IRRC No. 895/896

International law and armed conflict in dark times: A call for engagement

Reading time 5 min read
Download PDF
This article is also available in

This Opinion Note highlights the international humanitarian law (IHL) provisions mandating dissemination of the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols to the civilian population. In referencing three dilemmas concerning contemporary challenges to international law in armed conflict and how each of those dilemmas may result in a "breaking point" or a "turning point", the author argues that it is vitally important not only for armed forces but also for the general public to learn – and actively engage with – IHL both during war and in (relative) peacetime.

Download PDF

Continue reading #IRRC No. 895/896

All articles

International law and armed conflict in dark times: A call for engagement author: Naz K. Modirzadeh

5 min read

Behaviour in war: The place of law, moral inquiry and self-identity author: Dale Stephens

9 min read

Debate: The role of international criminal justice in fostering compliance with international humanitarian law author: Chris Jenks, Guido Acquaviva

8 min read

Towards effective military training in international humanitarian law author: Elizabeth Stubbins Bates

8 min read

The International Committee of the Red Cross and the promotion of international humanitarian law: Looking back, looking forward author: Marion Harroff-Tavel

16 min read

Building respect for IHL through national courts author: Sharon Weill

8 min read

Building respect for the rule of law in violent contexts: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ experience and approach author: Annyssa Bellal

7 min read

Contemplating the true nature of the notion of “responsibility” in responsible command author: Geoffrey S. Corn

6 min read

Converting treaties into tactics on military operations author: Andrew J. Carswell

9 min read

Direct participation: Law school clinics and international humanitarian law author: Laurie R. Blank, David Kaye

10 min read

Australian Red Cross leadership in the promotion of international humanitarian law author: Timothy L.H. McCormack

6 min read

Prevention in practice: Teaching IHL in US legal academia author: Kate Jastram, Anne Quintin

12 min read

More about International Review of the Red Cross, Generating respect for the law, Law and policy platform

article IRRC No. 914

Editorial, Emerging voices: Increasing the diversity of voices featured in the International Review of the Red Cross author: Bruno Demeyere

5 min read
article IRRC No. 912

Interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Joven D. Capitulo PA author: Joven D. Capitulo

17 min read
article IRRC No. 912

Fragmentation of armed non-State actors in protracted armed conflicts: Some practical experiences on how to ensure compliance with humanitarian norms author: Hichem Khadhraoui

13 min read

More from Naz K. Modirzadeh

article IRRC No. 916-917

Humanitarian values in a counterterrorism era author: Naz K. Modirzadeh, Dustin A. Lewis

22 min read
article IRRC No. 883

Humanitarian engagement under counter-terrorism: a conflict of norms and the emerging policy landscape author: Naz K. Modirzadeh, Dustin A. Lewis, Claude Bruderlein

9 min read