 (47.1%), and 623 (15.0%) respondents reported the use of optimal antenatal care (ANC), skilled delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) in the first 24 h by mothers, respectively. About 34% of women received comprehensive abortion care services. Most delivery services took place in hospitals. Residence has shown a significant difference in using maternal health services at p-value < 0.001. Conclusion: The conflict in Tigray has had a profound impact on maternal health services, resulting in a significant disruption that is disproportionately high in rural areas. Immediate action is required to provide access to lifesaving interventions for basic maternal health services. The timely initiation of these services is crucial in addressing the pressing needs of pregnant women and their infants. By implementing comprehensive and targeted interventions, we can mitigate the potential long-term consequences and ensure that maternal health services are effectively reinstated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa, as one of the regions with significant political instability in the world today, experiences ongoing armed conflicts that have a serious impact on the peace and stability of the region and the international situation. Based on data from three types of armed conflict points in the 54 countries of Africa, a study was conducted on the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of armed conflicts in Africa from 1989 to 2021, using statistical analysis, kernel density, average center, and hotspot analysis methods. The results are as follows:(1)From 1989 to 2021, armed conflicts in Africa showed a trend of increase, decrease, and then increase again, exhibiting an overall "U-shaped" development pattern. At the same time, the number of conflicts is on the rise, with the hierarchy of conflict types being state armed conflicts > one-sided violent armed conflicts > non-state armed conflicts;(2)The spatial distribution characteristics revealed by kernel density analysis show that armed conflict outbreak points in Africa roughly form a "three" pat‐ tern from North Africa to South Africa. The main concentration of armed conflict outbreaks is along the Mediterranean coast, the region around 10° north and south latitude that crosses the equator, and the southern region of Africa;(3)The migration of armed conflict centers in Africa is mainly concentrated in the central region of Africa, intersected by the equator. The migration path of the centers includes the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, South Sudan, and the Cen‐ tral African Republic;(4)In terms of the distribution of hotspots and cold-spots, the high concen‐ tration of armed conflicts in Africa is mainly found in the central region, the northern part of North Africa, and the northern part of East Africa. The relatively low-conflict areas are mainly located in the western part of West Africa, the southern part of Central Africa, the southern part of East Africa, and South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Democratic Republic of Congo has sizeable development potential with abundant resources and energy in Africa, but it is subject to the negative impact of armed conflicts for a long time. Taking the armed conflicts of DRC from 1992 to 2021 as the research object, this paper comprehensively uses GIS models including standard deviation ellipse, nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation and multi-distance spatial cluster analysis to comb the spatial pattern and evolution characteristics of the armed conflicts in the DRC. The results show that the armed conflicts in the DRC have always presented the spatial characteristics of agglomeration in the past 30 years. From the perspective of spatial structure change, the spatial pattern of armed conflicts in the DRC has changed from "one belt, six cores" to "one belt, one core", with North Kivu, Ituri and South Kivu provinces as the core. From the perspective of spatial agglomeration degree, the scope of armed conflicts in the DRC has been reduced, but the agglomeration degree has been increasing. From the perspective of spatial diffusion direction, the diffusion direction of the armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has changed from "east-west" to "northeast-southwest", showing a significant directivity in the spatial diffusion direction. This paper also argues that geography, resources, society and international factors are the primary causes of armed conflicts in the DRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing literature has documented widespread variation in the extent to which insurgents provide public goods, collect taxes, and regulate civilian conduct. This paper offers what is, to our knowledge, the first study of the long-term economic legacies of rebel governance. This effect is theoretically unclear. Rebel governance may generate incentives for households to expand production and accumulate resources. However, rebel rule may be too unstable to maintain such incentives. We explore empirically the effect of rebel rule on households' economic resilience using a longitudinal dataset for Colombia. Results show a positive relation between wartime rebel rule and the ability of households to cope with weather shocks in the post-war period. Households in regions where armed groups were present but exercised limited or no intervention fare worse. This effect is associated with infrastructure improvement led by armed groups, their intervention in dispute adjudication, and their close interactions with local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from its national university entrance exam, we examined the relationship between armed conflict and student achievement in Afghanistan. Exploiting the province-year variation in exposure to conflict intensity, we estimated the relationship between conflict and exam results generally and by gender for all test takers from 2014–2019. Findings show that a one standard deviation increase in conflict intensity at the province-year level was associated with a 2.9 percentage point reduction in the probability of passing the exam, a 0.096 score point reduction in total exam scores, and a greater detrimental impact on women's exam results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change stands out as an especially pressing global concern. The aim of the present study was to explore whether climate change worry decreases during armed conflicts, using two time-points: before and during an armed conflict. Guided by the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping (TTSC), we examined the interplay between risk appraisal, pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), and climate change worry. A sample of 202 Israeli adults participated in two waves of data collection, completing self-report measures addressing climate change worry, risk appraisal, and PEBs. Results revealed a significant decline in climate change worry and risk appraisal during the armed conflict, whereas PEBs remained unchanged. Contrary to expectations, the associations between risk appraisal, PEBs, and climate change worry did not weaken during the conflict. Mediation analyses indicated that the decline in risk appraisal led to a decline in PEBs, which subsequently contributed to a decline in climate change worry. However, this mediation effect was partial, with most of the association remaining direct. These findings imply that the psychological impact of armed conflict may temporarily overshadow environmental concerns, emphasizing the need for strategies to maintain environmental awareness and behavior even during an armed conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the active hostilities associated with Russia's large-scale armed invasion of the territory of Ukraine on soil degradation as a result of military actions has resulted in soil damage due to heavy military armored vehicles. Debris from destroyed military equipment, ammunition, and fuel remnants lead to multi-factor damage to the soil system, causing local and global pollution and losses of soil resources. In all the studied cases, mechanical, chemical, and physical soil degradation were observed. This was manifested in changes in granulometric fractions at explosion sites, burning areas, and locations with heavy-metal contamination. Equipment incineration has resulted in an increase in the sand fraction (2.0–0.05 mm) by 1.2–1.8 times and a decrease in the clay fraction (<0.002 mm) by 1.1–1.2 times. The soil contamination levels with regard to heavy metals significantly surpass health standards, with the highest pollution levels observed for Pb, Zn, and Cd. Across all affected areas, changes occurred in the microbiome structure (a 20.5-fold increase in the proportion of mycelial organisms), microbiological process activity was suppressed (a 1.2-fold decrease), microbial biomass (a 2.1-fold decrease) was reduced, and high soil toxicity (99.8%) was observed. Explosions and the pyrolysis of armored vehicles have a significant impact on soil mesobiota and plants. The results indicate the existence of complex interactions between various factors in the soil environment post-explosion, significantly affecting soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crises require changes to established structures, and this also applies to ambulance services. This case report addresses the Ukrainian ambulance service and the changes resulting from the armed conflict in Ukraine. The purpose of this article is to provide insight into the activities of the ambulance service of the Kharkiv region, the second-largest city in Ukraine. Kharkiv is still under heavy fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigates the spatial effects of armed conflict on Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) economic growth, focusing on Central Africa, East Africa, and West Africa. Utilizing Spatial Durblin Model (SDM), the analysis reveals significant spatial effects of armed conflict intensity, indicating that conflict in neighboring countries influences conflict levels within a focal country. The study finds a weak or inconclusive relationship between GDP per capita (GDPpc) and conflict intensity, with East Africa showing a significant negative association, suggesting that higher economic prosperity in neighboring countries may mitigate conflict. Conversely, higher corruption levels in Central and West Africa are positively associated with increased conflict intensity, highlighting corruption's destabilizing influence. Spatial lag SDM results suggest potential benefits of regional economic cooperation in reducing conflict intensity. Moreover, significant positive spatial autocorrelation underscores the interconnected nature of conflict within SSA, with West Africa exhibiting more pronounced spatial spillover effect. Findings from Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) models confirm the weak association between GDPpc and conflict intensity but emphasize the consistent positive association between corruption and conflict intensity. Additionally, the Spatial Error Model (SEM) reaffirms corruption's detrimental impact on governance and stability. Additionally, the hypothesis of a significant difference in the effect of armed conflict across different SSA subregions is supported, with Central Africa experiencing the strongest negative impact on economic growth, followed by East and West Africa. The study highlights substantial regional heterogeneity in the economic consequences of armed conflict, emphasizing the need for regionally tailored policy interventions to address conflict-related economic disruptions in SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While uncertainty has been a key explanation for very low fertility throughout Europe, few studies have analysed how macro-level uncertainty trickles down to shape how people think about having children. Most research focuses on economic uncertainty, not political or social uncertainty. We address these gaps with qualitative data from Ukraine, which has experienced extreme political uncertainty and, for the past decade, armed conflict. Ukraine also had exceptionally low fertility, with an estimated total fertility rate of 1.17 in 2021. In July 2021, we conducted 16 online focus groups on topics related to childbearing with informants living in urban and rural areas in Eastern Ukraine, including areas of Donetsk province that were outside Ukrainian government control. Half the groups consisted of persons displaced by the 2014 Donbas war. The discussions revealed distinct patterns whereby experiences of displacement, the simmering armed conflict, and economic problems combined to produce and intensify uncertainties that discouraged couples from having more than one child. Some blamed the government or delved into conspiracy theories. Armed conflict generates its own forms of uncertainty that interact with persistent economic challenges, dampening fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the repercussions of the war in Ukraine on people with epilepsy (PWE), focusing on access to health care, seizure control, quality of life (QoL), psychological distress, anxiety, and depression; and to identify the key factors influencing these measures. Methods: Consecutive PWE, ≥18 years of age, presenting to one of seven health centers across Ukraine were invited to complete a self‐administered survey in 2023. The survey gathered information on clinical and demographic aspects, geographic displacement, and access to care and medications. It also contained five valid questionnaires exploring psychological distress (Kessler‐10), QoL with the EuroQOL‐5D‐5L (EQ‐5D‐5L), depression with the Neurological Disorders in Epilepsy scale (NDDIE), anxiety with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scalae‐Anxiety (HADS‐A), and epilepsy severity with the Global Assessment of the Severity of Epilepsy scale (GASE). Multivariate linear regression models assessed the relationship between measures of mental health and QoL and their potential predictors. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of NAMS of Ukraine, Ukraine. Results: Among 305 participants (mean age 38 years), 40% were female and 44% had to change residence because of the war. Seizures worsened during the war in 52% of those with active epilepsy and 42% of those with well‐controlled epilepsy. Difficulties accessing health care and anti‐seizure medications occurred in 25% and 34% of PWE, respectively, and was worse among those who were displaced. According to the mental health instruments, 46% suffered psychological distress, 62% experienced anxiety, 50% were depressed, and 59% rated their epilepsy as somewhat severe or worse. Statistically significant predictors of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression included female gender, more severe epilepsy, increased seizures during the war, and requiring mental health support. Significance: The war significantly disrupted access to health care and availability of medication in PWE, who suffer from significant anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. We identify high‐risk factors that can guide resource allocation for prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural property includes immovable assets that are part of a nation's cultural heritage and reflect the cultural identity of a people. Hence, information about armed conflict's impact on historical buildings' structures and heritage sites is extremely important. The study aims to demonstrate the application of Earth observation (EO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, and in particular Sentinel-1 SAR coherence time-series analysis, to monitor spatial and temporal changes related to the recent Russian–Ukrainian war in the urban areas of Mariupol and Kharkiv, Ukraine. The study considers key events during the siege of Mariupol and the battle of Kharkiv from February to May 2022. Built-up areas and cultural property were identified using freely available OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. Semi-automated coherent change-detection technique (CCD) that utilize difference analysis of pre- and co-conflict coherences were capable of highlighting areas of major impact on the urban structures. The study applied a logistic regression model (LRM) for the discrimination of damaged and undamaged buildings based on an estimated likelihood of damage occurrence. A good agreement was observed with the reference data provided by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) in terms of the overall extent of damage. Damage maps enable the localization of buildings and cultural assets in areas with a high probability of damage and can serve as the basis for a high-resolution follow-up investigation. The study reveals the benefits of Sentinel-1 SAR CCD in the sense of unsupervised delineation of areas affected by armed conflict. However, limitations arise in the detection of local and single-building damage compared to regions with large-scale destruction. The proposed semi-automated multi-temporal Sentinel-1 data analysis using CCD methodology shows its applicability for the timely investigation of damage to buildings and cultural heritage, which can support the response to crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2018 United Nations report highlights the growing need for funding and assistance to the Lake Chad Basin (LCB). The food security crisis in the LCB is a blend of complex factors relating to the declining water of Lake Chad and protracted insecurity fanned by Boko Haram insurgency. Unfortunately, development agencies sometimes focus less on how the climate change-insecurity nexus is becoming increasingly consequential in explaining the LCB's profile in fragility. This paper considers the extent to which international agencies and nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) respond to multiple crises, integrating both climate change and security facets in their analysis and response to the food crisis besetting the LCB. Findings from interviews in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger reveal that NGOs fail to sufficiently take climate change into account in their policies and strategies, in that many food assistance programs are climate change neutral in content and focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under what circumstances do armed insurgents divert scarce resources to nonviolent tactics? Despite extensive research on the causes and consequences of civil wars and resistance campaigns, our understanding of when rebel organizations add nonviolent tactics to their repertoire is limited. Moving beyond traditional explanations of nonviolent resistance campaigns, we hypothesize that rebel organizations use nonviolent tactics–such as strikes and protest–to capitalize on successes on the battlefield. Rebels have many incentives to use nonviolent tactics, but their opportunity to do so typically depends on their ability to mobilize civilians. Military successes help pave the way for mobilization by shifting civilians' expectations about the prospects for victory and repression. Using cross-national data on rebel nonviolent contention, including original data on nonviolent tactics in struggles for control over the central government, we find robust support for our argument. Probing potential scope conditions, we show that the association is strongest among rebel organizations with civilian wings and for rebels fighting for control over the government. Our findings provide new insight into the full array of tactics that insurgents deploy, beyond variations in armed activity. They contribute to our understanding of the many forms that contentious action can take, even amidst a backdrop of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed conflicts exacerbate public health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality across groups and poverty in rural areas can be an important factor in triggering local wars. This study investigates whether equitable distribution of public services by governments across urban and rural geographical regions reduces the risk of local wars initiated by armed groups in Sub-Saharan African countries. Does an equitable distribution of public services such as healthcare and clean water public services across regions decrease the risk of armed conflicts? Uneven distribution of public services can increase the risk of conflict by contributing to group grievances, rural poverty, and rent-seeking competition over government resources. Analyses of 39 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1947 to 2021 show that a one-standard deviation increase in equal access to public services by urban–rural location lowers the risk of armed conflict, a substantial 37 to 53 percent with consideration of a battery of control variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on institutional historical records, interviews and student theses, this article charts the intersection of hospital acquired illness, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environments of armed conflict, and larger questions of social governance in the specific case of the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) in Lebanon. Taking a methodological cue from approaches in contemporary scientific work that understand non-clinical settings as a fundamental aspect of the history and development of AMR, we treat the hospital as not just nested in a set of social and environmental contexts, but frequently housing within itself elements of social and environmental history. AMR in Lebanon differs in important ways from the settings in which global protocols for infection control or rubrics for risk factor identification for resistant nosocomial outbreaks were originally generated. While such differences are all too often depicted as failures of low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to maintain universal standards, the historical question before us is quite the reverse: how have the putatively universal rubrics of AMR and hospital infection control failed to take account of social and environmental conditions that clearly matter deeply in the evolution and spread of resistance? Focusing on conditions of war as an organized chaos in which social, environmental and clinical factors shift dramatically, on the social and political topography of patient transfer, and on a missing "meso" level of AMR surveillance between the local and global settings, we show how a multisectoral One Health approach to AMR could be enriched by an answering multisectoral methodology in history, particularly one that unsettles a canonical focus on the story of AMR in the Euro-American context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is indicated that the problems of the interaction of international humanitarian law and international human rights law lie in the different historical origins, evolution and application of these two branches of law. The complexity of the interaction between the IHL and the ICRC lies in their extraterritorial action and different personal spheres of application. IHL undeniably applies to international and non-international armed conflicts, regulating the conduct of states and armed groups, while the IHL is recognized as the basis of law in peacetime, but also applies in periods of conflict. Finding the points of intersection between international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL) in the context of armed conflicts is the main objective of this section. The merger of these two legal fields, traditionally divided into separate areas of responsibility in peacetime and wartime, has gained unprecedented importance in the legal analysis of modern conflicts. The impetus for the development of the new paradigm was the rapid evolution of the nature of war, characterized by the emergence of asymmetric warfare and the blurring of the boundaries between state and nonstate actors. Such transformations in the theater of war require a nuanced understanding of the legal instruments used in this context, which emphasizes the need for this analysis. The urgency of the issue is emphasized by the changing dynamics of international practice. The recognition by the International Court of Justice of the continued applicability of IHRL in conflict and the definition of IHL as lex specialis emphasizes that the legal landscape is in constant flux. At the heart of this analysis is the difficulty of determining the applicability of IHL, a task that is complicated by the problems of classifying conflicts as international or non-international. The principle of derogation - whereby states may temporarily suspend certain human rights obligations - creates an additional layer of complexity, affecting the interpretation and application of laws during armed conflict. Many provisions of international human rights conventions define the protected interest and then provide that any restrictions must be justified by reference to a list of aims, which varies from article to article and treaty to treaty, that are necessary for the achievement of the aim in question and are proportionate to its achievement. In this way, the IHRL provides a mechanism for balancing the requirements of individuals with those of others or the community itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an empirical comparison of peace processes in carbon-dependent economies over time, this article investigates the impact of decarbonization and the related declining availability of political finance on peacemaking. While the period of high oil prices in the mid-2000s saw a small number of peace deals that attempted comprehensive settlements, the decline of oil prices in the years from 2014 resulted in a new era of turbulence. The turbulence is characterized by a high number of peacemaking attempts that strongly lean toward conflict management rather than resolution. The reasons for this new turbulence are twofold: the available means for substantial "buy-in," into a political marketplace by ruling elites in carbon-dependent conflictive political marketplaces have vanished while, at the same time, the strategic interest of international powers in geopolitical stability and their willingness and capability to invest in such stability has declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the Israel-Hamas conflict, focusing on the 'survive-win' cycle and the concept of attrition in armed conflict. It highlights how power differentials between combatants – like Hamas and the Israeli Defense Force – lead to strategies like positional warfare and Fabian tactics, ultimately resulting in wars of attrition. Further, research illustrates that attrition is a fundamental aspect of conflict, challenging the idea that Western militaries should avoid the approach. Moreover, precision munitions in urban areas, such as Gaza City, still lead to significant casualties and collateral damage, urging a realistic acknowledgment of attrition in warfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan has caused mass displacement, affecting mental health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma among refugees, internally displaced, and nondisplaced people, while also examining the link between displacement type, PTSD severity, and associated factors. Methods This cross-sectional study used the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 to assess PTSD symptoms and the General Health Questionnaire-28 to evaluate depression. Data were collected from 642 participants, targeting general social media groups for those within Sudan and specific groups for refugees outside the country. Sociodemographic and trauma event data were also gathered. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, applying one-way ANOVA and independent t-tests to compare PTSD and depression. Binary logistic regression identified associations between sociodemographic factors and PTSD symptoms. Results Among the 642 participants, 46.3% were internally displaced people (IDP), 42.1% were refugees, and 11.7% were non-displaced individuals. Clinically significant PTSD symptoms were identified in 36.6% of the participants. Refugees had a significantly greater percentage of traumatic events (M = 4.31, SD = 2.605, p

This article presents the main features of the historical genesis of the international security paradigm shift from its institutionalisation to the present day. It is shown that such genesis is sinusoidal in nature and related to the well-known 'Kondratiev waves', except that, unlike the latter, it is not economic in nature, but security in nature. In a historical and geopolitical context, five successive shifts in the international security paradigm (Pre-Systemic, Westphalian, Vienna, Versailles, Yalta-Potsdam, Unipolar) are distinguished as a normatively recognised system of international relations of war and peace, based on all countries' adherence to universally recognised principles and norms of international law, as enshrined in relevant international treaties. The main factors of the end of the era of the unipolar world and the growing role of 'fragile' states in the international security environment as potential objects of international military interventions and spaces for the deployment of local conflicts and wars were characterised. It was concluded that the war in Ukraine is a key trigger for a new paradigm shift in international security and the emergence of a new system of international relations, and that the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war will determine the 'starting positions' and strong arguments in the hands of the United States of America and its allies against China and its allies during the inevitable new global security conference on the creation of a new world order.

Abstract Background Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria face a high burden of mental health disorders, with limited access to evidence-based, culturally relevant interventions. Life skills education (LSE) is a promising approach to promote mental health and psychosocial well-being in humanitarian settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a culturally adapted LSE program delivered through in-person and mobile platforms among IDPs in Northern Nigeria. Methods This cluster-randomized hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial will be conducted in 20 IDP camps or host communities in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Sites will be randomly assigned to receive a 12-week LSE program delivered either through in-person peer support groups or WhatsApp-facilitated mobile groups. The study will recruit 500 participants aged 13 years and older. Intervention effectiveness outcomes include the primary outcome of change in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms assessed using the PCL-5 scale, and secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, well-being, and life skills acquisition. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Both sets of outcomes will be compared between the in-person and mobile delivery groups. Quantitative data will be analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression models, while qualitative data will be examined through reflexive thematic analysis. The study will be guided by the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Discussion The RESETTLE-IDPs study addresses key gaps in the evidence base on mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations. It focuses on underserved IDP populations, evaluates the comparative effectiveness of in-person and mobile-delivered LSE, and incorporates implementation science frameworks to assess contextual factors influencing adoption, fidelity, and sustainability. The study employs a community-based participatory approach to enhance cultural relevance, acceptability, and ownership. Findings will inform the development and scale-up of evidence-based, sustainable mental health interventions for IDPs in Nigeria and other humanitarian contexts. Trial sponsor Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06412679 Registered 15 May 2024.

Abstract Background Supportive social connections are a crucial determinant of the mental health and adjustment of youth in conflict-torn regions. Conflict-affected youth face particular risks to their well-being due to high levels of trauma exposure and perpetration of violent acts as members of armed groups and post-conflict discrimination. However, little is known about the possible protective role of close relationships with caregivers in the aftermath of trauma. This study examined whether a higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers would attenuate the associations between exposure to traumatic experiences and four indicators of adjustment (posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], emotional problems, behavioural problems, criminal behaviour) in a sample of 268 war-affected youth (61.2% male, Mage = 16.31 years) living in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than half of the present sample (56.7%) were former members of armed groups. Methods Data were collected using quantitative structured interviews and analyzed through regression models using the PROCESS macro. Results Higher cumulative trauma exposure was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS and emotional problems, while more frequent perpetration of war-related violence was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS, behavioural problems, and criminal behavior. The perceived quality of relationships with caregivers significantly moderated the associations between youth’s cumulative trauma exposure and all four outcomes. At higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers, the associations between trauma exposure and emotional problems, behavioural problems, and criminal behaviour were no longer significant and the association with PTSS was significantly weakened. Higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers was also directly significantly related to lower levels of mental health problems and criminal behaviour. Conclusions The findings suggest that interventions that focus on strengthening relationships with caregivers are crucial for supporting the mental health and functioning of youth who experienced and perpetrated war-related violence.

The human losses in the conflict in Ukraine can and should be carefully analysed in order to understand how this war, which risks spreading to the eastern border of NATO member countries, will continue. The authors studied publications (books, articles, studies) published, in the view of some authors, abroad and in the country, analysing the human losses suffered by the two belligerents, by stages of the armed conflict. By studying and analysing how the losses occurred and comparing them according to the tactics and operational strategy used by the two belligerents, the authors have put forward considerations and conclusions regarding the possibility of each of them to continue fighting, knowing that human losses in war significantly influence the achievement of victory.

Abstract Background Evidence generated on utilization of maternal health services during times of conflict can inform the development of targeted interventions. The deadly war in Tigray caused the health system to collapse. However, utilization of maternal health services is not well documented that might help in design effective interventions applicable during armed conflict. Thus, this study aimed to assess maternal health service utilization and bridge the gap in healthcare provision and support during conflict. . Methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among mothers of children under the age of 1 year in six accessible zones of Tigray from August 4–20, 2021. The study participants were selected through a random sampling method. The study was conducted during the armed conflict where the access to health services was limited due to the damaged and looted health facilities. A descriptive study was used to characterize the study population and data were presented using proportions and percentages. A Chi-square test was used for categorical variables and a P-value of 0.05 was considered significant. . Results A total of 4,381 participants were included in the study. Modern contraceptives were used by 1002 (22.9%) of women, and injectable contraceptives were the most common method used by 472 (47.1%) women. Likewise, only 830 (36.5%),1956 (47.1%), and 623 (15.0%) respondents reported the use of optimal antenatal care (ANC), skilled delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) in the first 24 h by mothers, respectively. About 34% of women received comprehensive abortion care services. Most delivery services took place in hospitals. Residence has shown a significant difference in using maternal health services at p-value

Introduction. Contemporary armed conflicts are characterized by a multifaceted blend of combat strategies, encompassing conventional and unconventional weaponry, regular and irregular forces, terrorist actions and acts of organized crime, indiscriminate violence and outside international law. Material and methods. A retrospective bibliographic study was conducted on the evolution of combat strategies employed by the U.S. Armed Forces, NATO member countries, and international UN Peacekeeping Operations over the past 25 years. Results. The way of organizing and providing medical assistance in local military conflict differs from the principles governing medical support in major armed conflicts. The staging of the treatment system and the evacuation of the wounded follows a crucial time-based framework known as the '10-1-2(+2)' rule: "10"– immediate measures to stop bleeding within 10 minutes of the injury; "1" – evacuation to the medical treatment facility capable of performing resuscitation and stabilizing vital functions.; "2" – timely transfer to a medical formation equipped for Damage Control Surgery and Resuscitation within 2 hours of the injury; "+2" – performing the surgical intervention, stabilization of vital functions, and diagnostic preparations for strategic evacuation within 4 hours of the injury. Conclusions. Resulting from the specific particularities of the local military conflict, the planning of medical support as well as the complex treatment and evacuation measures, force health protection, and medical logistics, require adaptation to the real tactical and medical situation created.

Civilian mass-casualty disasters and armed conflict share many features, including the fact that both maximally challenge multidisciplinary burn teams. Rigorous training is required to build teams and systems that can respond effectively. One of the critical but potentially overlooked components of readiness for crisis care is a robust clinical research program. Rather than stalling progress, disasters and conflict over the last 100 years consistently energized advances in care. This was made possible by the hard work of our predecessors to learn from the crisis in the midst of the crisis, and resulted in significant reductions in postburn mortality. Now, further work is needed not only to maintain these improvements in mortality, but also to understand the long-term functional outcomes and to improve the quality of life of burn survivors. Clinical research programs to address these issues must be established now, so that we are optimally prepared for the next conflict or disaster.

The purpose of the article is to identify the peculiarities of combating collaborationism in the context of armed conflicts and to highlight the main areas for improving criminological policy in this area. It is established that collaborationism, in a broad sense, is a complex criminal phenomenon that arises as a result of the interaction of subjects of the communication process (individuals, certain organisations) or voluntary or forced cooperation with the aggressor. In a narrow sense, it is an act, the characteristics of which are defined, in particular, in Art. 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and which undermine the national security of Ukraine, pose a direct threat to the state sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and other national interests of Ukraine, and/or constitute conscious, voluntary and deliberate cooperation with the enemy in its interests and/or to the detriment of the state and its allies in the form of public denial by a citizen of Ukraine of armed aggression against Ukraine, establishment and confirmation of the temporary occupation of a part of the territory of Ukraine, or public calls by a citizen of Ukraine to support the decisions and/or actions of the aggressor state, armed formations and/or occupation administration of the aggressor state, to cooperate with the aggressor state, armed formations and/or occupation administration of the aggressor state, not to recognise the extension of the state sovereignty of Ukraine to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. It is emphasised that with the entry into force of the Laws of Ukraine "On Criminalisation of Collaboration" and "On Amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine to Improve Liability for Collaboration and Peculiarities of Application of Preventive Measures for Crimes Against the Fundamentals of National and Public Security" (2022), Ukraine has generally created a legal framework for preventing collaboration in the state. Results. The analysis has revealed the existence of problematic issues in countering collaboration in the current context of the armed conflict in Ukraine and allowed to propose ways of solving them, in particular the need to amend the sanctions of the Criminal Code to classify collaboration as a serious crime, since according to the Criminal Procedure Code the vast majority of covert investigative actions are carried out exclusively in criminal proceedings for serious or particularly serious crimes. These amendments will make it possible to properly document the criminal actions of "collaborators" and to significantly expand the legal scope of evidence collection in these crimes to include not only educational, but also cultural, athletic and sports institutions in the scope of collaboration, which will make it possible to investigate the dissemination of information in educational, cultural, sports and physical culture institutions aimed at distorting facts, historical culture and/or events, as such assimilation of Ukrainian children may lead to the loss of their national identity. It is expedient to change the construction of the provision, which is in line with the principle of legal certainty, and define the prohibited types of legal activities. Such a list is also provided for in the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring Civil Rights and Freedoms, and the Legal Regime on the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine" (2014); Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for alternative jurisdiction for pre-trial investigation of a criminal offence. In particular, in criminal proceedings on collaboration, the pre-trial investigation is carried out by the investigator of the body that initiated the investigation.

Efforts made to restore the degraded landscape of the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia, over the last three decades have been relatively successful. However, an armed conflict that broke out in the region in November 2020 has significantly destroyed the restored vegetation, either directly associated with conflict (environment, pollution, fire) or indirectly (agricultural abandonment). This study aimed at assessing spatio-temporal changes in vegetation cover in a 50 km radius zone centered on Mekelle city, Tigray. Vegetation cover dynamics was evaluated using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) datasets for the years 2000, 2020, and 2022 and analysed using ENVI 5.3 and ArcGIS 10.8.1 software. These data were analysed using the Modified Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (MNDVI), Optimized Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (OSAVI), and Moisture Adjusted Vegetation Index (MAVI). Based on the MNDVI, results show that vegetation cover increased in the period 2000–2020 by 179 km2 or 2% of the area, whereas in the period 2020–2022, there was a decrease in vegetation cover by 403 km2 or 5% of the area. This was accompanied by a decrease in vegetation density. These vegetation changes in 2020–2022 are attributed to the impact of armed conflict on the land surface which can include farmlands and village abandonment, spread of weeds and scrub vegetation, or failure to harvest crops. Monitoring vegetation change using Landsat data can help understand the environmental impacts of armed conflict in rural agricultural landscapes, including potential food security risks.

BACKGROUND: Colombia has experienced decades of conflict between the government and non-state actors. Attacks on healthcare have been a grave but regular facet of that violence. In response, the Misión Médica (MM) program was developed to support, protect, and defend healthcare. Sporadic violence continues, with many recent attacks perpetrated not by armed actors but by residents. Given the history of conflict and ongoing violence, we sought to capture the perspectives of both healthcare workers (HCWs) and community members (CMs) regarding the characteristics and impacts of attacks on health in Colombia to gain insight into how to better prevent violence and mitigate its impacts. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2021 in seven departments in Colombia in regions that witnessed attacks on healthcare. Questionnaires were administered to HCWs and CMs via purposive sampling, probing their experiences with attacks on health with both closed and open-ended questions. The categorical responses were stratified by health worker vs. non-health worker and descriptively analyzed. Narrative responses were analyzed via a hybrid deductive/inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: Seventy-three individuals participated in the study (36 HCWs and 37 cm). Approximately 77% of HCWs believed that attacks on healthcare impacted health outcomes while 68% of CMs did not see a direct connection between violence against healthcare and poor health outcomes. Awareness of the MM program was significantly different between HCWs (83.3%) and CMs (37.8%). The survey responses explored the characteristics of attacks on health, compounded impacts of violence on the health system, personal impacts, and perspectives on mitigation efforts. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that: (1) attacks on healthcare are context-dependent and require a local lens for mitigation and management; (2) both HCWs and CMs have critical perspectives that must be considered, (3) the impacts of violence against healthcare are complex and compounded and (4) that awareness of the legal protections of the Geneva Conventions must be combined with education on the health impacts for robust protection strategies. Critically, Both CMs and HCWs experience fear and psychosocial ramifications of these attacks, suggesting the need for stronger protections and resources to support the health workforce and the local community.

The purpose of this scoping review was to ascertain the scope and nature of the literature focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) among Afghans across contexts, including Afghanistan. The scoping review adopted a systematic approach to search for, identify, and include peer-reviewed articles published in English. Fifty-two articles were retained in the final analysis, which generated results on IPV prevalence; multi-level risk and protective factors; qualitatively derived contextual factors; associations of IPV with adverse physical and psychological outcomes; IPV-related help-seeking behaviors; programs and interventions; the role of religion; IPV-related policies; and the role of fiction. Findings indicate that past-year physical IPV prevalence ranged from 52% to 56% in Afghanistan and 79.8% among Afghan refugees displaced in Iran. Studies conducted in Afghanistan identified a range of IPV risk factors occurring at the individual (e.g., age and employment), interpersonal/household (e.g., acceptance of IPV and violence perpetrated by in-laws), and societal levels (e.g., conflict/displacement). The findings highlight a rich literature on IPV in Afghanistan and significant gaps in IPV research across the Afghan diaspora and in contexts of displacement and resettlement. The results advance understanding of the drivers of IPV in the diverse Afghan population and highlight context-specific gaps, and needs for intervention and future research. These gaps indicate the importance of conducting research elucidating how risk and protective factors associated with IPV shift in forced migration and resettlement, and an urgent need for the development and testing of services and programs that respond to the specific needs of Afghan women experiencing IPV across contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]