Australia: Challenges of principled humanitarian action
In November 2015, the ICRC and Deakin University gathered representatives from humanitarian organizations for a closed roundtable in Melbourne on the costs and challenges of adhering to the …
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South Sudan: Hundreds of thousands face critical food shortage
Geneva/Juba (ICRC) – Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese face severe food shortages and an alarming hunger situation after two years of fighting in the country, the International Committee of the …
Emblems of Humanity
This brochure is designed to acquaint the general audience with the red cross, red crescent and red crystal emblems, and to emphasize the importance of respecting them. It explains the protective …
What should we do when the world is burning? Start by restoring laws of war
Today's complex conflicts often overlook the fundamental values enshrined in the Geneva conventions. Here's how we can ensure its principles are honoured The Middle East is in turmoil. War is raging …
Health Care in Danger: Meeting the Challenges
"Health Care in Danger: Meeting the Challenges" is a collection of stories from the field. They describe how violence can disrupt the delivery of health care. In some cases, entire communities are …
Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, 2015
Twentieth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, 30 November – 4 December 2015, The Hague, Netherlands. Statement by the ICRC. The ICRC first wishes to …
The Missing: the right to know
The Missing: the right to know is a short video (4 min. 30 sec.) which is ideal for opening meetings and discussions, providing a concise overview, through a series of testimonials, of the problem of …
The Missing: end the silence
Through a series of emotive testimonials, this video explores the tragedy of people who remain unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence and the anguish that this causes to …
Operational Best Practices regarding the Management of Human Remains and Information on the Dead by Non-Specialists
This publication is a compilation of all recommendations and best practices relating to the proper handling of the remains of those who die in direct or indirect relation to an armed conflict or …
War Wounds: Basic Surgical Management – The Principles and Practice of the Surgical Management of Wounds Produced by Missiles or Explosions
The main concern of a doctor faced with a person injured by a mine, a bullet or a metallic fragment is how to treat the wound. This book is intended to help doctors, whether military or civilian, who …
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ICRC library
Created in 1863, the ICRC library, alongside the ICRC archives, provides an indispensable documentary reference on the organization itself and international humanitarian law.
IHL treaties
International humanitarian law is based on a number of treaties, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, and a series of other instruments.
Customary IHL
Customary international humanitarian law consists of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.