ICRC Customary IHL Database: online version of ICRC's study on customary international humanitarian law with two sections: rules and practice.Thus, a rule of customary international law is demonstrated by showing evidence of two elements: state practice (objective element) + and opinio juris (subjective element). The Geneva Conventions and Protocols (four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocols)Ĭustomary international law refers to rules of law derived from consistent state practice of international acts over time occurring out of a sense of legal obligation.The Hague Conventions (and Annexed Regulations) of 18.

Key treaties relevant to international humanitarian law include: 2) For assistance with treaty terminology, see the UN Treaty Glossary. The main sources of IHL rules and regulations are treaties and customary international law.Ī treaty is “an international agreement concluded between States in written form and governed by international law, whether embodied in a single instrument or in two or more related instruments and whatever its particular designation.' ( VCLT, Art. The history of armed conflicts involving the United States of America spans a period of more than four centuries. International humanitarian law (aka 'laws of armed conflict' or 'laws of war') is the set of rules that regulates conduct in armed conflict and seeks to limit effects of armed conflict.

Law of armed conflict us army pamphlet