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Emergency Capacity Building Project. Emergencies and the Humanitarian System . Introduction to International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The ICRC as promoter of humanitarian law.
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Emergency Capacity Building Project Emergencies and the Humanitarian System
The ICRC as promoter of humanitarian law Under the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, one of the ICRC's tasks is to prepare possible developments in international humanitarian law. It is therefore the promoter of IHL.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) or Laws of Armed Conflict
Defining International Humanitarian Law IHL also known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict, is the body of international rules which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict, it protects those who are not or no longer taking part in hostilities, and limits the means and methods of warfare.
1862 Codification of IHL 1859 1863 1864 1863
Customs and religious history… Codification of IHL derives from the Quran and other religious scriptures: Circa 650 AD: In a celebrated address to the first Syrian expedition Abu Bakr, the first Caliph: “Stop, O people, that I may give you ten rules to keep by heart! Do not commit treachery, nor depart from the right path. You must not mutilate, neither kill a child or aged man or woman. Do not destroy a palm-tree, nor burn it with fire and do not cut any fruitful tree. You must not slay any of the flock or the herds or the camels, save for your subsistence. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them to that to which they have devoted their lives. You are likely, likewise, to find people who will present to you meals of many kinds. You may eat: but do not forget to mention the name of Allah.”
Geneva & The Hague (Two Branches Of IHL) Law of Genevais designed to safeguard military personnel who are not or no longer taking part in the fighting and persons not actively involved in hostilities, particularly civilians Law of The Hague establishes the rights and obligations of belligerents in the conduct of military operations, and limits the means harming the enemy.
Ius ad Bellum Ius in Bello IHL
Four Geneva Conventions 1949 • Wounded and Sick in the Field • Wounded, Sick or Shipwrecked • Prisoners of War • Civilian Persons
Two Additional Protocols 1977 • International armed conflicts • GC, CA2 & AP1, Art 1.4 • Non-International armed conflicts • GC , CA 3 & AP 2 • Internal • Exclusion: Riots, isolated acts of violence, disturbances
Current status • 194 States party to the Geneva Conventions (GC's ) • UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE OF GC'S • 161 States party to AP1 • 156 States party to AP2 B. International organizations • Subjects of international law • … but not party to IHL treaties