Direct participation in hostilities
… part in hostilities. However, neither the Geneva Conventions nor their Additional Protocols … expert meetings were held in The Hague and Geneva between 2003 and 2008, bringing together …
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Debate on "Health care and violence: the need for effective protection" at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly
… despite being expressly forbidden under the Geneva Conventions of 1949. States play a key role in … them in conflict was the focus of the first Geneva Convention, 150 years ago. Those …
Legal advisers in armed forces – Factsheet
… of states under common Article 1 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions (GCs) to respect and ensure respect … of states under common Article 1 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions (GCs) to respect and ensure …
The obligation to disseminate international humanitarian law – Factsheet
… When the States become parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional … this a rule of customary law. All four 1949 Geneva Conventions use virtually identical …
Thailand and Cambodia: ICRC welcomes ceasefire and stands ready to conduct further detainee visits
… 08-08-2025 Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of … by the international community, under the Geneva Conventions, to ensure that International …
International law on the conduct of hostilities: overview
… Through a series of treaties such as the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, and … in the Hague Convention of 1907 and the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional …
The Protection of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal Emblems
… the protection of the emblems under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols; … The use of the emblems is governed by the Geneva Conventions of 1949, their Additional …
ICRC position on the use of toxic chemicals as weapons for law enforcement
… of toxic chemicals as weapons under the 1925 Geneva Protocol, the Chemical Weapons … as weapons is absolutely prohibited by the Geneva Protocol, the 1972 Biological Weapons …
EVENT: Colombia’s path towards peace: the role of IHL
… In 2024, the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions presents a pivotal opportunity to … with its mandate enshrined in IHL and the Geneva Conventions, strives to protect and …
Poland: Essay competition on potential impact of disinformation and hate speech in armed conflict is launched
… designed to mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, graduate students in Poland are … The prize for the top winner is a trip to Geneva, Switzerland and the International Red …
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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.