Empress Shôken Fund announces grants for 2018
The Empress Shôken Fund is named after Her Majesty the Empress of Japan, who proposed – at the 9th International Conference of the Red Cross – the creation of an international fund to promote relief …
Skip to main content
Search results
Malaysia: Training of Trainers picks up momentum in Sabah
As many as 21 volunteers of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) converged in the small town of Beaufort, Sabah, roughly 90 km from the capital city of Kota Kinabalu. For three days, they …
South Atlantic Conflict: the work of the ICRC
It has been 36 years since the armed conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom began as a result of the dispute over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. Over this period, the ICRC has undertaken a …
Somalia: Flowing water brings livestock herders together
Sounds of bleating goats and sheep, camel bells ringing and running water signals the onset of a busy morning in Qodqod village, located in Galgaduud region. Herders fill their jerry cans with water …
An effective killer: Five things you need to know about chemical weapons
Five questions on chemical weapons with Johnny Nehme, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear expert at the ICRC: 1. In your view, why are chemical weapons banned? Their indiscriminate nature. …
Australia: The hidden cost of conflict
Responding to mental health and psychosocial needs Conflict and violence destroy communities all over the world and can have a devastating impact on the mental health of millions of people. One of …
Papua New Guinea: Responding to needs in earthquake affected areas
The ICRC Mt Hagen team make their way to Hela Province to repair broken water systems at Koroba District Hospital and Fugwe Health Centre. The earthquake destroyed vital infrastructure as seen along …
The troubling (and rising) human toll in Gaza
05-04-2018 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the human toll of the violence on the border of Gaza and Israel, in particular, the high number of casualties. On 30 …
Not a target!
The European Union, ICRC and Belgium Red Cross message For a period of two weeks, from 18 April to 1 May 2018, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), supported by the European …
Briefing on humanitarian situation in Middle East
Speech given by Mr Peter Maurer , President of the ICRC, during the Conference on International Security in Moscow When I became ICRC President in 2012, countries in the broader Middle East were …
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Try one of the following resources:
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.