Access to the ICRC's Agency archives
The ICRC's Agency archives contain data on individuals that the ICRC and its tracing agencies have collected during conflict, starting in 1870. The data was all collected as part of the ICRC's …
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Nigeria: From Biafra War refugee to IHL lecturer
Barrister Okanga is a university lecturer at Niger Delta University in southern Nigeria. A childhood experience during Nigeria's civil war was instrumental in his becoming a teacher of international …
Missing persons in Nepal: the right to know - updated list 2014
During and after the 10-years armed conflict in Nepal (1996 to 2006), ambiguity about the fate of a relative is a harsh reality for countless persons. Not knowing whether relatives are alive or dead, …
ICRC appeals for 132 million Swiss francs
In a renewed appeal to donors, the ICRC is asking for 132 million Swiss francs to cover its 2014 budget of 1.3 billion. This year has seen an unprecedented number of crises, with the …
Introduction to international humanitarian law
This short course provides an introduction to the basics of international humanitarian law (IHL) for non-specialized audiences, with learning divided into nine independent modules In case of …
Gaza: Damaged water and sewage systems pose health danger
Large segments of the population of the Gaza Strip are still deprived of safe drinking water. Repairs to sewage systems and the restoration of basic electricity services remain urgent. Water and …
Peter Maurer on humanitarian diplomacy and principled humanitarian action
ICRC President Maurer’s speech at La Maison de la Paix launched the ICRC’S Second Research and Debate Cycle on Principles Guiding Humanitarian Action. “The principles of humanity, impartiality, …
Iran/Iraq: High-level meeting tackles fate of people missing since 1980-1988 war
12-10-2014 Geneva/Tehran/Baghdad (ICRC) – At a high-level meeting that took place in Geneva from 8 to 10 October under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), …
Gaza reconstruction conference
Speech by Robert Mardini, ICRC head of operations for the Near and Middle East. Cairo, 12 October 2014. Honourable representatives of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Norway, …
Australia: Ways forward to protect health care
How can the international community better protect health care providers and patients in the midst of war and emergencies? This was the topic discussed at a special event, Health Care in Danger: the …
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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.