Protected persons: Children
Under international humanitarian law, children affected by armed conflict are entitled to special respect and protection. Highlight Children should be at school, not at war From our archives: …
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Autonomous weapons
Autonomous weapons are not a work of science fiction from a distant dystopian future. They are an immediate cause of humanitarian concern and demand an urgent, international political response. …
Protected persons: Persons with disabilities
International humanitarian law (IHL) includes provisions to protect people with disabilities during times of armed conflict and other violence. Highlights ICRC preparing for major expansion of sports …
Arms transfers
The widespread and poorly regulated availability of weapons facilitates violations of international humanitarian law and hampers the delivery of assistance to victims. Strengthening and enforcing …
The Geneva Conventions and their Commentaries
The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are international treaties that contain the most important rules limiting the barbarity of war. They protect people who do not take part in …
Health
Everybody has a right to health care – even in war. We don’t take sides, and we will always uphold our principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the course of our work. We …
Helping detainees
Every detainee deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness, regardless of the reason for their arrest and detention. Protecting and assisting people deprived of their liberty Ensuring respect …
Water and habitat
When conflict impedes access to clean water, safe shelter or a sustainable living environment, the consequences are severe and far-reaching. Public health crises There is a direct correlation between …
Strengthening IHL project
Between 2012 and 2015, the ICRC undertook two major consultation processes on strengthening legal protection for victims of armed conflict. These two processes have since moved into a new phase, …
Use of force in law enforcement operations
States often face situations in which their officials must use force to maintain or restore public security and law and order in armed conflicts or other situations of violence. Such use of force is …
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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.