A set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict.

It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. It is also known the law of war or the law of armed conflict

IHL applies only to armed conflict It does not cover internal tensions or disturbances such as isolated acts of violence The law applies only once a conflict has begun, and then equally to all sides regardless of who started the fighting IHL distinguishes between international and noninternational armed conflict

Hague Law The Geneva Convention

International Armed Conflicts at least 2 States are involved

Non- International Armed Conflicts restricted to the territory of a single state, involving either regular armed forces fighting groups of armed dissidents or armed groups fighting each other.

The four (4) Conventions

First Geneva Convention the amelioration of the Condition of the wounded and sick in Armed Forces in the field, 1864 II. Second Geneva Convention the amelioration of the condition of wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea, 1906 III. Third Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of Prisoners of War, 1929 IV. Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 1949
I.

The Protocols
Protocol I (1977) relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts II. Protocol II (1977) relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts III. Protocol III (2005) relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem
I.

Soldiers Rules
Be disciplined soldier. Disobedience of the laws of

war dishonors your army and yourself and causes unnecessary suffering; far from weakening the enemys to fight, it often strengthens it. Fight only enemy combatants and attack only military objectives Destroy no more than your mission requires. Do not fight enemies who are out of combat (hors de combat) or have surrendered. Disarm them and hand them over to your superior.

Soldiers Rules
Collect and care for the wounded and sick, be they friend or foe Treat all civilians and all enemies in your power with humanity. Prisoners of war must be treated humanely and are bound to give only information about their identity. No physical or mental torture of prisoners of war is permitted. Do not take hostages.

Soldiers Rules
Abstain from all acts of vengeance. Respect all persons objects bearing the emblem of the red cross, red crescent, red lion and sun, the white flag of truce or emblems designating cultural property. Respect other peoples property. Looting is prohibited. Endeavor to prevent any breach of the above rules. Report any violation to your superior. Any breach of the law of is punishable.

Fundamental Rules of IHL Applicable to Armed Conflicts

Persons hors de combat and those who do not take

a direct part in hostilities are entitled to respect for their lives and their moral and physical integrity. They shall in all circumstances be protected and treated humanely without any adverse distinction.

It is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or who is hors de combat .

The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared

for by the party to the conflict which has them in its power.

Fundamental Rules of IHL Applicable to Armed Conflicts

Captured combatants and civilians under the

authority of an adverse party are entitled to respect for their lives,dignity, personal rights and convictions. They shall be protected against all acts of violence and reprisals. They shall have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.
Everyone shall be entitled to benefit from fundamental judicial guarantees. No one shall be held responsible for an act he has not committed. No one shall be subjected to physical or mental torture, corporal punishment or cruel or degrading treatment.

Fundamental Rules of IHL Applicable to Armed Conflicts

Parties to a conflict and members of their armed

forces do not have an unlimited choice of methods and means of warfare. It is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary losses or excessive suffering. Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order to spare civilian population and property. Neither the civilian population as such nor civilian persons shall be the object of attack. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives.

Non- International Armed Conflicts

Obligation to distinguish between combatants and

civilians. Prohibition of attacks against civilian population as such or against individual civilians Prohibition of superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering The prohibition to kill, injure or capture an adversary by resort to perfidy Obligation to respect and protect medical and religious personnel and medical units and transport in the conduct of military operations

Non- International Armed Conflicts

The general rule prohibiting attacks upon the civilian population implies: a. Prohibition of attacks on dwelling and other installations-used only by the civilian population b. Prohibition to attack,destroy,remove and render useless objects-indispensable to the survival of civilian population

Non- International Armed Conflicts

Distinguish between combatants and civilians and prohibition of attacks against the civilian population

Non- International Armed Conflicts Prohibited Acts:

violence to life and person, in particular, murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture taking of hostages outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment

Non- International Armed Conflicts Prohibited Acts:

the passing of sentences and the carrying out of
executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples

Use of chemical weapons and poisons

 Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely

treated Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour The Power detaining prisoners of war shall be bound to provide free of charge for their maintenance and for the medical attention required by their state of health

 The condition of the state that does not take part,

directly or indirectly in a war between states.

The general policy at present is to recognize only

perfect or absolute neutrality, which imports that the third state does not take sides in any way whatsoever when other states are at war.

Rules of Neutrality
To abstain from taking part in hostilities in

hostilities and from giving assistance to either belligerent by: 1. The sending of troops 2. The official grant of loan 3. The carriage of contraband

Rules of Neutrality
To prevent its territory and other resources from

being used in the conduct of hostilities, e.g. allowing territory to be used as the base of operations To acquiesce to certain restrictions and limitations which the belligerents may find necessary to impose.

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