After an explosion, a second chance at childhood
The spoon touches her lips. A triumphant smile. Who is this little girl, and what's her story? There's so much more to her than a video clip can show. Shazima lives in Khost Province, Afghanistan. …
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Ethiopia: 41 army commanders trained on IHL
The ICRC has been working with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to spread knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) among the various departments of the Ethiopian National Defense …
The ICRC and the Blue Shield signed a Memorandum of Understanding
On 13 february, the ICRC and the Blue Shield have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commit to work more closely together to ensure the protection of cultural property during armed conflict. …
In Sudan’s Blue Nile State displaced families wait for water in Damazine
Suad Mohammed brought plastic chairs for her visitors, set them in a circle outside her straw-matting compound and sat down heavily in one of them. As a dozen or so women and young girls crowded …
Engaging with State Armed Forces to Prevent Sexual Violence: A Toolkit for ICRC Staff on How to Engage State Armed Forces in Dialogue on Preventing Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict
The toolkit is intended to help staff engage State armed forces in dialogue on preventing sexual violence. It may also help ICRC delegations develop key messages and inform their longer-term work in …
Syria: Civilians in urgent need of safety and life-saving assistance amidst unprecedented displacement
25-02-2020 Geneva (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is deeply alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating security and living conditions of the hundreds of thousands of newly …
An inevitable trajectory of humanitarian needs?
Statement As this new decade begins, our world appears to be on an inevitable trajectory of skyrocketing humanitarian needs and rising fragility. We are all witnesses to the enormous suffering of …
The equation is evident: Respect for IHL equals reduced human suffering
Statement On the frontlines of conflicts today, the equation is evident: respect for international humanitarian law equals reduced human suffering. People's lives are saved, their dignity is upheld …
South Sudan: Millions struggle to recover from unsparing war, as violence threatens fragile stability
20-02-2020 Juba (ICRC) – As South Sudan's leaders face a deadline to form a unity government on Saturday, a key milestone in the country's peace process, millions of South Sudanese are struggling to …
South Sudan: Facts and figures for 2019
In 2019, the ICRC continued to treat large numbers of people with injuries stemming from violence in South Sudan. Our medical staff performed over 3,000 surgical and medical procedures and more than …
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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.