Where next? Escaping violence in the DR Congo
In Ituri Province, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a staggering number of people are constantly forced to flee attacks by armed groups. This is Jeannette and Brigitte’s story. …
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Yemen: The hardest part of being a doctor
A physician on the front lines in Yemen tells us about the stigma attached to working with COVID-19 patients, violence against health care services and personnel, and the importance of trust between …
Mali-Niger: Climate change and conflict make an explosive mix in the Sahel
… improving access to education, training and jobs, including through micro-economic …
Speech by ICRC president: Protecting civilians in peacekeeping operations
Speech by Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at the United Nations Security Council in Geneva, Switzerland. War equals destruction. Destruction of the enemy, of …
Climate change journalists honoured at PII-ICRC Media Awards
To reach out to communities that need to be heard, journalists and photographers often put themselves at risk to cover underreported stories. They provide valuable information to those in need and …
Nigeria: The thousand widows of Maiduguri
The conflict in north-eastern Nigeria has left thousands of women widowed . Lacking a formal education, many have been reduced to begging and are unable to feed their children . Working with local …
Mali: Training and discipline to improve army IHL compliance
The ICRC is helping promote international humanitarian law (IHL) among the Malian armed forces, international forces operating in the country and other arms bearers. General Mahamane Touré is Chief …
Lebanon: Strengthening the resilience of communities affected by violence
Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city, has been the scene of recurrent outbursts of armed violence between the marginalized communities of the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighbourhoods. Since …
South Africa: Strengthening IHL and IHRL compliance
Strengthening and complying with IHL and IHRL among armed forces in the SADC region In 2023, the ICRC Pretoria Regional Delegation hosted 20 workshops for members of the Defence Forces in Southern …
Let's beat malaria together! Responding to the most urgent needs of the population
Rosa's children share a hammock, but she has to sleep in a different one, without her husband. "We don't all fit into one," she explained to the staff of the ICRC when they asked her how many …
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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.