| International humanitarian law (IHL) Section explaining international humanitarian law (IHL), its role in the protection of victims of war and its relationship with the work of the ICRC. The main treaties are the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols 4-4-2006 Terrorism and international humanitarian law
Acts commonly considered as terrorist are expressly prohibited by IHL and its application does not constitute an obstacle to the fight against terrorism. But even the members of armed forces or "unlawful combatants" suspected of acts of terrorism are protected by the Geneva Conventions and are entitled to judicial guarantees if put on trial.(Humanitarian law) |
8-6-2006 Arms profusion: the human cost
The ease of access to small arms and light weapons continues to pose serious obstacles to social and economic development in countries where the ICRC is active. Text of a speech delivered by the ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger, to the Geneva Summit on Armed Violence. (Humanitarian law) |
10-4-2006 Respecting and ensuring respect for International Humanitarian Law
“To respect” means that the State is under an obligation to do everything it can to ensure that the rules are respected by all organs under its jurisdiction. “To ensure respect” means that States, whether engaged in a conflict or not, must take all possible steps to ensure that the rules are respected by all. Read also the European Union Guidelines on promoting compliance with IHL
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12-5-2006 Direct participation in hostilities
Civilians enjoy general immunity from direct attacks. However, they loose this protection for such time as they take a "direct" or "active" part in hostilities. A series of Expert Meetings endeavour to clarify the precise meaning of the notion of "direct participation in hostilities", which has never been defined in treaty law and the importance of which has dramatically increased in parallel with the growing involvement of civilians in the conduct of hostilities.(Humanitarian law) |
7-10-2005 The basics of international humanitarian law
What is international humanitarian law (IHL)? Why is it important? How and who does it protect? Simple and concise answers to these and other related questions are given in this leaflet, including a brief overview of the ICRC's role as the "guardian" of IHL. An ideal first introduction to IHL.(Humanitarian law) |
10-4-2006
See also
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7-4-2004
Other documents of interest
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Official Statement 27-6-2006 Enforced disappearance: a violation of humanitarian law and human rights
Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations Human Rights Council, 27 June 2006, concerning the draft International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances.(ICRC Activities\Humanitarian diplomacy\United Nations\Commission on human rights) |
Official Statement 12-12-2005 Protection of civilians in armed conflict
Statement by Mr. Jacques Forster, Vice-President of the ICRC, United Nations Security Council, 5319th meeting, New York, 9 December 2005(ICRC Activities\Humanitarian diplomacy\United Nations) |
International Review of the Red Cross 30-6-2003 Towards a single definition of armed conflict in international humanitarian law: A critique of internationalized armed conflict
The traditional distinction between the rules of international humanitarian law applicable in international armed conflicts and non-international armed conflicts is put under the spot-light in this article. The author revives the calls for a single body of law covering all types of conflicts, relying significantly on the judgments of the international tribunals as well as the fundamental objectives and principles of humanitarian law.James G. Stewart (Info resources\International Review\2003 - No. 850) |
ICRC Publication 31-12-1998 The International Committee of the Red Cross as guardian of international humanitarian law
The ICRC acts as the guardian of international humanitarian law, a complex role that is closely connected with its own foundation and was later formally entrusted to it by the international community. The article presents various aspects of this role and examines its scope in the contemporary context.Yves Sandoz (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\About the ICRC) |
Press Release 26-6-2006 Preventing small-arms proliferation – five-year review
Geneva (ICRC) – Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations will meet in New York from 26 June to 7 July for the review of the UN programme to eradicate illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.(News) |
Press Release 22-6-2006 International conference paves the way for red crystal
The 29th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has amended the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to incorporate the additional emblem of the red crystal, which now has the same status as the red cross and red crescent. In addition the participants to the International Conference requested that the ICRC and the International Federation recognize and admit the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PCRS) into the Movement.(News) |
ICRC News 6-6-2006 Yemen: ICRC and Yemeni Red Crescent help people affected by fighting in Sa'ada
Sana'a (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Yemeni Red Crescent Society this week completed an aid distribution in the areas of Majz (Al-Talh, Bani Mouath, Wal Massoud), Al-Safra (Nushur) and Al Sahar, in northern Sa'ada province, to households affected by fighting in late 2005 and early 2006.(News) |
Press Release 1-6-2006 Launch of the ICRC Annual Report 2005: armed conflict on all five continents takes heavy toll on civilians
The ICRC's Annual Report 2005, just published in Geneva, paints a grim picture of the impact of armed conflict and violence on civilians. They face killing, injury, displacement, rape and sexual harassment, forced labour and recruitment, detention, and the destruction of property and of the means of survival. The collapse of basic services in areas such as health, water and education exacerbates their suffering.(News) |
Press Release 26-5-2006 Somalia: ICRC alarmed by number of civilian casualties
Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), alarmed by the heavy loss of life and the suffering of civilians in the upsurge of violent and indiscriminate armed clashes in Mogadishu, call again for restraint in the fighting. (News) |
Press Release 22-5-2006 Afghanistan : ICRC urges respect for humanitarian law
Geneva (ICRC) – An escalation in the fighting in Afghanistan in recent weeks has resulted in loss of life and displacement of civilians. The number of civilian casualties has risen as a result of clashes – especially in the south – between armed opposition groups on one side and the Afghan armed forces and Coalition forces on the other, and also as a result of indiscriminate attacks.(News) |
Press Release 12-5-2006 Sri Lanka : ICRC deeply concerned about upsurge of violence
Geneva (ICRC) – Over the past weeks, Sri Lanka has been facing an upsurge in violence that has resulted in loss of human life and the displacement of civilians as well as an increasing number of civilian casualties due to attacks with explosive devices in the North and East of the country.(News) |
Press Release 10-5-2006 Somalia: ICRC calls for restraint in fighting
Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Somali Red Crescent Society are extremely concerned about the consequences in humanitarian terms of the intense armed clashes currently under way in Mogadishu.(News) |
Press Release 29-3-2006 Philippines: ICRC condemns bomb attacks on civilians in Jolo and Digos
Manila/Geneva (ICRC) – The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reacted immediately to render life-saving medical assistance to the victims of today's bus terminal bombing in Digos (Mindanao), which left twenty civilians injured.(News) |
Press Release 15-3-2006 ICRC concerned following events in Jericho
Geneva (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories following the attack by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the prison in Jericho and the abduction of civilians by Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip. The civilians abducted included humanitarian workers and an ICRC delegate, who was later released. (News) |
Press Release 15-3-2006 ICRC president visits Germany
Geneva (ICRC) – Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has arrived in Berlin for a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with German President Horst Köhler, Chancellor Angela Merkel, the ministers for foreign affairs, defence, and economic cooperation and development, and the parliamentary committee for human rights and humanitarian assistance.(News) |
Regional news 10-3-2006 Namibia: assembly members and officials discuss humanitarian law
On 9 March 2006, the ICRC's regional delegation for Southern Africa organised a seminar on the national implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL) for over 40 members of Namibia's national assembly, as well as senior officials from key national offices and ministries.(News) |
Press Release 25-2-2006 ICRC president visits United Arab Emirates
Geneva/Kuwait (ICRC) – Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has arrived in Abu Dhabi today for a visit during which he will hold talks with the highest authorities of the United Arab Emirates.(News) |
Press Release 30-11-2005 ICRC president visits Austria
Geneva (ICRC) - The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jakob Kellenberger, is in Vienna today for talks with the Austrian foreign minister, Ursula Plassnik.(News) |
ICRC News 29-11-2005 Uganda: Promoting humanitarian principles among the Acholi
On 28 November, 22 traditional leaders from the Gulu district of northern Uganda's conflict-ridden Acholi region took part in a one-day seminar organized by the ICRC on its humanitarian activities and on basic principles of international humanitarian law.(News) |
Press Release 28-11-2005 Geneva: MDA-PRCS agreement signed
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement today welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Magen David Adom (MDA).(News) |
Press Release 26-10-2005 IPHA boosts graduate education in humanitarian action in Geneva
Beginning in October 2005, the University of Geneva's Interdisciplinary Programme in Humanitarian Action (IPHA) launched a new programme of study leading to a Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action, which replaced the former master’s degree in humanitarian action.(News) |
ICRC News 30-9-2005 Major step toward ending enforced disappearance
The ICRC welcomes the news that drafting of a convention protecting people from enforced disappearance was completed on 23 September by the Working Group to elaborate a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.(News) |
Press Release 15-9-2005 Asia-Pacific roundtable in Malaysia: preventing hostile use of the life sciences
Geneva/Kuala Lumpur (ICRC) – On 20-21 September 2005, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will host a two-day roundtable in Kuala Lumpur aimed at promoting dialogue on how rapid advances in the life sciences can be used to benefit humanity while minimizing the risk of their hostile use. (News) |
Press Release 14-9-2005 Switzerland: An additional emblem alongside the red cross and red crescent
In a joint press release issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation), the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement welcomes the intention of the Swiss government to convene a diplomatic conference in the near future, at the very latest before the end of the year, to adopt an additional emblem alongside the red cross and red crescent emblems.(News) |
Press Release 29-8-2005 Missing persons – Helping families find out the truth
Geneva (ICRC) – Ahead of International Day of the Disappeared (30 August), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls for renewed attention to one of the most serious humanitarian problems caused by armed conflict – the fate of missing persons and the suffering of their families.(News) |
Press Release 20-3-2003 Iraq: ICRC calls for respect for international humanitarian law
Geneva (ICRC) - Deeply concerned about the human consequences of the hostilities under way in Iraq, especially the impact of military operations on the civilian population, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls upon the warring parties to abide strictly by the rules and principles of international humanitarian law. (News) |
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See also (Humanitarian law) |
25-3-2004 States party
to the main IHL treaties(Humanitarian law) |
25-3-2004 Promotion of IHL
with armed forces, police, students,... (Humanitarian law) |
25-3-2004 Fact sheets
Issued by the ICRC's Advisory Service(Humanitarian law) |
25-3-2004
Other sites (Humanitarian law) |
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