Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger
- Foreword by Judge Abdul G. Koroma
- Foreword by Yves Sandoz
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- List of abbreviations
- Part I The Principle of Distinction
- Part II Specifically Protected Persons and Objects
- Chapter 7 Medical and Religious Personnel and Objects (Rules 25–30)
- Chapter 8 Humanitarian Relief Personnel and Objects (Rules 31–32)
- Chapter 9 Personnel and Objects Involved in a Peacekeeping Mission (Rule 33)
- Chapter 10 Journalists (Rule 34)
- Chapter 11 Protected Zones (Rules 35–37)
- Chapter 12 Cultural Property (Rules 38–41)
- Chapter 13 Works and Installations Containing Dangerous Forces (Rule 42)
- Chapter 14 The Natural Environment (Rules 43–45)
- Part III Specific Methods of Warfare
- Part IV Weapons
- Part V Treatment of Civilians and Persons Hors De Combat
- Part VI Implementation
Chapter 8 - Humanitarian Relief Personnel and Objects (Rules 31–32)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger
- Foreword by Judge Abdul G. Koroma
- Foreword by Yves Sandoz
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- List of abbreviations
- Part I The Principle of Distinction
- Part II Specifically Protected Persons and Objects
- Chapter 7 Medical and Religious Personnel and Objects (Rules 25–30)
- Chapter 8 Humanitarian Relief Personnel and Objects (Rules 31–32)
- Chapter 9 Personnel and Objects Involved in a Peacekeeping Mission (Rule 33)
- Chapter 10 Journalists (Rule 34)
- Chapter 11 Protected Zones (Rules 35–37)
- Chapter 12 Cultural Property (Rules 38–41)
- Chapter 13 Works and Installations Containing Dangerous Forces (Rule 42)
- Chapter 14 The Natural Environment (Rules 43–45)
- Part III Specific Methods of Warfare
- Part IV Weapons
- Part V Treatment of Civilians and Persons Hors De Combat
- Part VI Implementation
Summary
Rule 31. Humanitarian relief personnel must be respected and protected.
Practice
Volume II, Chapter 8, Section A.
Summary
State practice establishes this rule as a norm of customary international law applicable in both international and non-international armed conflicts. Respect for and protection of humanitarian relief personnel is a corollary of the prohibition of starvation (see Rule 53), as well as the rule that the wounded and sick must be collected and cared for (see Rules 109–110), which are applicable in both international and non-international armed conflicts. The safety and security of humanitarian relief personnel is an indispensable condition for the delivery of humanitarian relief to civilian populations in need threatened with starvation.
International armed conflicts
The obligation to respect and protect humanitarian relief personnel is set forth in Article 71(2) of Additional Protocol I. Under the Statute of the International Criminal Court, intentionally directing attacks against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations is a war crime in international armed conflicts, as long as such personnel are entitled to the protection given to civilians under international humanitarian law. Hence, members of armed forces delivering humanitarian aid are not covered by this rule. United Nations personnel delivering humanitarian aid, however, enjoy specific protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations Personnel.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Customary International Humanitarian Law , pp. 105 - 111Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2005
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