Human rights law
International humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law are two distinct but complementary bodies of law. They are both concerned with the protection of life, health and dignity. IHL …
Skip to main content
Search results
Operational and policy research
The ICRC’s Centre for Operational Research (CORE) and its Policy Unit straddle the academic/policy/practitioner divide, ensuring that research is ethical, rigorous and feeds directly into operational …
How we are accountable to the people we help
People caught up in armed conflict and other violence take active part in their own recovery. We are there to listen and give support. Accountability in our work Humanitarian organizations help some …
Evaluations at the ICRC: Evidence-based learning
Independent external evaluations at the ICRC help us learn from what we do as we work to achieve better outcomes for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. We use …
Protected persons: Internally displaced persons
The ICRC's long-standing work addressing internal displacement globally is guided by our mandate to protect the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflict and other violence. We focus on …
Anti-personnel landmines
Anti-personnel mines continue to maim and kill even after conflicts end – and it is mainly civilians who suffer the horrific consequences. Highlight ICRC urges states to uphold the prohibitions of …
Explosive remnants of war
Every year, large numbers of civilians are killed or injured by explosive remnants of war, a term that refers to the unexploded ordnance – such as shells, grenades and bombs – left behind after a …
Protected persons: Prisoners of war and detainees
The Third Geneva Convention protects prisoners of war. It defines their rights and sets out detailed rules for their treatment and release. International humanitarian law also protects other people …
How we work with National Societies
We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world and with their International Federation to ensure a concerted, coordinated and rapid response to the humanitarian …
Air and naval warfare
International humanitarian law covers all armed conflicts – on land, at sea or in the air. Nevertheless, some treaty and customary law applies specifically to naval and aerial warfare. Highlights War …
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Try one of the following resources:
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.