What we do

Advisory service on international humanitarian law

Promoting and implementing international humanitarian law is primarily the responsibility of States. The 1949 Geneva Conventions in particular, and their subsequent Additional Protocols, make this abundantly clear. The ICRC has always pressed for effective implementation and an Advisory Service on IHL exists to assist States to fulfil their obligations. Read full overview

Highlights

Reference documents

How the ICRC helps States sign up to IHL treaties – and implement them
Guidelines for assessing the compatibility between national law and obligations under treaties of international humanitarian law
Advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights
Status of the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions: ICRC statement to the United Nations, 2010

Databases on IHL

Analysis

The ICRC's Advisory Service on International Humanitarian Law: the challenge of national implementation

Implementation is the major challenge facing international humanitarian law today. The problem of translating States' legal obligations into action is common to all areas of international law. There is however a particularly acute contrast between humanitarian law's highly developed rules, many of which enjoy nearly universal acceptance, and the repeated violations of those rules in conflicts around the world.

30-06-1996 | International Review of the Red Cross | Paul Berman

International Review of the Red Cross More articles

Publications More publications

The domestic implementation of International Humanitarian Law: a manual

This manual is a practical tool to assist policy-makers, legislators and other stakeholders in ratifying IHL law instruments.
Treaties and commentaries database and national implementation database – December 2012

This CD includes 2 databases: one of national implementation measures provides examples of legislation and jurisprudence. The other is a compilation of IHL treaties with the current status of signatures and ratifications.