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News Yemen: concerns mount as situation worsens 12-11-2009 Operational update 30-10-2009 News release Section Protecting civilians in wartime Section on the ICRC's work to ensure that civilians not taking part in the fighting are spared and protected, and not attacked. Covers action for especially vulnerable groups (the elderly, women and children). Access to legal texts on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Protection for civilians is a basic principle of humanitarian law: civilians not taking part in the fighting must on no account be attacked and must be spared and protected. The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols contain specific rules to protect civilians. In situations that are not covered by these treaties, in particular internal disturbances, civilians are protected by the fundamental principles of humanitarian law and human rights law.
 Annual Report27-5-2009 Central tracing agency and protection: extract from ICRC Annual Report 2008The Central Tracing Agency and Protection Division provides strategic support and professional expertise to field operations in three areas of activity – protection of the civilian population, protection of people deprived of their freedom and restoring family links; the latter also covers activities relating to missing persons and their families. (ICRC Activities\Protection) Annual Report Feature25-9-2009 Yemen: civilians increasingly at risk as conflict intensifiesWhile fighting has been intensifying over the past days in most areas in Northern Yemen and civilian lives are increasingly at risk, thousands of people are dependant on humanitarian aid. In order to survive, people often have no other choice left than to flee towards safer areas. Families on the move are lacking even the bare necessities. Pregnant women, children and elderly are among the most vulnerable. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Yemen) Feature Includes Photo 26-9-2008 Georgia: portraits from TbilisiThe elderly are amongst the greatest casualties of the recent war in Georgia and South Ossetia, particularly because of the manner in which it has changed their lives irrevocably. The ICRC’s Jessica Barry has been talking to some of them. (The ICRC worldwide\Eastern Europe and Central Asia\Georgia) Feature Includes Photo 5-6-2008 Working between the lines dividing Sri LankaSri Lanka has only one crossing point between government-held areas and those held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at Omanthai. The ICRC has the unique role of facilitating the smooth passage of people and goods "across the lines". Claudia McGoldrick went to Omanthai to meet an ICRC protection officer with a quite unusual job (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Sri Lanka) Feature Includes Photo ICRC Publication6-10-2008 Enhancing protection for civilians in armed conflict and other situations of violenceThis brochure explains how the ICRC works to protect civilians in armed conflict and other situations of violence, proposing a step-by-step, multidisciplinary approach. The first chapter focuses on the preliminary analysis of protection problems affecting a given population. The second introduces a classification of ICRC protection activities for civilians. The third and final chapter covers issues of interest to organizations that deal with protection data. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Protection) ICRC Publication Includes PDF 11-4-2008 Violence and the use of forceThe line separating disturbances and tensions from armed conflict can sometimes be blurred and the only way to categorize specific situations is by examining each individual case. The intensity of violence is the key determining factor. This categorisation has direct consequences for the armed forces and civil authorities as it does for the victims of the violence. It determines which rules apply and the protection they provide is established in greater or lesser detail according to the legal situation. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Prevention) ICRC Publication Includes PDF 31-12-2001 Strengthening protection in war: a search for professional standardsThis volume presents the results of workshops on protecting civilians in armed conflict and situations of internal violence that have been organized by the ICRC over the last four years. It includes contributions by over 100 professionals from 50 different organizations. Its aim is to promote shared principles and practices, and to raise the levels of professionalism and effectiveness in organizations working in the field of protection. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Protection) ICRC publication International Review of the Red Cross30-9-2008 ICRC Protection PolicyThis policy document begins by defining key notions and describing the framework for action. It then outlines the principles of the ICRC’s protection framework, as well as the operational guidelines based on that framework. The document concludes by describing different types of ICRC protection activity and outlining specific considerations related to the various categories of beneficiary. (Info resources\International Review\2008 - No. 871) International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF 30-6-2002 ICRC position on hostage-takingThese guidelines set out the ICRC’s position with regard to hostage-taking in situations in connection with which it is conducting operations. (Info resources\International Review\2002 - No. 846) International Review of the Red Cross Interview10-7-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: 'protection is what these people need'Increasing attacks on civilians by weapons bearers are forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in North and South Kivu. Outgoing head of delegation Max Hadorn describes a 'chronically deteriorating humanitarian situation' and the ICRC's response to the crisis. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview 8-6-2009 West Bank: illegal settlements cause hardship for PalestiniansSettler violence and severe restrictions on movement are affecting the daily lives of Palestinians in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, especially in the old town of Hebron. Matteo Benatti has been head of the ICRC's office in Hebron since September 2007. He explains the situation. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) Interview Includes Photo 29-5-2008 South Africa: ICRC supports local Red Cross in response to urban violenceViolence erupted in informal settlements and townships in and around the Gauteng Province in Central South Africa on 11 May 2008. The attacks mainly targeted foreigners from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Since then, violence has spread to several other provinces leaving tens of thousands displaced, and more than 50 dead. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\South Africa) Interview Includes Photo 10-12-2007 Protecting children in armed conflictInternational humanitarian law clearly states that children's rights must be respected during armed conflict. However, this does not always prevent children being affected by violence in various ways. In this interview, the ICRC's child protection adviser, Kristin Barstad, describes the ICRC's approach to the issue. (Focus\Children in war) Interview Includes Photo Official Statement20-11-2007 Protection of civilians in armed conflictStatement by Angelo Gnaedinger, director general of the ICRC, United Nations Security Council, New York, 20 November 2007 (ICRC Activities\Humanitarian diplomacy\United Nations) Official Statement 9-5-2007 Protection of civilians in conflict - the ICRC perspectiveAddress by Angelo Gnaedinger, ICRC Director-General, Humanitarian and Resident Coordinators' Retreat, Geneva, 9 May 2007 (ICRC Activities\Protection\Civilian population) Official Statement 17-4-2007 Iraq: civilians bear the brunt of violence Address by Angelo Gnaedinger, ICRC Director-General at the International Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Needs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq and in Neighbouring Countries, Geneva, 17-18 April, 2007 (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Official Statement 4-4-2007 Darfur: improved security is needed nowIn this editorial, the president of the ICRC, Jakob Kellenberger, calls for improved security in Darfur and explains why the organization has had to resume a wider range of assistance activities on behalf of those living in the camp for displaced people in Gereida. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Sudan) Official Statement Includes Photo 2-2-2006 American States: protection of persons in situations of internal disturbances and tensions Address by the ICRC at the special meeting of the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Organization of American States on current issues in international humanitarian law, Washington, D.C., 2 February 2006 (ICRC Activities\Humanitarian diplomacy\Other organizations) Official Statement 8-3-2001 The Civilian Character of Asylum: Separating Armed Elements from Refugees ICRC statement to the UNHCR Global Consultations on International Protection, first meeting, 8-9 March 2001 (ICRC Activities\Humanitarian diplomacy\United Nations) Official statement Photo Collection31-5-2007 Rules to limit suffering in war Series of photos illustrating rules laid down by the 1977 protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions, which aim to limit the suffering of people affected by armed conflict. (Info resources\Photos) Photo Collection Includes Photo 8-3-2007 Sri Lanka: fleeing for their lives The armed conflict in Sri Lanka has once again caused massive population displacements. Tens of thousands of men, women and children have been driven from their homes and forced to seek shelter in camps. Most of them were unable to take anything with them and lack even the most basic necessities. (Info resources\Photos\Asia and the Pacific) Photo Collection Includes Photo 3-11-2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo: saving lives, rebuilding livelihoods This gallery contains images and excerpts from a new ICRC photo exhibition that provides a fresh look at the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It depicts the central human concerns arising out of years of violence in which hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives, focusing on key issues such as child soldiers, sexual violence, health, water, economic security, helping abandoned communities, reuniting families and 'fighting right', and provides an overview of what the ICRC is doing to tackle these challenges. (Info resources\Photos\Africa) Photo Collection Includes Photo 2-8-2005 Nepal: working in the midst of conflict For nine years the civilian population has had no respite from the conflict between government forces and insurgents of the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist (CPN-M). The ICRC has endeavoured to perform its task of looking after the welfare of people protected by international humanitarian law while drawing the attention of bearers of weapons to their obligations under that body of law. (Info resources\Photos\Asia and the Pacific) Photo Collection Includes Photo Press article1-10-2005 Protection of IDPs: an ICRC viewIDPs are of primary concern to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Ensuring their protection lies at the core of its mandate, operational concerns and priorities - article published in Forced Migration review, IDP Supplement, October 2005. By the head of the Protection Division, ICRC. (ICRC Activities\Protection) Press article Includes Photo Report29-6-2009 Gaza: 1.5 million people trapped in despairSix months after Israel launched its three-week military operation in Gaza on 27 December 2008, Gazans still cannot rebuild their lives. Most people struggle to make ends meet. Seriously ill patients face difficulty obtaining the treatment they need. Many children suffer from deep psychological problems. Civilians whose homes and belongings were destroyed during the conflict are unable to recover. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) Report Includes Photo 13-12-2007 The occupied Palestinian territories: Dignity Denied Throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank, Palestinians continuously face hardship in simply going about their lives; they are prevented from doing what makes up the daily fabric of most people's existence. An ICRC report. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) Report Includes PDF, Photo 27-10-1998 General problems in implementing the Fourth Geneva ConventionMeeting of Experts, Geneva, 27 - 29 October 1998. Report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (Humanitarian law\Protected persons and property\Civilians in the power of the enemy) Report More in this section26-6-2002 About the protection of civilian population(ICRC Activities\Protection\Civilian population) 22-5-2001 The elderly in situations of armed conflict(ICRC Activities\Protection\Civilian population) 2-7-1997 Civil defence 1977-1997 - from law to practice: Executive summary(ICRC Activities\Protection\Civilian population)  |
