DISTINCTION the Vast Majority of Victims Are Civilians

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Two additional protocols were adopted in 1977: Increasingly, civilians are bearing the brunt of war. one covers international armed conflicts In conflicts taking place throughout the world today and the other, non-international armed conflicts. DISTINCTION the vast majority of victims are civilians. l Additional Protocol I imposes limits on the way Adopted in 1977, Protocols I and II additional to the wars may be fought and strengthens protection PROTECTING CIVILIANS Geneva Conventions are international treaties that for civilians. It also sets out the principle of seek to better protect civilians in both proportionality, which requires that a balance IN ARMED CONFLICT international and non-international armed conflicts. be struck between military necessity and the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions They do so mainly by giving legal emphasis to the dictates of humanity. distinction between civilians and combatants. l Additional Protocol II sets restrictions on the use In order to respond to the changing nature of armed of force in civil wars. Before the 1977 Additional Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions have conflict, the 1977 Additional Protocols tackle various Protocols were adopted, there existed few laws been ratified by most countries. Their rules must be respected. challenges posed by modern warfare, such as that had been developed specifically to protect Civilians caught up in armed conflict must be protected. advances in weapons technology. They also impose those affected by civil wars. Most armed conflicts limits on the way wars may be fought. today take the form of civil wars, during which some of the worst crimes are committed. Find out more at www.icrc.org l A third protocol, adopted in 2005, establishes an 000 additional emblem, the red crystal, equal in status International Committee of the Red Cross 7 to the red cross and red crescent. 19 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva, Switzerland 10.2014 10.2014 T +41 22 734 60 01 F + 41 22 733 20 57 E-mail: [email protected] www.icrc.org

© ICRC, March 2007 0904/002 Two additional protocols were adopted in 1977: Increasingly, civilians are bearing the brunt of war. one covers international armed conflicts In conflicts taking place throughout the world today and the other, non-international armed conflicts. DISTINCTION the vast majority of victims are civilians. l Additional Protocol I imposes limits on the way Adopted in 1977, Protocols I and II additional to the wars may be fought and strengthens protection PROTECTING CIVILIANS Geneva Conventions are international treaties that for civilians. It also sets out the principle of seek to better protect civilians in both proportionality, which requires that a balance IN ARMED CONFLICT international and non-international armed conflicts. be struck between military necessity and the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions They do so mainly by giving legal emphasis to the dictates of humanity. distinction between civilians and combatants. l Additional Protocol II sets restrictions on the use In order to respond to the changing nature of armed of force in civil wars. Before the 1977 Additional Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions have conflict, the 1977 Additional Protocols tackle various Protocols were adopted, there existed few laws been ratified by most countries. Their rules must be respected. challenges posed by modern warfare, such as that had been developed specifically to protect Civilians caught up in armed conflict must be protected. advances in weapons technology. They also impose those affected by civil wars. Most armed conflicts limits on the way wars may be fought. today take the form of civil wars, during which some of the worst crimes are committed. Find out more at www.icrc.org l A third protocol, adopted in 2005, establishes an 000 additional emblem, the red crystal, equal in status International Committee of the Red Cross 7 to the red cross and red crescent. 19 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva, Switzerland 10.2014 10.2014 T +41 22 734 60 01 F + 41 22 733 20 57 E-mail: [email protected] www.icrc.org

DISTINCTION PROPORTIONALITY PROTECTION COMBATANTS The cornerstone of the 1977 Additional Protocols is To prevent unnecessary suff ering among civilians, Those who are not taking part in an armed confl ict Combatants are entitled to protection. the principle of distinction. This requires that parties the 1977 Additional Protocols seek to ensure respect must be respected, protected and treated humanely. The 1977 Additional Protocols specify that: to an armed confl ict distinguish between civilians for the principle of proportionality in all military The 1977 Additional Protocols specify that:

and combatants and also between civilian objects operations. l Injuries and suff ering infl icted on an opponent

and military targets. Observing this principle is l The wounded and the sick, both civilian and must not exceed that which is necessary to indispensable for securing the protection of civilians. They require all those involved to take every possible military, must be collected and cared for, without achieve a legitimate military objective. precaution with respect to the means and methods discrimination. l Combatants who are no longer capable of taking Additional Protocols I and II prohibit: of warfare used so as to avoid - or minimize - l Women and children must be respected and part in military operations may not be attacked. incidental loss of life, injury to civilians and damage l combatants from posing as civilians protected from any form of indecent assault. to civilian objects. l In international confl icts, combatants who are

l indiscriminate attacks l Children and adolescents must be granted special captured must be presumed to be prisoners of protection. Those under the age of 15 must not be war, and they must be protected as specifi ed by l acts of violence - or threats to commit them - recruited or authorized to take part in hostilities. the Geneva Conventions. whose primary purpose is to spread terror

l Family members who are separated by confl ict l Prisoners of war who cannot be cared for must be l the destruction of objects that are indispensable should be reunited. People also have the right to set free. to the survival of communities know the fate of missing relatives.

l attacks on places of worship and on monuments

and combatants and also between civilian objects operations. l Injuries and suff ering infl icted on an opponent

l attacks on places of worship and on monuments

and combatants and also between civilian objects operations. l Injuries and suff ering infl icted on an opponent

l attacks on places of worship and on monuments

and combatants and also between civilian objects operations. l Injuries and suff ering infl icted on an opponent

l attacks on places of worship and on monuments

“… The civilian population as such, as well as individual “An attack shall be cancelled or suspended if it becomes appa- “They send us to the front because most of us are short so “I really thought they were going to throw me overboard. Well, civilians, shall not be the object of attack…” rent... that the attack may be expected to cause incidental loss when they are ring their weapons, you know that the bullets I suppose that when you have been captured, you tend to be a Article 51, Additional Protocol I of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or go above us. Because we are short, we don’t bother to lie bit paranoid. They took me to a hospital and this doctor told a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to down or crawl – we just keep advancing. You understand?” me, ‘Here you are just another patient.’ And the truth is that is the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. ” Former child soldier exactly how I felt from then on.” Article 57, para. 3, Additional Protocol I Combatant Two additional protocols were adopted in 1977: Increasingly, civilians are bearing the brunt of war. one covers international armed conflicts In conflicts taking place throughout the world today and the other, non-international armed conflicts. DISTINCTION the vast majority of victims are civilians. l Additional Protocol I imposes limits on the way Adopted in 1977, Protocols I and II additional to the wars may be fought and strengthens protection PROTECTING CIVILIANS Geneva Conventions are international treaties that for civilians. It also sets out the principle of seek to better protect civilians in both proportionality, which requires that a balance IN ARMED CONFLICT international and non-international armed conflicts. be struck between military necessity and the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions They do so mainly by giving legal emphasis to the dictates of humanity. distinction between civilians and combatants. l Additional Protocol II sets restrictions on the use In order to respond to the changing nature of armed of force in civil wars. Before the 1977 Additional Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions have conflict, the 1977 Additional Protocols tackle various Protocols were adopted, there existed few laws been ratified by most countries. Their rules must be respected. challenges posed by modern warfare, such as that had been developed specifically to protect Civilians caught up in armed conflict must be protected. advances in weapons technology. They also impose those affected by civil wars. Most armed conflicts limits on the way wars may be fought. today take the form of civil wars, during which some of the worst crimes are committed. Find out more at www.icrc.org l A third protocol, adopted in 2005, establishes an 000 additional emblem, the red crystal, equal in status International Committee of the Red Cross 7 to the red cross and red crescent. 19 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva, Switzerland 10.2014 10.2014 T +41 22 734 60 01 F + 41 22 733 20 57 E-mail: [email protected] www.icrc.org