PhD defence Meng Wang

Keywords: Water protection, Armed conflict, Humanitarian & Environmental consequences, Multi-branch legal analysis

"In the Flow of Fire: The Protection of Water During Armed Conflict under Public International Law"

This research investigates the legal protection of freshwater during armed conflict, a resource essential for life, food, and the environment. The research examines how different areas of international law—including humanitarian, human rights, environmental, and water law—interact to safeguard water from both humanitarian and environmental perspectives. It includes the analysis of ongoing conflicts, such as the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine and attacks on Gaza’s water infrastructure, to examine the challenges international law faces in safeguarding water during war and to explore potential remedies for stronger legal protection.

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