Penal humanitarianism – the combination of punitive sentiments and humanitarian ideals – is increasingly moving the ‘power to punish’ beyond the state – not only in relation to migration and international criminal justice; but also in relation to the use of military force to protect vulnerable populations facing systematic violence.

Until fairly recently, criminal prosecution of conflict-related sexual violence was practically unheard of. Today, criminal prosecution has become key in dealing with conflict-related sexual violence.

Drawing on the case of Niger, this blog examines some of the processes through which the EU projects penal power beyond Europe and its allegedly humanitarian rationale.

This Border Criminologies blog series takes a closer look at the intersections of humanitarian reason with penal governance, and particularly the transfer of penal power beyond the nation state.

The ‘internal protection alternative’ (IPA) is a limit on refugee status used to exclude claimants with access to adequate protection somewhere within their countries of origin. A reflection on refugee law’s ‘surrogate’ role, which states use to justify IPA practice.

It might surprise some that Norway, normally viewed as a human rights stalwart, is at the forefront of efforts to push the boundaries of refugee law in a restrictive direction. A case study on Norway and the internal protection alternative (IPA).

Refugee resettlement has been the topic of heated debates in Denmark for more than a decade. This blog examines the evolution of Danish Refugee Resettlement Policy from 1978 to 2016.