Book contents
- The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
- The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Photographs
- Preface: Who and Why
- 1 The Contemporary ICRC and Its Critics
- 2 The ICRC and the Global Humanitarian System
- 3 History
- 4 History
- 5 The Red Cross Movement
- 6 The Red Cross Movement
- 7 ICRC Relations with Bern
- 8 ICRC Relations with Bern
- 9 Humanitarians and Business
- 10 Humanitarians and Business
- 11 Interpreting the Mandate
- 12 Interpreting the Mandate
- 13 Has the Traditional Focus Been Lost?
- 14 Has the Traditional Focus Been Lost?
- 15 ICRC Governance and Management
- 16 ICRC Governance and Management
- 17 Conclusion
- 18 Conclusion
- Epilogue
- Annex
- Index
13 - Has the Traditional Focus Been Lost?
Part I – Laws of War
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2024
- The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
- The Contemporary International Committee of the Red Cross
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Photographs
- Preface: Who and Why
- 1 The Contemporary ICRC and Its Critics
- 2 The ICRC and the Global Humanitarian System
- 3 History
- 4 History
- 5 The Red Cross Movement
- 6 The Red Cross Movement
- 7 ICRC Relations with Bern
- 8 ICRC Relations with Bern
- 9 Humanitarians and Business
- 10 Humanitarians and Business
- 11 Interpreting the Mandate
- 12 Interpreting the Mandate
- 13 Has the Traditional Focus Been Lost?
- 14 Has the Traditional Focus Been Lost?
- 15 ICRC Governance and Management
- 16 ICRC Governance and Management
- 17 Conclusion
- 18 Conclusion
- Epilogue
- Annex
- Index
Summary
This chapter continues to examine the critics’ complaint that the modern ICRC has become distracted from its previous areas of expertise through its expanded activities in “other violence,” arguably neglecting in relative terms international humanitarian law and political prisoners. This chapter addresses the organization in the context of IHL. The chapter’s original contribution, beyond the way the background information is presented, is to analyze recent ICRC activity on two IHL subjects: customary IHL; and cyber warfare. On the first, the author finds the ICRC study on customary IHL absolutely central to recent developments, which fits with other third parties who find the ICRC “authoritative” in this legal domain. On the second, cyber warfare, the author finds the ICRC active, involved, and very much au courant about emerging developments. Neither aspect of IHL has been ignored or forgotten.
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- The Contemporary International Committee of the Red CrossChallenges, Changes, Controversies, pp. 266 - 295Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024