An Introduction to the International Law of Armed Conflicts

This book provides a modern and basic introduction to a branch of international law constantly gaining in importance in international life, namely international humanitarian law (IHL), the law of armed conflict. It is constructed in a way that is suitable for self-study. Subject matters are discussed in self-contained chapters, allowing each to be studied independently of the others. Among the subjects discussed are, inter alia: the relationship between jus ad bellum / jus in bello a?￠ the historical evolution of IHL a?￠ the basic principles and sources of IHL a?￠ Martens Clause a?￠ international and non-international armed conflicts a?￠ material, spatial, personal, and temporal scope of the application of IHL a?￠ special agreements under IHL a?￠ the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross a?￠ targeting a?￠ objects specifically protected against attack a?￠ prohibited weapons a?￠ perfidy a?￠ reprisals a?￠ assistance of the wounded and sick a?￠ the definition of combatants a?￠ protection of prisoners of war a?￠ protection of civilians a?￠ occupied territories a?￠ protective emblems a?￠ sea warfare a?￠ neutrality a?￠ the implementation of IHL.