Somalia: Reuniting families fleeing from Yemen
Armed conflict and other situations of violence and disasters cause much more anguish than what is seen on the surface. In the midst of terror and panic family members can be separated in minutes. In …
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Contemporary challenges to IHL – Respect for IHL: overview
All States and other parties to an armed conflict have an obligation to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) in all circumstances. They must use their influence to …
What are the triggers for global conflicts, and what can we do about them?
Speech given by Mr Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at the 19th Annual Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong. Excellencies, distinguished Guests, ladies and …
Humanitarian access: What the law says
… whether designated or not under counter-terrorism regulations and sanctions. What are …
When war comes to town
Statement War in Cities Symposium 28 November 2017, Humanitarium, Geneva. Statement by the ICRC President, Peter Maurer . Tonight, I will start with the broader picture: conflict dynamics and the …
The equation is evident: Respect for IHL equals reduced human suffering
… back of protections in the name of 'fighting terrorism' or other, often elusive, enemies; …
ICRC writing competition IV: Tackling COVID-19
… on IHL contemporary challenges (e.g. counter-terrorism, cyber warfare, urban warfare, etc. …
Third report on the EU guidelines on promoting compliance with IHL
… UNGA 74 high-level side event on ‘UN counter-terrorism frameworks and sanctions regimes – … how to ensure compatibility between counter-terrorism measures, sanctions and principled … to discuss the impact of global counter-terrorism measures and existing sanction …
How international law applies to the use of information and communications technologies by States
Statement Statement given by Tilman Rodenhauser, ICRC’s legal advisor, at the Fourth substantive meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and …
Contemporary challenges for IHL
… conflicts. While armed conflict and acts of terrorism are different forms of violence …
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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.