ICRC appoints new members to governing body
03-03-2017 Geneva (ICRC) – At its meeting on 2 March, the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appointed Ms Barbara Wildhaber and Mr Gilles Carbonnier as its newest …
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Ukraine crisis: Water supply to Avdiivka and surrounding areas
Following developments in the military situation in the Avdiivka area, the Donetsk Filtration Station has not been functioning for several days. The filtration station supplies around 40,000 people …
Syria: How we've helped in 2016
It has been six years since the crisis in Syria began. Over 400,000 people have been killed, another 1.5 million injured and nearly 8 million people internally displaced. Four out of five Syrians now …
Jean-Pictet Competition: Taking the law out of the books
In 2016, 144 students from 31 countries put on the combatant uniform, the magistrate's dress or the humanitarian vest... During the week, 144 students immersed themselves in the terrible fictitious …
Nigeria: Luka sees mother after two-year separation; thousands remain separated
With his face pressed against the vehicle window and a sparkle in his voice, Luka calls out the names of villages and markets he begins to recognize. The excitement is building; Luka is almost home. …
Papua New Guinea: ICRC praises PNG on IHL move
01-03-2017 Port Moresby (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has commended the Papua New Guinea Government for establishing a National International Humanitarian Law (IHL) …
Animals die, putting Somalis at risk as severe drought intensifies
The drought stole the animals. Mohamed Salat saw his herd of 360 goats and sheep drop to just 90. Abdullahi, also a herder, once owned 270 animals, but that number has dwindled to 30. Both of them …
Time to Act: Stopping Violence, Safeguarding Health Care
What can we do to prevent attacks against patients, health workers, hospitals and ambulances? This flyer outlines the recommendations of the Health Care in Danger initiative. It is aimed at States, …
When law is respected, peace is easier to achieve - UN Human Rights Council 2017
34th Session of the Human Rights Council, United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland. Speech given by Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC I would like to talk to you about the positive power of …
Nuala Ryan - a life dedicated to people in need
Nuala first joined the ICRC as a health delegate and spent more than 15 years in the field. She dedicated her whole life for the ICRC and its beneficiaries. By making a gift in her Will for the ICRC, …
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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.
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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.
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Customary international humanitarian law consists of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.