Introduction
2019 was the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the most extensive codification of the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL), and the only treaties to have been ratified by every state in the world. Events marking the anniversary celebrated the achievements of 1949. But challenges for the future were also noted. In particular, the law is being flouted too often; certain rules are unclear; and some experts consider that there are gaps in the legal framework. There are also questions that remain to be fully addressed in the future, such as the application of IHL to new technologies, or the responsibilities of states in ‘partnered’ military operations. This briefing takes three pertinent examples, and discusses possibilities for addressing these and other questions in the future.