Practitioner resources

These resources include materials relevant to casualty-recording practitioners and those interested in investigating such practice, as well as the products of some of the Casualty Recorders Network's public joint initiatives.

See also our audio and video materials, including interviews with practitioners about their work.

For more information on any of these resources, please contact the team.

Losing Sight of the Human Costs: Casualty Recording and Remote Control Warfare (2014)

Changes in military engagement, towards more covert and remotely operated ways of using armed force, are an evolving trend. Commissioned by the Remote Control Project, this paper explores the specific practical and policy challenges posed to casualty recording by this, and how these might be met through the strengthening of both state and independent practice.

Examining Civilian Harm Tracking and Casualty Recording in Afghanistan (2014)

This joint briefing paper from Every Casualty and the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CCC) examines the distinctions and complementarily of civilian harm tracking and casualty recording using the case of Afghanistan. The paper builds on CCC's report Civilian Harm Tracking: Analysis of ISAF Efforts in Afghanistan and EC's report The UN and Casualty Recording: Good practice and the need for action .  

The UN and Casualty Recording: Good Practice and the Need for Action (2014)

This paper examines casualty recording practice within the United Nations, both at UNHQ and at field level. It also includes an in-depth case study of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. It is the result of extended research by the Every Casualty Programme throughout the course of 2013.

Counting the Cost: Casualty Recording Practices and Realities Around the World (2014)

This report by Action on Armed Violence examines current casualty recording practice by states. It is based on both field and desk based research on recording the casualties of armed violence in over 33 countries, including Colombia, Indonesia, Liberia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Burundi, Guatemala, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Jamaica, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, the UK, the USA and Venezuela.

Casualty Recording: Assessing State and United Nations Practices (2014)

This paper summarises the joint findings of new research by Action on Armed Violence and the Every Casualty Programme into states' and the United Nations' practices in casualty recording. It elaborates important benefits of casualty recording as well as providing recommendations to states, UN actors and civil society.

Brief: Developing Standards in Casualty Recording (2013)

Oxford Research Group’s Every Casualty programme has started a process to develop internationally recognised standards for casualty recording, with practitioners and those that use the information produced by them. This brief outlines the intentions for this process and work done so far, at July 2013.

Casualty Recording as an Evaluative Capability: Libya and the Protection of Civilians (2013)

This paper examines the relevance of casualty recording to the Protection of Civilians (PoC) framework, using NATO's intervention in Libya as a case study. It argues that the acquisition and analysis of information about casualties needs to be given a clear and fundamental role when drafting Security Council resolutions that mandate protection.

Good Practice in Conflict Casualty Recording: Testimony, Detailed Analysis and Recommendations From a Study of 40 Casualty Recorders (2012)

The collection of papers, produced from a two year study of casualty recording practice, is aimed primarily at those who record casualties, are intending to do this work, or are interested in understanding current casualty recording practice better. The papers are an evolving collection of reviews and analyses looking at key themes in practice, and how casualty recorders in different situations worldwide address them. The papers can be downloaded as PDFs:

Policy Paper: Towards the Recording of Every Casualty: Policy Recommendations and Analysis From a Study of 40 Casualty Recorders (2012)

This policy paper, from a two-year study into casualty recording, provides an overview of why casualty recording is important and useful, and demonstrates that it can be effectively carried out under varying conditions both during and after conflict. It contains recommendations for states, global civil society, inter-governmental institutions and casualty recorders on how casualty recording can be better supported both domestically and at the international level, for the immediate improvement of casualty recording worldwide. read...

Joint Letter: NGOs Call for Immediate and Full Reporting of Every Casualty in Libya (2011)

Coordinated by Oxford Research Group, in March 2011 fifteen humanitarian and human rights organisations called on the states implementing the “no-fly zone” in Libya to commit to recording and reporting on civilian casualties in that country. Without such information, this intervention - based on civilian protection - cannot be evaluated. The call comes in an open letter sent to all members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League and the African Union. read...

Working Paper: The Drone Wars and Pakistan’s Conflict Casualties (2011)

In Pakistan, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (‘drones’) has preceded and succeeded the death of Osama bin Laden. Drones’ use, in particular by the US within Pakistan, is surrounded by debate over their dubious legality. All the while, civilian and militant deaths continue on.

The paper by Jacob Beswick of Oxford Research Group's everycasualty programme compares the methodologies and findings of the organisations dedicated to reporting on casualties caused by drones within Pakistan. The paper highlights and discusses why gaps in data exist and what can be done to address them. read...