LOAC

The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), also known as international humanitarian law, is the branch of international law that governs the conduct of armed conflicts. LOAC seeks to limit the effects of war by protecting those who are not participating in hostilities and by restricting the means and methods of warfare.

LOAC applies to international armed conflicts between states and to non-international armed conflicts within a state. It distinguishes between combatants and civilians, protects wounded and sick members of armed forces and medical personnel, and sets rules for the treatment of prisoners of war and civilian detainees.

Core principles include distinction, proportionality, military necessity, and precautions in attack. Parties must avoid civilian harm, choose means that minimize suffering, and take feasible precautions to verify that targets are military objectives. The law also protects cultural property, medical facilities, and humanitarian workers, and it prohibits torture, collective punishment, and the use of weapons or tactics that cause unnecessary suffering.

Key instruments include the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols (especially Protocol I on international conflicts and Protocol II on non-international conflicts), the Hague Conventions, and customary international law. LOAC bodies and jurisprudence interpret and develop these rules.

Enforcement and accountability: violations are generally prosecuted as war crimes by international tribunals or national courts; states have a responsibility to investigate and prosecute abuses. LOAC is complemented by other international law, including jus ad bellum restrictions and human rights law in times of peace.