United Kingdom - Sexual violence: What use is the law?
Despite widespread international attention and condemnation, sexual violence in armed conflict remains pervasive. At this event, organised with the Chatham House International Security and …
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What treaties make up IHL? What is customary IHL?
Extract from ICRC publication "International humanitarian law: answers to your questions" Contemporary IHL came into being with the original Geneva Convention of 1864. It has evolved in stages, to …
What are jus ad bellum and jus in bello?
Extract from ICRC publication " International humanitarian law: answers to your questions " Jus ad bellum refers to the conditions under which States may resort to war or to the use of armed force in …
How does IHL protect refugees and internally displaced persons?
Extract from ICRC publication "International h umanitarian law: answers to your questions" Refugees are people who have crossed an international frontier and are at risk, or have been victims, of …
What is the difference between IHL and human rights law?
Extract from ICRC publication "International humanitarian law: answers to your questions" WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW? Human rights law is a set of international rules, established by …
What does IHL say about terrorism?
What is the ICRC's position on terrorism? The ICRC strongly condemns acts of violence that are indiscriminate and spread terror among the civilian population. It has done so on many occasions. …
Iran/Iraq: Soldiers' remains returned to families
21-01-2015 Baghdad/Tehran (ICRC) - The ICRC has once again participated in the handover of the remains of soldiers killed during the Iran-Iraq war. The remains were repatriated to their respective …
ICRC activities in Yemen in 2014
As Yemen slipped further into violence and intensification of armed conflicts throughout 2014, the ICRC stepped up its humanitarian operations and responses, gaining better and safer access to wider …
Ukraine crisis: Intense fighting in Donetsk puts civilians in peril
Speaking from Donetsk, the head of the ICRC's sub-delegation, Joan Audierne, tells how escalating fighting in and around the city in the last two weeks has seen the situation for civilians …
Chile: ICRC stores DNA in search for missing persons
Alicia and Lorena are looking for answers. Some of their family went missing in Chile between 1973 and 1990 under the military regime. They are just two of the many people still struggling to find …
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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.