International Committee of the Red Cross

Rules of war

 
What are the rules of war?
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10 things they do
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FAQ
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The rules of war, or international humanitarian law, set out what can and cannot be done during an armed conflict. The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are at the core of this law.


They set out limits to war, offering protection to civilians, and parameters as to what is acceptable and what isn't on the battlefield and beyond.

Some sources of law relevant to IHL

For more detailed information about IHL, please visit our section on War and law.

All civilians should be protected and respected. 
It's the law.