Conduct of hostilities and protection of civilians
International law regulates the methods and means of warfare. It aims to strike a balance between legitimate military objectives and the humanitarian objective of reducing suffering, particularly …
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Chemical and biological weapons
The international community banned the use of chemical and biological weapons after the First World War and strengthened the ban in 1972 and 1993 by prohibiting their development, stockpiling and …
Conventional weapons
International humanitarian law bans or restricts certain types of conventional weapons to protect civilians from their indiscriminate effects and to spare combatants from excessive injuries that …
Domestic law and IHL
For IHL treaties to be universally accepted, all states must adopt them through ratification or accession. States must then enact legislation and take practical measures in order for the rules to be …
Methods and means of warfare
International law regulates the methods and means of warfare. There are restrictions on weapons, on their use and on conduct. The principle of distinction requires parties to distinguish between …
Gender and IHL
War affects women, men, girls and boys differently. Taking account of these differences when applying international human law will result in better protection for all. A gender perspective on …
Weapons in outer space
While space objects have been employed for military purposes since the dawn of the space era, the weaponization of outer space would increase the likelihood of hostilities taking place there, with …
Use of emblems
The red cross, red crescent and red crystal emblems provide protection for military medical services and relief workers in armed conflicts. National Societies in each country also use the emblems for …
Sexual violence
Rape and other forms of sexual violence are prohibited in armed conflict under international humanitarian law. The ICRC works to prevent this crime and support survivors . Sexual violence and the law …
ICRC Library
Created in 1863, the ICRC’s library represents alongside the ICRC’s archives the essential documentary reference on our organization and international humanitarian law. Our main resources ICRC …
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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.