humanitaarõigusnormide

Humanitaarõigusnormid, also known as the laws of armed conflict or international humanitarian law (IHL), are a set of rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons. They primarily protect people who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and restrict the means and methods of warfare. These norms are derived from treaties, customs, and general principles of law.

The core principles of humanitaarõigusnormid include distinction, which requires parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians and between military objectives and civilian objects; and proportionality, which prohibits attacks that may 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.

Another key principle is precaution, which mandates that parties to a conflict must take all feasible precautions in the choice of means and methods of attack with a view to avoiding, and in any event to minimizing, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects. IHL also prohibits the use of certain weapons and methods of warfare that cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering.

The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are the foundational treaties of humanitaarõigusnormid. They cover the protection of wounded and sick soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians in times of war. The enforcement of these norms is primarily the responsibility of states, but international courts and tribunals also play a role in prosecuting violations.