Home
  English
  Arabic
  Russian
  Chinese
Help the victims of war: make a donation to the ICRC today!
6-01-2004    
Promoting international humanitarian law
Section on how the ICRC promotes international humanitarian law (IHL) with armed forces and police, university students and other young people.

News published over the last 12 months
16-11-2009  News release
Russian Federation: ICRC and CSTO enhance cooperation
Moscow (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Secretariat of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) today signed a protocol of intent to enhance their cooperation, particularly in promoting international humanitarian law.
(News)
21-10-2009  News release
Belgium: experts discuss issue of legal classification of armed conflicts
Brussels (ICRC) – The evolution of armed conflict and the appearance or development of new forms of violence such as organized crime, piracy and terrorism represent new challenges for international humanitarian law.
(News)
19-10-2009  News release
ICRC and IPU urge lawmakers to ensure greater respect for rules of war
Geneva – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) are calling on parliamentarians and legislators around the world to do more to ensure that international humanitarian law (IHL) is both implemented and respected.
(News)
25-9-2009  News release
South Africa: ICRC promotes compliance with law of war in regional peace-keeping exercise
Pretoria (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the only international humanitarian organization participating in the "Golfinho 2009" regional peace-keeping exercise taking place in Lohatlha, South Africa, from 1 to 26 September.
(News)
3-8-2009  News release
India: ICRC pays tribute to Henry Dunant
New Delhi (ICRC) – To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in New Delhi, in cooperation with the Indian Red Cross Society and the Swiss Embassy in India, is organizing a seminar on current challenges to international humanitarian law which will be held in New Delhi on 12 August.
(News)
26-6-2009  News release
Nigeria: legal experts discuss integration of war crimes into penal code
Abuja (ICRC) – From 16 to 18 June, 27 legal experts from academic institutions, think-tanks and the Ministry of Justice took part in a workshop in Abuja on international humanitarian law organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
(News)
25-6-2009  News release
Burundi: workshops on humanitarian law mark 150 years of humanitarian endeavour
Bujumbura (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will hold three workshops on Burundi's ratification of treaties of international humanitarian law from 23 to 25 June.
(News)
4-6-2009  News release
South Africa: celebrating Geneva Conventions' 60th anniversary
Pretoria (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation will host the ninth annual regional seminar on the implementation of international humanitarian law in Pretoria from 9 to 12 June.
(News)
6-3-2009  News release
Paraguay: the ICRC steps up its cooperation with the police
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the National Police of Paraguay have renewed an institutional cooperation agreement whose purpose is to incorporate the relevant human rights across the board into the body of instructions issued to the police force. The agreement was signed on 4 March in Asunción.
(News)
16-12-2008  News release
Bolivia: launch of police manual incorporating rules on respecting and protecting individuals’ rights
Today in La Paz, Bolivia, the Bolivian National Police Force (PNB) launched the Manual of basic techniques for police work that respects human rights. The manual is the result of a year’s work and was put together by the PNB with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
(News)
2-12-2008  News release
Niger: moot court competition on international humanitarian law
Niamey (ICRC) – The economics and law faculty of Abdou Moumouni University, in partnership with the Red Cross Society of Niger and with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is organizing a moot court competition on international humanitarian law from 2 to 6 December.
(News)
24-11-2008  News release
Russian Federation: ICRC president co-chairs conference on law of war and meets members of the Russian Government
St Petersburg (ICRC) – The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jakob Kellenberger, will today attend and co-chair the International Conference on International Humanitarian Law in St Petersburg, Russian Federation.
(News)
7-11-2008  News release
Nigeria: call for action to tackle arms proliferation in West Africa
Abuja (ICRC) – Government experts responsible for applying international treaties in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called on member States that have yet to ratify the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials (SALW) to do so and to work more closely with civil society in ensuring its full implementation.
(News)
©ICRC/M. Poretti/cn-n-00012-06
China, 2005
The very spirit of IHL is to use force with restraint and in proportion to military objectives. The organisation therefore seeks to promote the whole range of humanitarian principles so as to prevent — or at the very least to limit — excesses of war.

The ICRC targets in particular those people and groups who determine the fate of victims of armed conflict or who can obstruct or facilitate ICRC action. These groups include armed forces, police, security forces and other bearers of weapons, decision-makers and opinion-leaders at local and international level. With an eye to the future, young people and university students are also targeted. The strategy behind these activities comprises promotion of humanitarian law through teaching and training and integration of humanitarian law into official legal, educational and operational curricula.


See also :

  • International humanitarian law (IHL)
  • National Implementation of IHL and ICRC Advisory Service
  • Humanitarian diplomacy .
  • Annual Report
    Event
      4-4-2009
      SWIRMO 2009 - Senior Workshop on International Rules Governing Military Operations
      Paris, France, 28 June - 10 July 2009. The Third Senior Workshop on International Rules Governing Military Operations (SWIRMO) will take place at the École Militaire in Paris with the cooperation and support of the French army. SWIRMO 2009 will bring together some 60 senior military officers from around the world to explore principles and problems related to international humanitarian law.
      (Info resources\Events)
      Event Includes Photo

    Feature
      25-9-2008
      Azerbaijan: War reporters learn about the laws protecting them
      On 3 and 4 July 2008, the ICRC and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) held a workshop on the rights that journalists have under international humanitarian law and international human rights law when they are on professional assignment in armed-conflict areas.
      (The ICRC worldwide\Eastern Europe and Central Asia\Azerbaijan)
      Feature

      25-8-2008
      Somalia: sparing people from the spears – how a radio show can save lives
      The ICRC, the Somali Red Crescent Society and local radio stations have together initiated a series of radio spots aimed at spreading public awareness of the Somali customary code of war, known as ‘Biri-ma-Geydo’ (literally, spared from the spear), and the basics of international humanitarian law.
      (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Somalia)
      Feature

      19-2-2008
      Republic of the Congo: using theatre to promote humanitarian values
      The ICRC has been raising awareness of humanitarian values among people in the Pool region, including ex-combatants, with the help of an entertaining medium adapted for the local context. Report by Ariane Tombet, head of delegation in the Republic of the Congo.
      (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Brazzaville)
      Feature Includes Photo

    ICRC Publication
      11-4-2008
      Violence and the use of force
      The line separating disturbances and tensions from armed conflict can sometimes be blurred and the only way to categorize specific situations is by examining each individual case. The intensity of violence is the key determining factor. This categorisation has direct consequences for the armed forces and civil authorities as it does for the victims of the violence. It determines which rules apply and the protection they provide is established in greater or lesser detail according to the legal situation.
      (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Prevention)
      ICRC Publication Includes PDF

    International Review of the Red Cross
    Official Statement
    Photo Collection
      27-11-2008
      Selection of photos 2008
      Photos illustrating ICRC activities around the world in 2008. The media is welcome to use these images, which can be downloaded at high resolution.
      (Info resources\Photos)
      Photo Collection Includes Photo

    Press article
      31-7-2004
      What makes people behave the way they do in war?
      The dissemination of international humanitarian law has long been a priority for the ICRC, and many National Societies are also active in its promotion. But is it really possible to influence those who, directly or indirectly, are actors in war? Are there ways to change their perceptions and behaviour? A recent ICRC study attempted to find some answers - Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 2, 2004
      (Focus\Social research on war)
      Press articleJean-Jacques Frésard, Daniel Muñoz-Rojas

    More in this section


    go to top of page
    Home | Site map | Search | What's new | Contacts | Copyright | Privacy policy  | RSS
    © 2009  International Committee of the Red Cross
    25-11-2009