Jennifer Welsh on Protecting Civilians in a Turbulent Age | 2025 Keenan Lecture

November 19, 2025 | Jennifer Welsh delivered the keynote address at the 36th Michael Keenan Memorial Lecture at St. Thomas More College, speaking on the weakening of civilian protection in contemporary conflict. Welsh explained that impunity now shapes conflicts in a way that weakens long-standing commitments to civilian protection. She noted that the laws of war are an attempt to strike a balance between operational demands and civilian safety, and she questioned whether that balance is now being compromised.