Explainer
What Is a Humanitarian Corridor?
A humanitarian corridor or safe passage is a time- and place-specific agreement intended to move civilians or aid safely. It does not replace the…
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Explainers
Plain-language background to help readers understand concepts, institutions, terms and methods used in conflict reporting.
Explainer
What Does It Mean to Be Stateless?
A stateless person is not considered a national by any State under the operation of its law. Statelessness can magnify the risks created by…
Explainer
What Is Non-Refoulement?
Non-refoulement is the core rule that people must not be returned to places where they face specified serious dangers. It is central to refugee…
Explainer
NATO Article 5 Explained: Does an Attack on One Mean War for All?
Article 5 treats an armed attack on one NATO ally as an attack on all, but each ally decides the action it deems necessary,…
Explainer
What Is an Arms Embargo?
An arms embargo restricts transfers of weapons or military-related goods to a country, group or listed entity. Scope and enforcement vary by regime.
Explainer
What Do International Sanctions Actually Do?
Sanctions can target States, companies, sectors or individuals. They are policy tools, not a single legal mechanism, and their humanitarian effects depend on design…
Explainer
How UN Peacekeeping Works
UN peacekeeping is neither a global army nor simple neutrality. Missions operate under Security Council mandates and three core principles.
Explainer
Are UN General Assembly Resolutions Legally Binding?
Most General Assembly resolutions are recommendations rather than binding commands to States, but they can still carry major political, institutional and legal significance.
Explainer
What Is the UN Security Council Veto?
Five permanent Security Council members can block substantive draft resolutions with a negative vote. Here is what the veto can—and cannot—do.
Explainer
How Peace Talks Work: Negotiation, Mediation and Guarantees
Peace negotiations are processes, not single meetings. This guide explains mediators, preconditions, frameworks, sequencing and why implementation often determines success.