The use of force in law enforcement operations
States often face situations in which their officials have to use force to maintain or restore public security, law and order in armed conflicts or situations of violence that do not meet the …
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What we do for detainees
In the event of armed conflict and other situations of violence, detainees are acutely vulnerable to forced disappearance, extrajudicial killing, torture and ill treatment, inhumane material …
Resilience amidst immense loss and suffering: The first six months of 2023 in photos
From the devastating Türkiye-Syria earthquake to the international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the eruption of fighting in Sudan, the first half of 2023 saw humanitarian needs …
Georgia: Remains of 13 people missing in connection with 1992–93 armed conflict handed over to families
Geneva (ICRC) – The remains of 13 people missing in connection with the armed conflict of 1992–1993 in Abkhazia were identified and handed over to their families on 19 July with the help of the …
Frequently asked questions on the rules of war
Even wars have rules. What does that mean? It means: You do not attack civilians. You limit as much as you can the impact of your warfare on women and children, as well as on other civilians. You …
Pakistan: Experts propose recommendations to protect civilians in cyberspace
To discuss the legal implications of cyber warfare and the application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in cyberspace, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Pakistan and the …
The rise of artificial intelligence requires a human-centred approach in conflict zones
Artificial intelligence (AI) has received a great deal of attention in recent months with the growth of chatbots such as ChatGPT. But less attention has been paid to how AI could be used in conflicts …
Panama: Forensic support for host communities in Darien
Darien, Panama . In the first six months of 2023, more than 200,000 people crossed the Darien Gap, a jungle that lies between Colombia and Panama; more than 60 migrants died in the attempt according …
Bangladesh: 14th Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition 2023 — Call for Registration
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in partnership with the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), will organize the 14th Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition, Bangladesh …
Afghanistan: Children are the main victims of unexploded and abandoned weapons
Seven-year-old Omar’s daily routine used to involve going with his brother and some friends to the fields near their home in Kabul’s Khake Jabar district and gathering fodder for their cattle. He …
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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.