Table of Contents
DECLARATION .......................................................................................................... : .................. i
APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iv
CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ !
1.1 Background of the study ............................................................................................................ 2
1.2 Statement ofthe problem ........................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Objectives of the study .............................................................................................................. 5
1.3.1 General objective ............................ .................. ...................................................................... 5
1.3.2 Specific objectives .................................................................................................................. 5
1.4 Research questions ..... ................................................................................................................ 5
1.5 Significance ofthe study ........................................................................................................... 5
1.6 Scope of the study ...................................................................................................................... 6
1. 7 Research met;1odology ............................................................................................................... 6
1.8 literature review ......................................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................... 11
THE NATURE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW ............................................ 11
2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 11
2.2 International armed conflict. ................................ .................................................................... 13
2.2.1 Jurisprudence ........................................................................................................................ 14
2.2.2 Doctrine ................................................................................................................................ 14
2.3 Non-international armed conflict. ............................................................................................ 14
2.3.1 Non international armed conflicts within the meaning of common Article 3 ...................... 14
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2.3.2 Non international armed conflict in the meaning of Article I of Additional Protocol 11 .... 15
2.3.3 Jurisprudence ........................................................................................................................ 16
2.3.4 Doctrine ................................................................................................................................ 16
2.4 International humanitarian law operates on several principles and they include; ................... 17
2.4.1 Principle of military necessity .............................................................................................. 17
2.4.2 Principle of precaution .......................................................................................................... l8
2.4.3 The principle of proportionality ........................................................................................... 19
2.4.4 Principle of humanity ........................................................................................................... 20
2.4.5 Principle of distinction .......................................................................................................... 20
2.5 Regulation of the means and methods of warfare ................................................................... 23
2.5.1 Means ofwarfare .................................................................................................................. 23
2.5.2 Methods of warfare ............................................................................................................... 24
CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................................... 26
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN LA W .............................................................................................................. 26
3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 26
3.2 ROME STATUTE ................................................................................................................... 26
3.3 THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS OF 1977. ............... 27
3.4 HAGUE CONVENTION OF 1899 ......................................................................................... 29
3.5 HAGUE CONVENTION OF 1907 ......................................................................................... 30
3.7 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... .31
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 32
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF
INTERNATIOMAL HUMANITARIAN LAW ........................................................................... .32
4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 32
4.2 The enforcement of international humanitarian law; .............................................................. .32
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4.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 41
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 43
CHALLENGES FACED IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF INTERNA TJONAL
HUMANITARIAN LA W ............................................................................................................. .43
5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 43
5.2 Parties to the conflict often disrespect International Humanitarian Law ............................... .43
5.3 Questioning the applicability of the law ................................................................................. .44
5.4 Organizing the political will to prevent violations of International Humanitarian Law ........ .44
5.5 The fragmentation of non state armed groups ........................................................................ .44
5.6 The rapid increase of private military and security companies .............................................. .44
5.7 The challenge to the humanitarian law to fight against present terrorism .............................. .45
5.8 An ongoing challenge to the protection of civilians is the inadequacy of the availability and
the misuse of conventional weapons ........................................................................................... ..45
5.9 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... .46
5.10 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................... .49
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 50
CHAPTER ONE 1.0 Introduction International humanitarian law is the set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflice· It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means of methods of war fare 2 International humanitarian law is inspired by considerations of humanity and the mitigation of the human suffering. It comprises a set of rules, established by a treaty or custom, that seeks to protect persons and property/objects that or maybe affected by armed conflicts and limits the rights of parties to the conflict to use methods and means of war fare of their choice3 It is designed to balance humanitarian concerns and military necessity, and subjects war fare to the rule of law by limiting its destructive effect and mitigating human suffering4 International community is a phrase used in geopolitics and international relations to refer to a broad group of people and governments of the world. It typically used to imply the existence of a common point ofview towards such matters as specific issues of human rights. In Kofi Anani words in a press release SG/ SM/ 7133 Pl/1176, he says that what binds people into international community in the broadest sense is that there is a shared vision of a better world for all people, as set out for example united nations charter. He adds that when the popular conscience, outraged at the carnage caused by landmines, succeeds in banning these deadly weapons, that is the international community at work for collective securit/
