IHL and human rights law
International humanitarian law and international human rights law are two distinct but complementary bodies of law. They are both concerned with the protection of the life, health and dignity of …
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Prisoners of war and detainees protected under international humanitarian law
The third Geneva Convention provides a wide range of protection for prisoners of war. It defines their rights and sets down detailed rules for their treatment and eventual release. International …
Women protected under international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law aims to prevent and alleviate human suffering in war without discrimination based on sex. But it does recognize that women face specific problems in armed conflict, …
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 …
Wounded, sick and shipwrecked protected under international humanitarian law
Protecting the sick and wounded in armed conflict was the founding principle of the First Geneva Convention signed in 1864. It remained the core of IHL as it extended to other aspects of the conduct …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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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.