What is IHL?

International Humertarian Law is the body of international law that governs armed conflicts. When fights follow these rules carefully, there is less suffering for the victims of armed conflicts.

Overall, International humanitarian law is a set of rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict.

There are Seven Fundamental Principles of the Movement

Humanity - Prevent Human suffering whenever it is found

Impartiality - Relieve suffering based on needs, with out discrimination

Voluntary Service - Voluntary participation and not for personal gain

Neutrality - Take no sides in hostilities and controversies

Unity - Only one Red Cross or Red Crescent society in each country, open to all

Independence - Maintain autonomy from governments

Universality - Red Cross and Red Deseret operate worldwide, and all societies are equal

The Four Principles of IHL

1. The Principle of Military Necessity

- Combatants can only engage in military actions necessary to defeat the enemy, provide their actions are not otherwise unlawful under IHL.

- Combatants cannot just attack anyone or anything for no reason. Their actions must have a purpose and the outcome must create a military advantage.

2. The Principle of Distinction

- 3 categories all parties should distinguish

Civilians between Combatants
Military Objectives and Civilian objects
Themselves and Civilian population

3. The Principle of Proportionality

- Combatants must not engage in an attack where the anticipated loss of civilian, injury to civilians, or damage to civilians objects is excessive in relation to the direct and concrete military advantage that is anticipated by conducting the attack.

- IHL recognizes that civilians and civilian objects may be inadvertently harmed. This is referred to collateral damage. Parties to a conflict are obligated to take measures to minimize collateral damage.

4. The Principle of Limiting Unnecessary Suffering

- This principle prohibits means and methods of warfare that would cause unnecessary suffering to combatants or civilians.

- Means of warfare include tools or weapons used to carry out military attacks

- This recognizes that in armed conflicts, a certain amount of sufferings will necessarily take place, though the idea is to design methods of warfare that will not cause more suffering than necessary to accomplish military goals.

Education in War

Education is under attack! Children, families, teachers and communities are being attacked around the world in situations of armed conflict.

Schools, transportation services, roads and the areas around schools are often taken over by armed groups for military use, or sometimes deliberately targeted.

Providing safe access to education during an armed conflict is a primarily humanitarian concern.

Students - face huge life risks when going to school, "Will I come back home today?"

If they remain in school, they can risk becoming victims of attack, collateral damage, child soldier recruitment, or trafficking.

Teachers - often threated and killed by armed groups, learning materials are destroyed

Parents - afraid of sending their child to school during wartime, "Should I take the risk?"

They might not be able to stay home with their child if they work.

Sometimes families flee during war; providing education is difficult

Financial hardship could be another obstacle parents might face when trying to provide education for their child.

Society - loses out when an entire generation goes without education for too long

IHL protects education by requiring parties to an armed conflict to identify schools, school busses, and other education-related material as civilian objects.