Course: International Humanitarian Law for Business

IHL prohibits the pillaging of property and assets in both international and non-international armed conflicts. Pillaging is considered a war crime under IHL. It is a long-standing rule of IHL …

International humanitarian law applies to States, organised armed groups and soldiers. It also applies to businesses in circumstances where their activities are “closely linked to an armed conflict”. As such, …

Just like employees and contractors of businesses operating in conflict zones benefit from protections under IHL, so too do business assets and property. Protection from seizure During an armed conflict …

Employees and contractors of businesses operating in conflict zones often work in precarious security situations and may face serious threats to their physical safety. Under IHL, all business personnel – …

During an armed conflict, there is significant potential for environmental damage and destruction to occur. IHL is intended to protect the civilian population and, as the natural environment is indispensable …

The rules of IHL apply not only to armed conflicts, but also to situations of military, or belligerent, occupation, even if that occupation is met with no armed resistance. Occupation …

As alluded to earlier, compliance with IHL is not a voluntary activity for corporate actors. IHL is universal and binding – all people and entities involved in or linked to …

International humanitarian law began as a response to the suffering of fighters, of soldiers. The rules laid out in the first Geneva Convention of 1864 go to the codification of …

Another principle that is key to international humanitarian law, and the third relevant principle for businesses in this course, is proportionality. Like the others, the principle of proportionality seeks to …

The principle of distinction is a cornerstone of international humanitarian law. It establishes the rule that parties to an armed conflict must at all times distinguish between civilians and combatants, …

The primary purpose of international humanitarian law is to establish minimum standards of humanity that must be respected in times of armed conflict. The principle of humanity, or reflections of …

What began with one modest idea from Henry Dunant has evolved over the past century and a half into a complex, specialised and important area of international law that regulates …

International humanitarian law is rooted in the customs and traditions of ancient civilisations and religions. History shows us that there has always been war – often waged with great barbarity …

International humanitarian law – also called IHL, the laws of war or the law of armed conflict – is relevant to business. IHL is not just for soldiers, governments and …

As we have just learnt, there are two types of armed conflict that trigger the application of IHL: international armed conflict (IAC) and non-international armed conflict (NIAC). Legally speaking, there …