IHL in brief
What is International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
International humanitarian law (IHL) - also known as the Law of Armed Conflict -is the body of rules, which in wartime protects people who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities. Its central purpose is to limit and prevent human suffering in times of armed conflict. The rules are to be observed not only by governments and their armed forces, but also by armed opposition groups and any other parties to a conflict. More»
History of IHL
International humanitarian law is rooted in the rules of ancient civilizations and religions - warfare has always been subject to certain principles and customs. More»
The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
The four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their two Additional Protocols of 1977 are the principal instruments of humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 for the protection of war victims protect the wounded, the sick, the shipwrecked, prisoners of war and civilians who find themselves in enemy hands. They also protect medical duties, medical personnel, medical units and facilities, and the means of medical transport. Two Additional Protocols were adopted in 1977 to supplement the Geneva Conventions. They govern the conduct of combatants and protect civilians from the effects of hostilities. More»
Other Treaties and Conventions
In addition to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, other agreements prohibit the use of certain weapons and military tactics and protect certain categories of people and goods. More»
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Through programs like the International Humanitarian Issues Program and the International Humanitarian Law Program the Canadian Red Cross trains and educates more than 250,000 Canadian youth each year. Please donate today.
