Frequently asked questions: Rules of war
Even wars have rules. What does that mean? It means: You do not attack civilians. You limit as much as you can the impact of your warfare on women and children, as well as on other civilians. You …
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Georgia: Remains of 13 people missing in connection with 1992–93 armed conflict handed over to families
Geneva (ICRC) – The remains of 13 people missing in connection with the armed conflict of 1992–1993 in Abkhazia were identified and handed over to their families on 19 July with the help of the …
Resilience amidst immense loss and suffering: The first six months of 2023 in photos
From the devastating Türkiye-Syria earthquake to the international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the eruption of fighting in Sudan, the first half of 2023 saw humanitarian needs …
What we do for detainees
In the event of armed conflict and other situations of violence, detainees are acutely vulnerable to forced disappearance, extrajudicial killing, torture and ill treatment, inhumane material …
Sudan: Urgent humanitarian response needed as fighting enters fourth month
14-07-2023 Khartoum (ICRC)—As the fighting in Sudan enters its fourth month, people in Khartoum, Darfur, and other areas are living in dire conditions with very little access to health care, water, …
Mozambique: Displaced families living in Montepuez resettlements places improve food production with ICRC support
The majority of the 25 000 internally displaced people who received seed from the ICRC in October 2022 planted them in their fields. The farmers plan to use harvested seeds to guarantee their …
Logistics related claim: Help us improve our Logistics (supply chain) processes
ICRC's Logistics related claim is a tool to evaluate the logistics processes to identify risks and opportunities for continual improvement. Logistics related claim is about the concerns related to …
ICRC statement on transport of unauthorised goods across the Lachin corridor
11-07-2023 “The ICRC is aware of concerns raised about the transport of unauthorised goods across the Lachin Corridor and does not support any such activity. No unauthorized material has been found …
The use of force in law enforcement operations
States often face situations in which their officials have to use force to maintain or restore public security, law and order in armed conflicts or situations of violence that do not meet the …
Implementing international humanitarian law: 2020/2021 report
2020-2021 REPORT IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW PARTICIPATION OF THE AMERICAN STATES IN IHL TREATIES AND THEIR NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE AMERICAS This …
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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.