The families seemed to appear out of nowhere. Death and disease stalk the rural residents in this remote and lonely village, giving this drought-hit region a quiet, ghost-like feel. On Wednesdays, …
The fighting between government forces and the Maute group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, has continued for more than two months. Recent drone footage has shown the extent of damage to many houses in …
Over 80 representatives from 23 Commonwealth States met in Namibia from 14 – 15 June to participate in the Fourth Meeting of Representatives of National IHL Committees of Commonwealth States. The …
Statement by Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross I am leaving Yemen profoundly concerned for the plight of its people. The cholera outbreak remains alarming. With …
In 2016, the ICRC continued to assist Burundian and Congolese refugees living in western Tanzania to restore links with their families. Our teams trained authorities on the compliance with …
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with the Institute of International Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences organized a Conference Commemorating the 40th …
In 2016, the ICRC continued to help thousands of people restore family links in Kenya, Tanzania, and Djibouti. In Kenya, we supported the construction of a water project along the coast that has …
During the Lebanese armed conflict, Ali lost a leg and an arm, while Qassem lost both legs. However, their will to live was stronger than their traumatic experience. With the aid of the ICRC's …
Answers to the most frequently asked questions Do you know why it is a mistake to classify the protests as an armed conflict? For a situation to be considered an "armed conflict" under international …
This week I'm visiting Yemen, a country so ravaged by war that public services are barely operating, including almost half of its health facilities. In many cities and towns, water and sanitation …
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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.
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 international humanitarian law consists of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.
