A global contract of humanity
Speech given by Mr Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, United Nations General Assembly, New York, high-level side-event: Uniting around the principle of humanity I wish to welcome you to this …
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Iraq: Disabled and displaced
Rusul, a seven-year-old girl from Ramadi, has been paralyzed since shortly after birth owing to faulty surgery. The intervention, near her spine, failed to cure a serious skin infection and instead …
Yemen: Two volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement killed in airstrike
Statement Joint statement International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Yemen Red Crescent Society, Geneva / Sana'a. The International …
"We want the ICRC to use our contribution where it is most needed"
"Previously people saw only my disability and thought that I was worthless," says Los Nimal, a 33-year-old single mother from Cambodia, who became disabled after stepping on a mine. Ms Nimal is one …
Uniting around the principle of humanity – Event at the UN General Assembly
The ICRC and the State of Kuwait are co-hosting a high-level event at the UN General Assembly in New-York. The event will bring together ICRC and UN humanitarian leaders with political, civil and …
Central African Republic: Humanitarian access needed as situation deteriorates in Bangui
29-09-2015 Bangui / Geneva - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is alarmed by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), …
Sri Lanka: Operational update, January – August 2015
The ICRC's work in Sri Lanka focuses on supporting people still suffering the effects of the conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government. We are visiting …
Improving access to health care: why engaging armed groups is necessary
Kaga Bandoro Region, Dékoa. First aid training session for weapon bearers. CC BY-NC-ND /CICR / Barthelemy Saoure / v-p-cf-e-00964 How to ensure populations living in areas controlled by armed groups …
Australia: How is IHL relevant in modern humanitarian crises?
Médecins Sans Frontières Australia (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are hosting a symposium on the relevance and application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in …
Lake Chad crisis: Facts and figures, January - September 2015
In 2015, the ICRC has stepped up its efforts to help some of the many hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Lake Chad conflict who lack even the basic necessities of life. We are building …
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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.