LAW & POLICY NEWSLETTER

160 YEARS OF HUMANITY IN FOCUS

War, law and humanity: the role of the ICRC in international armed conflicts

The international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen the involvement of several humanitarian organizations on the ground – including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - working hard to alleviate the suffering of those caught up in hostilities.

In this post, ICRC Legal Adviser Melina Fidelis takes a closer look at the role of the ICRC during times of international armed conflict, explaining the organization’s mandate, and the activities it can carry out.

160 years on the side of humanity

“Bodies of men covered the battlefield; corpses were strewn over roads and ravines. The fields were devastated, wheat and corn flat on the ground, orchards ruined... The villages bore the scars left by bombs, rockets, grenades and shells. Houses were riddled with holes, shattered and ruined, and their inhabitants, who had been crouching in cellars without light or food for nearly twenty hours, were beginning to crawl out, looking stunned by the terrors they had endured.” ― A Memory of Solferino, by Henri Dunant  

The story of the ICRC is about people: those who suffer from conflict, and those whose mission is to protect lives and reduce suffering despite wars and armed violence. We are guided by our principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality so we can help people most in need.  

Conflict is the very act of dehumanization. In the logic of survival, room for humanity is difficult to find. But it is precisely for these intractable circumstances that neutral and impartial humanitarian action was designed.  

IHL as minimum standards of humanity

“The avoidance of war is imperative. Even when wars break out, respect for international humanitarian law has been and will continue to be the only way to preserve a minimum of humanity, to stave off the worst atrocities, and ultimately, to pave the way back to peace and prosperity.” ― Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President

The Geneva Conventions were adopted on 12 August 1949. Numerous expert meetings were held in the lead-up to their adoption. The ICRC is currently updating its original Commentaries on the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols, all of which can be easily accessed through the updated ICRC IHL Databases.

New challenges in the 21st century

“After 160 years of work the International Committee of the Red Cross can say the world has made real progress to reduce civilian harm on the battlefield. Yet we still see massive suffering in conflicts today, meaning much more work remains to be done to reduce the pain and heartbreak.” ― Robert Mardini, ICRC’s Director-General 

Today, nuclear weapons continue to threaten all of us and new ways of causing death and destruction are developed in lockstep with scientific advancements. Technology is rapidly developing, with cyberoperations, autonomous weapons, and the use of outer space raising questions regarding the application and interpretation of IHL. The ICRC is committed to seeking innovative responses to new challenges.

For the millions of people in countries reliant on humanitarian assistance, greater support is desperately needed to save lives and avert further suffering. You can help the people you are reading about.

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