International Humanitarian Law and the challenges of contemporary armed conflicts - ICRC report

31-10-2011 Report

Official working document of the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 28 November to 1 December 2011.

Document prepared by the International Committee of the Red Cross (31IC/11/5.1.2)

Table of contents


I. Introduction

II. The notion and typology of armed conflicts

III. The interplay between IHL and human rights law

1) On interplay in general
2) Specific interplay: Detention and the use of force
3) Extraterritorial targeting of persons

IV. The protective scope of IHL: Select issues

1) Humanitarian access and assistance
2) The law of occupation
3) IHL and multinational forces
4) Private military and security companies

V. Means and methods of warfare

1) New technologies of warfare
2) The use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas
3) Direct participation in hostilities
4) The Arms Trade Treaty

VI. The conflation of IHL and the legal framework governing terrorism

1) Legal and policy effects
2) Practical effects