CFP: Protection, Precaution, Proportionality. Is respect for ethics in conflict in decline? Military Medical Ethics

The ICMM Center of Reference for Education on IHL and Ethics in cooperation with theMedical Services Directorate of the Swiss Armed Forcesand theZH Center for Military Medical Ethicsat Zurich University convene their joint

14th Workshop on Military Medical Ethics
19-21 June 2025 | Hybrid Workshop
Hotel du Léman, Jongny (Switzerland) Protection, Precaution, Proportionality.
Is respect for ethics in conflict in decline?Topic

The field of military healthcare operates in a morally charged space, where the principles of medical ethics often clash with the imperatives of warfare. From the protection of medical personnel and facilities to the use of the Red Cross/Red Crescent emblems, ethical dilemmas arise under the pressures of armed conflict. Issues of proportionality in the conduct of hostilities further complicate the role of healthcare providers, who must balance their humanitarian duties with the realities of military operations.

For our 2025 workshop we invite philosophical scholars, military professionals, legal experts, and healthcare practitioners to explore the ethical principles governing military healthcare, examining challenges related to the protection of medical units, the misuse of protected emblems, and the ethics of proportionality in both attacks and defense during conflicts.

We welcome submissions addressing a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Protection of Medical Personnel and Facilities in Armed Conflict:
  Exploring the ethical and legal obligations to safeguard healthcare providers, hospitals, and ambulances during warfare. How can medical neutrality be ensured in increasingly complex combat environments?
• Emblems of Protection – Ethical and Legal Considerations:
  Examining the use and misuse of protective emblems such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal. What are the ethical implications of violating these emblems, and how can international law be enforced to prevent misuse?
• Proportionality and Military Healthcare:
  Investigating the ethical challenges of proportionality in attacks that may impact medical facilities and personnel. How can military operations justify actions that may unintentionally harm healthcare services, and what limits should be imposed to minimize such risks?
• Attacks on Healthcare in Modern Warfare:
  Analyzing the increasing frequency of deliberate or incidental attacks on healthcare infrastructure. What are the long-term consequences of such actions, and what strategies can be employed to prevent the targeting of healthcare services?
• Military Medical Ethics vs. Battlefield Realities:
  The tension between ethical duties to provide care and the operational demands of the military. How can military healthcare professionals reconcile their ethical obligations with the command structure and rules of engagement?
• Ethical Dilemmas in Treating Combatants and Civilians:
  Discussing the ethical issues that arise when military healthcare providers are required to treat both combatants and civilians, including potential conflicts of interest, prioritization of care, and impartiality.
• International Humanitarian Law and Medical Ethics in War :
  Examining the intersection of international humanitarian law (IHL) with medical ethics. How do the Geneva Conventions and other legal frameworks inform ethical decision-making for military healthcare providers?
• Mental Health and Moral Injury in Military Healthcare Personnel:
  Exploring the psychological impact of delivering care in war zones, including the concepts of moral injury and burnout among military healthcare workers. What support structures are needed to address these challenges? What can be done to support the resilience of health workers?
• Technological Advances and Ethical Implications in Military Healthcare:
  Assessing how emerging technologies, such as telemedicine, drones, and AI, impact military healthcare. What new ethical questions arise from the use of these technologies in conflict zones?

We encourage interdisciplinary approaches to these pressing ethical issues and look forward to your insightful contributions as we seek to enhance the protection and ethical considerations of military healthcare in conflict zones.

We equally encourage field reports (e.g., case studies, experience briefings, policy analyses) as well as philosophical papers and legal background analyses. In line with the tradition of the workshop series, we invite presentations that take the perspectives of both military and humanitarian health care providers.

Submit via https://melac.ch/apply/cfp-2025