Text 1. Introduction to International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

International humanitarian law is the body of rules which, in wartime, protects people who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities. Its central purpose is to limit and prevent human suffering in times of armed conflict. IHL applies to armed conflict (war) taking place between nations (international armed conflict) or to internal armed conflicts such as civil wars. It encompasses both humanitarian principles and international treaties that seek to save lives and alleviate suffering of combatants and noncombatants during armed conflict. The rules are to be observed not only by governments and their armed forces, but also by armed opposition groups and any other parties to a conflict. The four Geneva Conventions of 1949, signed by almost every nation in the world, and their two Additional Protocols of 1977 are the principal legal instruments of humanitarian law. The Conventions define fundamental rights for combatants removed from the fighting due to injury, illness, or capture, and for civilians. The 1977 Additional Protocols, which supplement the Geneva Conventions, further expand those rights.

IHL protects wounded, sick or captured members of the armed forces, and civilians. Wounded and sick combatants – to whatever nation they may belong, are to be collected and cared for under the provisions of the First Geneva Convention. They cannot be murdered or subjected to torture or biological experiments. They are to receive adequate care and are to be protected against pillage or ill treatment. The Convention also protects medical workers, military religious personnel, military medical facilities and mobile units.

Wounded, sick, and shipwrecked combatants at sea are protected by the Second Geneva Convention. They receive the same protection as soldiers on land, extended to conditions encountered at sea. Hospital ships are protected.

Prisoners of war (POWs), protected by the Third Geneva Convention, must be treated humanely and provided with adequate housing, food, clothing and medical care. They are not to be subjected to torture or medical experimentation and must be protected against acts of violence, insults, and public curiosity. Captured war correspondents and civilians authorized to accompany the military are also entitled to this status.

Civilians are protected under the Fourth Geneva Convention. At all times, parties to the conflict must distinguish between civilians and combatants and direct their operations only against military targets. Civilians must be permitted to live as normally as possible. They are to be protected against murder, torture, pillage, reprisals, indiscriminate destruction of property and being taken hostage. Their honor, family rights, religious convictions and practices are to be respected. Occupying forces shall ensure and allow safe passage of adequate food and medical supplies and the establishment of hospital and safety zones for the wounded, sick, elderly, children, expectant mothers, and mothers of young children. This convention provides special protection for women and children. The hospital staff caring for these individuals is to be respected and protected.

The Geneva Conventions call for humanitarian assistance to be carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies, or other impartial humanitarian organization as authorized by parties to the conflicts.

International humanitarian law and human rights law are different, but they complement each other. Both seek to protect individuals from harm and maintain human dignity, but they address different circumstances and have different core documents. IHL applies in times of armed conflict to limit the suffering caused by war and protect those who have fallen into the hands of an adverse party. IHL's primary focus is to safeguard the fundamental rights of wounded, sick and shipwrecked combatants, POWs and civilians. Human rights law applies in times of peace or war, but is primarily concerned with protecting people against government violations of their internationally recognized civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Humanitarian law prohibits children from taking part in hostilities, but child soldiers still represent a serious problem in many parts of the world. IHL requires that children under 15 not be recruited into the armed forces, and that "all feasible measures" be taken to ensure that they do not take a direct part in the fighting. In recruiting those between 15 and 18 years of age, priority must be given to the oldest. Unfortunately, the number of children becoming soldiers either voluntarily or by force is increasing. Children living in conflict zones, particularly those separated from their families or marginalized in other ways may become potential recruits. Often children are forced to join an armed group or become child soldiers as a means of survival.

Find Russian equivalents.

2. Complete the sentences with the following words: on land, government, treaties, biological, concerned, encountered, seek, murdered, voluntarily.

1) The number of children becoming soldiers either... or by force is increasing.

2) International... and humanitarian principles... to save lives of combatants and non-combatants during armed conflict.

3) Shipwrecked combatants receive the same protection as soldiers..., extended to conditions... at sea.

4) Human rights law is... with protecting people against... violations of their internationally recognized rights.

5) Wounded and sick combatants cannot be... or subjected to torture or... experiments.

Finish the statements according to the text.

1) Children separated from their families or marginalized in other ways may....

2) Humanitarian assistance is carried out by....

3) Civilians are to be protected against....

4) The central purpose of international humanitarian law is to....

5) Prisoners of war are not to be subjected to....