IHL is a branch of public international law that regulates the conduct of hostilities and protects persons who are not, or are no longer, participating in combat.
This paper provides a detailed overview of , also known as the "law of war" or the "law of armed conflict." IHL is a set of rules that, for humanitarian reasons, seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict. 1. Definition and Core Purpose IHL is a branch of public international law
: It safeguards civilians and those hors de combat (out of the fight), such as the wounded, sick, and prisoners of war. Definition and Core Purpose : It safeguards civilians
: It limits the means (weapons used) and methods (tactics employed) of warfare to minimize unnecessary suffering. such as the wounded
: The use of weapons or tactics that cause "superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering" is strictly forbidden. 3. Legal Sources of IHL The rules of IHL are derived from several primary sources: International Humanitarian Law - ICRC