INTERNATIONAL

HUMANITARIAN LAW
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION

✓DEFINITION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

✓BASIC RULES IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

✓OBJECTIVES OF IHL

✓THE NEED FOR COMPLIANCE

WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW?

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a set of

rules that seeks, for humanitarian reasons, to
limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects
persons who are not or no longer participating
in hostilities and restricts the means and
methods of warfare.
It protects persons who are not or no
longer participating in hostilities
Restricts the means and methods of warfare
LAW OF WAR LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT
BASIC RULES OF IHL

PERSONS WHO ARE NOT OR NO LONGER PARTICIPATING

IN HOSTILITIES IN SITUATIONS SHALL BE PROTECTED
BASIC RULES OF IHL

THE WOUNDED AND THE SICK SHALL BE CARED FOR.

THE EMBLEM OF THE “RED CROSS” SHALL BE REQUIRED
TO BE RESPECTED AS THE SIGN OF PROTECTION
BASIC RULES OF IHL

CAPTURED PERSONS MUST BE PROTECTED AGAINST ACTS OF

VIOLENCE AND REPRISALS. THEY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO
CORRESPOND WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND TO RECEIVE RELIEF
OBJECTIVES OF IHL

1, AS TO PROTECTIONS OF ITS VICTIMS

(“GENEVA LAW “); AND

2. AS TO LIMITATION OF ITS METHODS AND MEANS

(“HAUGE LAW”)
WHAT IS ARMED CONFLICT? WHEN DOES IT EXIST?

A. Between States, And National Liberation Movements

(INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICTS )
WHAT IS ARMED CONFLICT? WHEN DOES IT EXIST?

B. Between Government authorities and organized armed

groups (NON -INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICTS )
THE NEED FOR COMPLIANCE

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
-Every member of the Armed Forces, regardless of rank, has the
personal responsibility to comply with the law of armed conflict.
THE NEED FOR COMPLIANCE

COMMANDERS RESPONSIBILITY-
-Ensure that personnel under their command are trained in the
rules of armed conflict;
-Give lawful order;
-Ensure that their orders are lawfully carried out by their
subordinates;
-Report violation by members of enemy or allied forces.
THE NEED FOR COMPLIANCE

STATE RESPONSIBILITY
-States signatory to the Geneva Conventions
undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the
Conventions in all circumstances.
CHECK ON LEARNING
1. WHAT ARE THE 2 TYPES OF ARMED
CONFLICT?
International Armed Conflicts
Non International Armed Conflicts
2. Give example of those who are protected by
International Humanitarian Law ?
Doctors
Civilians
Captured Prisoners
Women and Children
Wounded
References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwpzzAefx9M
https://www.wikipedia.org/
AFHRO video advocacy
Thank You and
Good Day