common article 3 of the geneva conventions on armed conflicts

It is nevertheless important to underline that a situation can evolve from one type of armed conflict to another, depending on the facts prevailing at a certain moment.

Legally speaking, no other type of armed conflict exists. IHL treaty law also establishes a distinction between non-international armed conflicts in the meaning of common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and non-international armed conflicts falling within the definition provided in Art.

Non-international armed conflicts, between governmental forces and non-governmental armed groups, or between such groups only.

International armed conflicts, opposing two or more States, and International humanitarian law distinguishes two types of armed conflicts, namely:

It is on this basis that the ICRC takes this opportunity to present the prevailing legal opinion on the definition of ' international armed conflict ' and ' non-international armed conflict ' under International Humanitarian Law, the branch of international law which governs armed conflict. The States parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions have entrusted the ICRC, through the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, ' to work for the understanding and dissemination of knowledge of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts and to prepare any development thereof ' Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, art. (1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed ' hors de combat ' by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion.

Common article 3 of the geneva conventions on armed conflicts