International Conference
The International Conference is a unique forum bringing together the world’s largest humanitarian network and nearly every government. It is a major event on the humanitarian calendar and the leading …
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Direct participation in hostilities
A clear distinction between armed forces and civilians is a key element of international humanitarian law. In contemporary conflict, however, the proximity of civilians to military operations and …
Customary IHL
Customary international humanitarian law (IHL) consists of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and exist independent of treaty law. Customary IHL is of crucial importance in …
Other bodies of law protecting persons affected by violence
IHL and other legal regimes are complementary in armed conflicts. They are, however, distinct and separate, especially jus in bello (or IHL), which regulates the way war is conducted, and jus ad …
Work for the ICRC
Working in the humanitarian sector is both rewarding and challenging. If this is the career path that you see yourself on, keep reading. This flyer will help you understand how the International …
New technologies and warfare
Technological developments have given rise to new methods and means of warfare, such as cyber attacks, armed drones and robots, raising novel humanitarian and legal challenges. New technologies, new …
Economic Security
In addition to the very real human cost, war unleashes economic hardship, especially for the world’s most vulnerable populations. Armed conflict impacts people’s ability to feed, clothe, shelter and …
Neutral intermediary
The ICRC's neutral approach is a critical tool that enables us to help people in some of the world's most dangerous and complex environments, places that many other organizations do not have access …
Reconnecting families
Every year we help to account for, restore contact between, trace or reunite thousands of family members who lost contact or went missing because of armed conflict, situations of violence or …
Humanitarian forensics
We ensure that universally recognized forensic standards are applied for the treatment and identification of the deceased, the search for missing people, and in any other situation where forensic …
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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.