Working for the ICRC: Communication delegate
A complete introduction to how the ICRC communicates, in an age when clear, precise and convincing communication has never been more …
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How does international humanitarian law protect journalists in armed conflict situations?
Media professionals are increasingly at risk of being wounded, killed, detained or kidnapped while reporting in armed conflict situations. Robin Geiss, an ICRC legal expert, talks about the …
Education programmes for young people
Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is an education programme that introduces young people between 13 and 18 years of age to the basic rules and principles of international humanitarian law (IHL).The …
Treaties and customary law
International humanitarian law is based on a large number of treaties, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, and a series of other conventions and protocols …
Customary international humanitarian law
Customary international law is made up of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law. Customary international humanitarian law (IHL) is of …
Multinational forces
Over the years, the spectrum of multinational forces operations – most of the time under UN mandate for peace-enforcement or peacekeeping purposes – has become increasingly broad. The multifaceted …
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 …
Challenges for IHL - terrorism: overview
A basic principle of IHL is that those engaged in an armed conflict must at all times distinguish between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives. IHL thus …
Refugees and displaced persons protected under international humanitarian law
Refugees are people who have crossed an international frontier and are at risk or have been victims of persecution in their country of origin. Internally displaced persons (IDPs), on the other hand, …
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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.