International Humanitarian Law(IHL)

Presenter:Rida Khan

Outline

• IHL – What it is

• Inauguration

• Agreements of IHL

• Application

• Coverage

• Protective measures

• Restrictions on weapons and techniques

• Defiance and compliance

• Implementation

• Conclusion2

Definition

• Rules that regulate effects of armed conflicts

• Protects the ailing, injured, hostages and civilians

• Standardizes strategies of armed struggles

• Usage of force regulated by UN

• Makes up Geneva and Hague Conventions

• A.k.a. ‘Law of War’

• ‘Law of armed conflict’

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Inauguration

• 19th Century

• States complied with rules of conduct in warfare

• Geneva Conventions – 1864 – established foundations

• 4 Conventions of August 12, 1949:

• Convention 1: Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies

in the Field

• Convention 2: Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and

Shipwrecked members of Armed Forces at Sea

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Continued...

• Convention 3: Treatment of Prisoners of War

• Convention 4: Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War

Additional Protocols 1977

• Protocol 1: protects victims of international disputes

• Protocol 2: protects victims of internal armed forces

• Protocol 3: Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem

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Further agreements of IHL

Convention for Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed

Conflict and its 2 protocols – 1954.

Biological Weapons Convention – 1972.

Conventional Weapons and its 5 protocols – 1980.

Chemical Weapons Convention – 1993.

Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines - 1997.

Optional Protocol to Convention on Rights of the Child and involvement of

children in armed conflict – 2000.

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Application

• Applicable when armed conflict has commenced

• Differentiates between international and non-international armed conflict

• International armed conflicts – 2 states comply with Geneva Convention

and Additional Protocol 1

• Non-international conflicts – confined to single nation. Follow Article 3 of

Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol 2

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Coverage

• Safeguards people detached from conflicts

• Regulates means and methods of warfare

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Protection

• Protects people not participating in conflicts – civilians, doctors etc.

• Protection for those who have ceased fighting – injured, captives etc.

• Entitlement to protection and humane treatment

• Prohibits harming adversaries who are unable to fight

• Civilians under enemies’ control are to be provided with food, shelter etc.

• Red Cross and Red Crescent symbolize protected people

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Restrictions on weapons and strategies

• Protects those warfare methods that can’t distinguish between:

People participating in conflicts

People not participating in conflicts

• Safeguards citizens and their properties

• Forbids harmful tactics that result in torment

• Restricts tactics that are detrimental to the environment

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Defiance and compliance

• Throughout history, several forces have operated against IHL

• IHL has brought positive changes

• It has restricted usage of atrocious weaponry

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Implementation

• IHL should be respected – fosters humanity

• Nations should raise awareness regarding its rules

• Punish the rebellious for war crimes

• Enact laws to punish violators of IHL

• Pass laws to preserve Red Crescent and Red Cross

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Conclusion

• Every invidual’s responsibility to contribute to IHL• Participate to bring positive change• Make world a harmonious place to live in• Preserve the rules that serve humanity

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