This will be the first part in a series of a weekly commentaries on the Interpretive Guidance on the Notion of Direct Participation in Hostilities under International Humanitarian Law, adopted by the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross on February 26, 2009.
The purpose of this interpretive guide was to clarify what constitutes “direct participation in hostilities,” a key term used in Additional Protocol One to the Geneva Convention, UN Resolution 2444 on the protection of civilian populations and the principles of distinction, and military manuals that differentiate between the civilian populations and combatants.
This series will explore the impetus behind the attempt to clarify the definition of “direct participation,” the controversy behind the ICRC Interpretive Guidance, and how the notion of direct participation is being used in current conflicts to both protect civilian populations and to expand the list of lawful military targets.
Click here to download the full text of the IRCR commentary
Comments