Nigeria’s conflict widows
The conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Army has forced more two million people to flee their homes. The number of Nigerian women left widowed is …
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The applicability of IHL to terrorism and counterterrorism
Recent years have again seen the rise of non-State armed groups resorting to acts of terrorism, and the subsequent rallying of a number of other non-State armed groups around them. States and the …
South Sudan: No life without water
Cholera is a killer. More than 1,700 cases -- including 46 deaths -- have been reported since June this year in South Sudan, with the capital Juba and Bor in Jonglei state being the hardest hit. The …
National implementation of IHL: Ratification kits
The ICRC's Advisory Service proposes model instruments for the ratification of or accession to international humanitarian law treaties by States. 1 - Weapons Anti-personnel mines 1997 Convention on …
Discover the ICRC
This booklet provides an overview of the work we do at the ICRC and the contemporary challenges we face in pursuing our humanitarian mission. Discover the ICRC through the eyes of five staff members, …
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 …
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
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 Red Cross …
"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 …
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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.