The globilization of market economies offers new opportunities for business enterprises and they also give rise to risks. As business enterprises explore these opportunities, they are increasingly operating in unstable environments or areas affected by armed conflict. This publication aims to provide managers of business enterprises with a basic understanding of situations, where business operations may either benefit from the protections afforded by international humanitarian law or be constrained by its rules. It may also serve as a reference for financial, insurance and trading companies which are not directly operating in zones of armed conflict themselves but may do so indirectly through their clients and suppliers.