Humanitaarõigusel

Humanitaarõigusel, also known as international humanitarian law or the law of armed conflict, is a body of international law that seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict. It is based on the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as other treaties and customary international law. The core principles of humanitaarõigusel are distinction, proportionality, and precaution. Distinction requires parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians, and between military objectives and civilian objects. Proportionality prohibits attacks that are expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Precaution requires parties to a conflict to take all feasible precautions in the choice of means and methods of attack to avoid, and in any event to minimize, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, and damage to civilian objects.

Humanitaarõigusel applies in times of armed conflict, both international and non-international. It governs the conduct of hostilities, including the treatment of prisoners of war, the wounded and sick, and civilians. It also aims to protect persons who do not or no longer participate in hostilities. Violations of humanitaarõigusel are considered war crimes and can be prosecuted by national and international courts. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plays a vital role in promoting and ensuring respect for humanitaarõigusel.