International Humanitarian Law

1
International Humanitarian Law

• Col Peter Hostettler, Head IHL Branch,
• International Relations Defence, Bern
• Sixth Swiss PfP Workshop onThe OSCE Code of
  Conduct(Versoix/Geneva, 19 - 24 September 2004)

2
Content of the Briefing

• 0. Introduction
• 1. Definition international humanitarian law
• 2. Origins
• 3. Scopes of application
• 4. Principles
• 5. Application and implementation
• 6. Perspectives

3
7 Questions

• Who has ever operated under IHL?
• How do you define IHL?
• What are the sources of IHL?
• Should IHL be further developed?
• How can IHL be better implemented?
• What are todays challenges for IHL?
• What is the future of IHL, if any?

4
 Legal Toolbox 
First step Negotiation and Codification then 2
. Ratification 3. Applicability 4.
Implementation 5. Enforcement
5
References

• UN Charter, Chapters 6, 7, 8
• IHL, HR, Refugee Law
• Domestic laws
• Codes of conduct
• Ethical standards
• Local customs
• Individual values

6
Most Important Texts

• Hague Conventions (1907)
• 4 Geneva Conventions (1949)
• 2 Additional Protocols (1977)
• Human Rights (1948 / 1966)
• Disarmament (BC, Mines, Laser, RoW)
• Environment (and water)
• Cultural Property (1954 / 1999)
• International Criminal Law (98, 2002

7
Sanction Mechanisms

• International Criminal Tribunals
• ad hoc ICTY, ICTR
• special Cambodia, Sierra Leone
• permanent ICC (2002)
• Domestic courts (criminal civil)
• Other approaches (TRC, customary)

8
1. Definition
9
International humanitarian law (IHL)
Rules and principles limiting violence during
armed conflicts with the aim of safeguarding the
life and dignity of persons not / no longer
participating directly in hostilities
civilians, wounded, sick, shipwrecked, prisoners
of war. IHL also protects objects necessary to
the survival of the civilian population as well
as personnel and material of humanitarian
organizations and cultural property.
10
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (I)
Protect Persons Not (anymore) Directly in Combat
1
Humanity in War
1864 (First Convention) 1949 (Four
Conventions) 1977 (Two Add. Protocols)
2
Geneva Conventions
Laws of War Law of Armed Conflicts (Human Rights
in A. C.)
3
Synonyms
11
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (II)
All Civilisations Bilateral Agreements Multilatera
l Treaties
4
Sources
1949 Geneva Conventions 1. Sick and Wounded 2.
Shipwrecked 3. Prisoners of War 4. Civilians
5
Treaties
Common Article 3 (1949) Add. Protocol II (1977)
6
Internal Conflicts
12
IHL in NIAC

• Common Article 3 of GC Elementary Considerations
  of HumanityICJ, Nicaragua Case, 27 June 1986,
  paragraph 218
• Protocol II expanding provisions of Art 3
• Special Agreements
• Provisions of other treaties (1980-CCW, CWC, CPC
  and P II, etc.)

13
2. Origins
14
Historic Sources of IHL

Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christ., Islam,
Rousseau,Dunant,Martens
1
SPIRITUALITY PHILOSOPHY
African Customs, Ancient Greece, Ancien India
(Manu)
2
ETHNIC
Bushido (Japan), European Warriors' Honour
3
CHIVALRY
15
Important steps

• Solferino - Wounded
• Tsushima - Shipwrecked
• WWI - POWs
• WWII - Civilians
• Vietnam - Civilians
• Whats next? Water? Computers?

16
3. Scopes
17
Scopes

•  Material Scope 
• armed conflicts
•  Personal Scope 
• protected persons by the Conventions
•  Temporal Scope 
• beginning and end of the need for protection

18
Material scope
19
Personal Scope

• A. Members of Armed Forces (Combattants)
• 1. First Convention Wounded and Sick
• 2. Second Convention Shipwrecked
• 3. Third Convention Prisoners of War
• B. Civilians
• 4. Fourth Convention Internees Occupied
  Territories
• Additional Protocols (1977) all civilian
  persons

20
Temporal Scope

• A. Beginning of application
• International Armed Conflicts
• armed violence between two States Party to the
  Conventions
• armed occupation, even not meeting armed
  resistance
• Non-International Armed Conflicts
• violence reaching the level of an armed conflict
  (Common Art. 3 1949)
• conflict meeting the conditions of Art. 1 of
  Protoco II (1977)
• B. End of application
• Actual cessation of hostilities and / or
  occupation.
• Release / repatriation of POWs and civilian
  internees
• Violence not reaching anymore the level of Art. 3
  or of Art. 1 of Prot. II.

21
What applies when ?
22
4. Principles
23
The 4 key sentences

• 1. Use force exclusively against military targets
• the principle of distinction and
• 2. spare protected persons and objects
• the role of protective signs
• 3. Do not apply more force than is indispensable
  foraccomplishing your military mission
• the principles of necessity and proportionality
• 4. Stay fair no use of prohibited means and
  methodsof warfare
• the principle of limitation

24
Definition of a military target

• Military objects are limited to those objects
  which
• by their nature
• location
• purpose
• or use
• make an effective contribution to military action
  and whose total or partial destruction, capture
  or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at
  the time, offers a definite military advantage.
• GP I, 52 (2)

25
The LOAC-Protection System

Member of the Armed Forces
Civilian
MedicalReli-gious Personnel
Combattants
May not take part in hostilities
Woundedsick (double prot.)
if violation
War crimes suspects
May be attacked
May be attacked
POW
Woundedsick
Military court
P R O T E C T E D, M A Y N O T B E A T T
A C K E D !
26
Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949
27
1949 GENEVA CONVENTIONS

• Common (General) Provisions - 190 States Party
• Art. 1 - Collective Responsibility
• Art. 2 - Material Scope of Application
• Art. 3 - Non-International Armed Conflicts
  ( Special Agreements )
• Art. 4 - Application by Analogy (Neutral Powers)
• Art. 5 - End of Applicability
• Art. 6 - Special Agreements
• Art. 7 - Inalienability of Rights
• Art. 8 - Protecting Powers
• Art. 9 - ICRC s Right of Initiative
• Art. 10 - Substitute for Protecting Powers
• Art. 11 - Good Offices

28
FIRST GENEVA CONVENTIONWounded Sick

• Art. 12 - Protection and Care (Fundamental)
• Art. 13 - Personal Scope of Application
  ( Protected Persons )
• Art. 18 - Role of the Population(in taking care
  of wounded and sick, as in Solferino)
• Art. 19-23 - Medical Units - Establishments
• Art. 24-32 - Buildings and Material
• Art. 35-37 - Medical Transports
• Art. 38-44 - The Distinctive Emblem (Red
  Cross/Crescent)
• Art. 45-48 - Implementation of the Convention
• Art. 46 - Prohibition of Reprisals
• Art. 49-51 - Repression of Abuses and Infractions

29
SECOND GENEVA CONVENTIONSShipwrecked - Naufragés

• Art. 12 - Protection and Care (Fundamental)
• Art. 13 - Personal Scope of Application
  (Protected Persons)
• Art. 19-23 - Medical Units - Establishments
• Art. 20 - Hospital Ships (Navires hôpitaux)
• Art. 24-32 - Medical Personnel
• Art. 35-37 - Medical Transports
• Art. 38-44 - The Distinctive Emblem (Red
  Cross/Crescent)
• Art. 45-48 - Implementation of the Convention
• Art. 46 - Prohibition of Reprisals
• Art. 49-51 - Repression of Abuses and
  Infractions

30
THIRD GENEVA CONVENTIONPrisoners of War - POWs -
PG - KG (I)

• Art. 4 - Personal Scope of Application (
  Protected Persons )
• Art. 12-16 - General Protection
• Art. 13 - Humane Treatment (Fundamental)
• Art. 17-108 - CAPTIVITY
• I. Beginning of Captivity - II. Internment -
  III. Labour of POWs - IV. Financial Resources of
  POWS - V. Relations with the Exterior - VI.
  Relations with the Authorit

31
THIRD GENEVA CONVENTIONPrisoners of War - POWs -
PG - KG (II)

• Art. 109-121 - TERMINATION OF CAPTIVITY
• I. Repatriation and Accomodation in Neutral
  Countries of Wounded and Sick POWs
• II. Release and Repatriation of POWS at the Close
  of Hostilities
• III. Death of POWs
• Art. 126-143 - Implementation - Mise en oeuvre
• Art. 126 - ICRC Visits - Visites du CICR
• Annexes I. Model Agreement (Accord-Type) -
  Repatriation
• II. Regulation - Mixed Medical Commissions

32
FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTIONCivilians

• Art. 13-26 - General Protection of the Civilian
  Population
• Art. 23 - Consignments of Medical Supplies, Food
• Art. 27 - Treatment - General Observations
• Art. 27-141 - Status and Treatment of Protected
  Persons
• I. Provisions common to the territories of
  parties to the conflict and to occupied
  territories
• II. Aliens within the territory of a Party to the
  conflict - Etrangers sur le territoire...
• III. Occupied Territories (Art. 47-78) -
  Territoires occupés
• IV. Internees (Art. 79-135) - Internés
• V. Information Bureau Central Tracing (ICRC)
• Art. 142-149 - Implementation
• Art. 143 - ICRC (cf. Art. 126 of the Third
  Convention)

33
Additional Protocols (1977)
34
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS (I)
Protocol I. International Armed Conflicts 160
States Party Protocol Additional to the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to
the protection of victims of international armed
conflicts (Protocol I) of 8 June 1977 102
articles Scope of application - Champ
d application (Art. 1) Means and Methods of
Warfare - Méthodes et moyens de guerre (Art.
35) Combatant and POW Status - Statut de
combattant (Art. 44 Guerrillas 47
Mercenaries) Protection of the civilian
population against hostilities - Civils (Art.
48-79)
35
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS (II)
II. Non-International Armed Conflicts 153 States
Party Protocol Additional to the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to
the protection of victims of non-international
armed conflicts (Protocol II) of 8 June 1977 28
articles Scope of application - Champ
d application (Art. 1) Humane Treatment -
Traitement humain (Art. 4-6) Wounded - Blessés
(Art. 7-12) / Civilian Population (Art. 13-18)
36
Hague Law
37
HAGUE LAW (I)

• JUS IN BELLO (INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW,
  LAW OF ARMED CONFLICTS - LAWS OF WAR)
• JUS AD BELLUM (LAW TO MAKE WAR LAW
  REGULATING THE USE OF FORCE IN INTERNATIONAL
  RELATIONS)
• 1st Hague Convention - Peaceful settlement of
  disputes
• Third Hague Convention of 1907, Relating to the
  Opening of Hostilities
• Fifth Hague Convention Neutrality
• Briand - Kellog Pact 1928
• UN Charter, Art 2(4), chapter VII
• Law of Neutrality

38
HAGUE LAW (II)

• FIFTH HAGUE CONVENTION DE LA HAYE OF 1907, RATING
  TO THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF BELLIGERANTS AND
  NEUTRAL POWERS IN CASE OF LAND WARFARE

39
HAGUE LAW OF WAR (1899-1954)

• St Petersburg Decl (1868), Decl. Expanding
  Bullets (1899)
• 1907 Hague Convention IV - Convention Respecting
  the Laws and Customs of War on Land
• 1925 Geneva Protocol to Hague Convention
• Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of
  Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of
  Bacteriological Methods of Warfare
• 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of
  Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
  (UNESCO) with Protocol I and II (1999)

40
War at Sea

• Hague VI Enemy Merchant Vessels
• Hague VII Transformation of Merchant Vessels
• Hague VIII Underwater Contact Mines
• Hague IX Bombardment from Sea
• Hague XI Limitation of Prizes
• Hague XII International Prize Court
• Hague XIII Rights and Duties of Neutrals at Sea

41
Air Warfare

• Hague XIV Interdiction of Bombardments from
  Balloons
• Hague Rules of Air Warfare (1923)
• Not in Force

42
New York Law
43

Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the
Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be
Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have
Indiscriminate Effects, Geneva, 10 Oct 1980

• Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol
  I).
• Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the
  Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices
  (Protocol II).
• Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the
  Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III).
• Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV)
  (1995)
• Protocol V Remnants of War (2003)

44
Ottawa Treaty
45
OTTAWA TREATY

• 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,
  Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
  Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction

46
IHL (HUMANITARIAN LAW) AND HUMAN
RIGHTS LAW (HR) (I)

PROTECTING HUMAN BEINGS
1
SAME AIM
HR PEACE, own country IHL WAR, enemy
2
DIFFERENT ORIGINS
UN SYSTEM REGIONAL NATIONAL
3
COMPLEMENT Gap, Overlap, Nexus
47
IHL (HUMANITARIAN LAW) AND
HUMAN RIGHTS LAW (HR)
(II)
African (OAU) American (OAS) European (OSCE
,EC, EU)
4
REGIONAL SYSTEMS
Amnesty International Human Rights Watch Local
5
NGOs
Laws of War (Mil.), IHL, Human Rights, Code(s) of
Conduct
6
TEACH TRAIN
48
5. Application
49
IMPLEMENTING IHL
STATES (Art.1) Respect Ensure Respect
1
Primary Responsibility
HR PEACE, Yugo, Rwanda,ICC Universal
Jurisdiction
2
Grave Breaches
Private War Global Civil Society Private
Corporations
3
Nonstate Actors
50
STATE RESPONSIBILITY

• The High Contracting Parties undertake
• to respect and
• to ensure respect for this Convention
• in all circumstances GC, Article 1

51
 TO ENSURE RESPECT 

• Collective responsibility
• a) for allies (also for Non-State actors!)
• b) for other parties
• c) for every conflict

52
 ALL CIRCUMSTANCES 

• a) prevention
• legislation and regulations (G I, 49)
• training (P. I, 1977, Art. 83)
• duty of commanders (87)
• legal advisers (82)
• b) prosecution

53
1977 Add. Protocol I

• Art. 85 Repression of breaches
• Art. 86 Failure to act
• Art. 87 Duty of commanders prevent, suppress
  and report ensure that subordinates are aware
  initiate disciplinary or penal action

54
Additional Protocol I, 1977
Art. 89 - Co-operationArt. 90 Fact Finding
Commission
In situations of serious violations of the
Conventions or of this Protocol, the High
Contracting Parties undertake to act, jointly or
individually, in co-operation with the United
Nations and in conformity with the United Nations
Charter
55
Enforcing by Prosecution

• The High Contracting Parties universal
  jurisdiction/mutual assistance
  imprescriptibility of war crimes
• International Criminal Courts on Former
  Yugoslavia (The Hague) on Rwanda (Arusha,
  Tanzania)
• The International Criminal Court Rome 1998
  Hague

56
Prosecuting War Criminals

• Nuremberg / Tokyo
• 1949 Geneva Conventions
• Former Yugoslavia 25 May 1993
• Rwanda 8 November 1994
• ICC Statute Rome 17 July 1998entering into force
  1 July 2002

57
1949 Geneva ConventionsProsecution of Violations

• First Convention Art. 49-51
• Second Art. 50-52
• Third Art. 129-31
• Fourth Art. 146-8

58
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

• complementary to national criminal jurisdictions
• jurisdiction over the most serious crimes
• The Court has jurisdiction in accordance with
  this Statute with respect to the following
  crimes
• The crime of genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• War crimes

59
Article 6 Genocide
For the purpose of this Statute, "genocide" means
any of the following acts committed with intent
to destroy, in whole or in part, a national,
ethnical, racial or religious group, as such

• a) Killing members of the group
• b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to
  members of the group
• c) Deliberately inflicting on the group
  conditions of life calculated to bring about
  its physical destruction in whole or in part
• d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births
  within the group
• e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to
  another group.

60
Article 7 Crimes against humanity
For the purpose of this Statute, "crime against
humanity" means any of the following acts when
committed as part of a widespread or systematic
attack directed against any civilian population,
with knowledge of the attack

• a) Murder
• b) Extermination
• c) Enslavement
• d) Deportation or forcible transfer of
  population
• e) Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of
  physical liberty in violation of fundamental
  rules of international law
• f) Torture

61
Article 8 War Crimes
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect
of war crimes in particular when committed as a
part of a plan or policy or as part of a large
scale commission of such crimes.
62
Article 8 War Crimes
2. For the purpose of this Statute, "war crimes"
means (a) Grave breaches of the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the
following acts against persons or property
protected under the provisions of the relevant
Geneva Convention (b) Other serious violations
of the laws and customs applicable in
international armed conflict, within the
established framework of international law (c) In
the case of an armed conflict not of an
international character, serious violations of
Article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions
of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following
acts committed against persons taking no active
part in the hostilities, including members of
armed forces who have laid down their arms and
those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds,
detention or any other cause
63
ICRC MANDATESUNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS
VISIT PRISONERS
POWs (126, Third) Civilian Internees (Art. 76
143 Fourth)
1
PROVIDE RELIEF
to civilians (Art. 23, 59, 61 Fourth Convention)
2
SEARCH MISSING
and forward family messages to POWs and civilians
3
64
ICRC MANDATESUNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS
OFFER GOOD OFFICES
to establish hospital (23, First) safety (14)
zones
4
RECEIVE APPLICATIONS
from protected persons (Art. 30, Fourth)
5
OFFER SERVICES
Art. 3 (Internal) Art. 9/9/9/10 (International)
6
65
FACTORS OF APPLICATION OF IHL (I)
RECIPROCITY
Mutual Interest Limitation/Escalation Reprisals
Prohibited
1
EFFICACY
No contradiction between humanity and military
needs
2
ECONOMY
Save resources Needless destructions Liability
3
66
FACTORS OF APPLICATION OF IHL (II)
IMAGE

• Public opinion
• Home, Allies
• International

4
ETHICS

• Religious
• Moral
• Political

5
HUMAN FACTOR
Individuals make the difference
6
67
6. Perspectives
68
High Tech
69
 Anarchic Conflicts 
70
Perspectives of IHL

• Less efforts into codification than in
  applicability, implementation and reaffirmation
  of fundaments
• Respect and ensure respect States Parties
• Art. 89 Protocol I Role of the United Nations
• Criminal prosecutions national international
• Public Conscience
• Making civil society and private economy
  accountable
• Arms Art. 36 Protocol I / Proliferation
• Protecting water