INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW 

Author:- YAKASIRI UMA MAHESWARI, A STUDENT OF SRI PADMAVATI MAHILA VISWAVIDYALAYAM. 

Abstract 

                  International humanitarian law is a part of international law, forming a set of rules that regulate relations between states. International law is expressed in treaties or conventions between states, in customary law, including national practices considered legally binding, and in general principles. The 19th century saw the beginnings of the development of international humanitarian law globally. Based on the harsh experience of modern warfare, nations have agreed on a set of practical guidelines. These laws maintain a delicate balance between humanitarian law and the military needs of nations. Steps must be taken to ensure respect for international humanitarian law. States have an obligation to inform their armed forces and the public about their regulations. They must prevent crime or punish offenders. In particular, they must pass laws to prosecute the most serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which are considered war crimes. States must also enact this law to protect the red cross and red crescent symbols. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a set of rules aimed at limiting the effects of armed conflict. It establishes the responsibility of states and non-state armed groups during armed conflicts. This requires, among other things:

               1. Rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian assistance in armed conflicts

               2. Freedom of movement for humanitarian workers in conflict areas

               3. Protection of civilians (including medical and humanitarian workers)

               4. Protection of refugees, prisoners, injured and sick persons. 

                      This regulation aims to protect civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel during armed conflicts in any region of the world. Without these, there would be no international standards. International humanitarian law is based on the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilians in Conflict and the 1977 and 2005 Additional Protocols. Although many parts of international humanitarian law are now recognized as customary international law (that is, recognized as common practice and independent of treaty law), they are increasingly being violated by belligerent states. These violations remain one of the greatest challenges to international humanitarian law. As most humanitarian operations take place in areas of armed conflict, violations of international humanitarian law seriously impede the EU's ability to achieve its humanitarian goal of meeting the needs of affected people, and seriously impede the EU's ability to meet its humanitarian goals of meeting the needs of affected people. Endangering the safety of the person. 

              International humanitarian law is the branch of law of states that seeks to impose limits on the destruction and suffering caused by armed conflict. It establishes the principle of Article 22 of the Hague Regulations. Much of international humanitarian law is contained in the Geneva Convention of 1949. 

                       As one of the world's largest providers of humanitarian aid, the EU has therefore always been committed to promoting compliance with international humanitarian law. All EU countries have ratified the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. The EU is also the only regional organization adopted in 2005. In 2009, the EU published guidelines to promote compliance with international humanitarian law. In 2018, the EU published its first report on its implementation, highlighting the wide range of actions it is taking to support international humanitarian law. Since then, the EU has published such a report every year. In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the ``Statement on the EU's humanitarian assistance: New challenges, same principles''. It underlines how important it is for the EU to consistently place the promotion and application of international humanitarian law at the heart of its external actions. The European Commission, through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Assistance Directorate (ECHO), promotes global compliance with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles generally. All 27 member states of the European Union have ratified the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. The number of violations of international humanitarian law has increased significantly over the past decade. During the same period, the risk of attacks against humanitarian workers and health workers also increased.

Key words: Humanitarian law, protocols, Conventions, implementations, Regulations, Rapid changes and protection.