International Humanitarian Law

First Published in 1998, this book presents an analysis of international humanitarian law, the law governing and seeking to mitigate the conduct of armed conflict. Since the first edition of this work came out in 1990 there have been important developments in the law and, sadly, a continuing experience of armed conflict and the humanitarian crises which it represents. As a result, this is not so much an ‘updating’ as the offering of a new book. International humanitarian law is here taken as coterminous with the jus in bello and covers both its ‘Geneva’ and ‘Hague’ elements dealing, respectively with the humanitarian protection and assistance of victims of armed conflict and the controls and restrictions placed upon methods and means of warfare. The rules and principles of international humanitarian law are presented and analysed in the context of their practical application in warfare, with emphasis upon recent experience. The Work is Primarily dedicated to the law relating to international armed conflict but also includes discussion of the relevant law applicable to non-international and ‘low level’ conflict.