International Humanitarian Law

• Red Cross & IHL
• Weapons and war
• What is War?
• Law of War
• Definitions
• Did You Know?
• International Justice
• Why Canadians Should Care About International Humanitarian Law

International Humanitarian Law

Even in times of war, there are rules.

International Humanitarian Law aims to protect those who are not fighting and those who are no longer fighting (sick and wounded combatants, prisoners of war). Protected people must be provided with necessary assistance and treated humanely.

The best known rules in this body of law are the four Geneva Conventions of 1949.

Geneva Conventions

The Geneva Conventions are four international treaties that form the basis of modern humanitarian law governing the treatment of soldiers and civilians during conflict.

Adopted in 1949 to take account of the experiences of the Second World War, the Geneva Conventions still apply to modern armed conflicts.

Geneva Conventions   

1. Wounded and sick soldiers
2. Wounded, sick and shipwrecked sailors
3. Treatment of prisoners of war
4. Protection of civilians during war

Additional protocols

1. Protection of victims of international armed conflicts
2. Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

Posted December 4, 2009