International Humanitarian Law (IHL) regulates the conduct of armed conflicts and seeks to limit human suffering. It originated in the 19th century and is now comprised of the Geneva Conventions and additional protocols that protect civilians, prisoners of war, and others not participating in hostilities. IHL applies in both international and non-international armed conflicts and restricts certain weapons and tactics while providing humanitarian protections and oversight of compliance.

1. International Humanitarian Law
(IHL)
Presenter:
Rida Khan

2. Outline
• IHL – What it is
• Inauguration
• Agreements of IHL
• Application
• Coverage
• Protective measures
• Restrictions on weapons and techniques
• Defiance and compliance
• Implementation
• Conclusion
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3. 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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4. 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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5. 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. Coverage
• Safeguards people detached from conflicts
• Regulates means and methods of warfare
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10. 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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11. 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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12. 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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13. 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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15. 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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