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Philippines: Deepening dialogue on humanitarian law and Islamic law

… aims to highlight the common ground between international humanitarian law (IHL) and its equivalent in Islamic …

News release

Fighting violations of humanitarian law

… and ensure better compliance with the law. …

Video

International humanitarian law course for practitioners in Paris 2018 (in French)

… Red Cross, this immersive five-day course in international humanitarian law (IHL) is open to humanitarian practitioners …

Event

ICRC president: Upholding international humanitarian law is crucial to reducing escalating costs of war

… Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross … risks that could result if international humanitarian law is not better respected. “The magnitude of …

News release
Flag of the International Committee of the Red Cross

War and international humanitarian law

… only in the last 150 years have States made international rules to limit the effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons. The Geneva Conventions … Usually called international humanitarian law (IHL), it is also known as the law of war …

Law and policy topic
Chocó Department, Bojayá. An ICRC staff member dialogues with a combatant of the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) about the principles of international humanitarian law (IHL). Ricardo MONSALVE GAVIRIA/ICRC

What is international humanitarian law?

International humanitarian law (IHL) is a set of rules that seeks, for … of armed conflict". IHL is part of public international law, which is made up primarily …

Law and policy topic

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric: "I truly believe in the preventive character of international humanitarian law"

… given by Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at … goal: to ensure states respect and uphold humanitarian law. "Our work is complementary and mutually …

Statement

ICRC president: “If states invest in defence, they must also budget for international humanitarian law

… Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross … strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) as part of military planning and …

News release
ICRC president 11th HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Lecture on IHL

ICRC 2024 Opinion Paper - How is the term "Armed Conflict" defined in international humanitarian law?

… whether a situation of violence is an international armed conflict (IAC) or a … armed conflict (NIAC) under international humanitarian law (IHL) – is key for understanding what rules …

Law and policy topic

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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.