International humanitarian law

Lore & Background

Humanitarian norms for the protection of victims of armed conflict date back to ancient times. In the Old Testament, the King of Israel spared enemy prisoners following the prophet Elisha's admonition. Ancient Indian texts such as the Laws of Manu described weapons that should not be used and forbade striking a disarmed or sleeping enemy. Islamic law stated that non-combatants such as women, children, monks, and the aged were not to be molested, and the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, proclaimed prohibitions against mutilation, killing children or old men, and destroying fruit trees. However, Islamic jurists allowed the use of less discriminating weapons like mangonels if required by military necessity. The Lieber Code of 1863, a key forerunner of modern IHL, prohibited the execution of prisoners of war in most cases but allowed for retaliation or execution in specific instances such as for spies or parole breakers. The most significant milestones in IHL's development are the Lieber Code and the Geneva Conventions, rather than the 1820 Armistice Agreement between Great Colombia and Spain.

Reader's Guide

The modern systematic development of IHL began in the second half of the 19th century, reflecting the Age of Enlightenment's view that the purpose of warfare was to disable enemy combatants, not to kill non-combatants. The Lieber Code of 1863, drawn up for the Union Army during the American Civil War, included humane treatment of civilians and forbade execution of prisoners of war. This code formed the basis for the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, the first multilateral treaties addressing the conduct of warfare. The Geneva Conventions, first adopted in 1864 and revised in 1906, 1929, and finally 1949, remain the core of IHL. They were inspired by the work of Henry Dunant and the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The 1949 Conventions imposed requirements regarding treatment of combatants, prisoners of war, and civilians in occupied territories, and were supplemented by protocols in 1977 and 2005. There is academic debate whether IHL, which prohibits certain acts, can also facilitate violence against civilians when belligerents argue their attacks are compliant with IHL.

Did You Know?

• Serious violations of international humanitarian law are called war crimes.
• The most important antecedent of IHL is the Armistice Agreement and Regularization of War, signed in 1820 between Great Colombia and Spain.
• The Lieber Code of 1863, drawn up for the Union Army, forbade the execution of prisoners of war.
• Islamic law prohibits molesting non-combatants such as women, children, monks, and the aged, but allows use of mangonels if required by military necessity.

Origins and Institutional Character

The International Institute of Humanitarian Law traces its roots to 1970, when it was established in the coastal Italian city of Sanremo as an independent, non-profit humanitarian association. Its founding charter explicitly frames social values as its core objectives, distinguishing it from purely academic or governmental bodies. The institute's central mission is to advance the study and dissemination of international humanitarian law along with closely related legal fields. Today, its permanent headquarters occupy Villa Ormond in Sanremo, while a dedicated liaison office in Geneva, Switzerland, keeps the institute connected to the broader architecture of international diplomacy. This dual-presence model allows the organisation to maintain a Mediterranean base for its training operations while simultaneously engaging with the dense network of multilateral institutions headquartered in the Swiss city. The institute's non-profit status and its emphasis on social values signal a commitment to humanitarian purpose over commercial or political gain, positioning it as a neutral forum for cross-border legal education and dialogue.

Governance and Leadership Architecture

The institute's internal governance rests on six statutory bodies that collectively ensure accountability and continuity. At the apex sits the General Assembly, comprising every member of the organisation, which sets overarching policy and convenes once a year to ratify the budget and review final accounts. Below it, a twelve-member council—elected for four-year terms with a ceiling of twelve consecutive years—oversees day-to-day management, determines the annual programme of activities, and selects the president, vice-presidents, secretary-general, and treasurer. The president, serving as chief executive officer, is elected by the council for a four-year term and may serve at most two consecutive terms, capping tenure at eight years. Since September 2023, that role has been held by retired Italian Lieutenant General Giorgio Battisti, while former president Judge Fausto Pocar retains the title of honorary president. Notably, the Municipality of Sanremo and the Italian Red Cross hold ex officio seats on the council, embedding local and national institutional ties into the governance structure.

Global Partnerships and Multilateral Standing

The institute maintains a broad web of institutional relationships that extend across humanitarian, diplomatic, and military spheres. It works in direct collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organization for Migration. Beyond these core humanitarian partners, the institute holds operational relations with the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the Organisation International de la Francophonie, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Its standing within the United Nations system is formalised through consultative status with ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council. The council's membership reflects this global reach: current members include legal scholars and military officers from Norway, Germany, the United States, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Russia, alongside representatives from UNHCR and academic institutions. Membership itself is open to individuals and institutions of diverse nationalities who have distinguished themselves in relevant fields, while associate membership extends to qualified persons, academic bodies, nations, and intergovernmental organisations, though without voting rights.

A Tiered Training Ecosystem

Each year the institute delivers a structured programme of training in international humanitarian law, refugee law, and associated disciplines, welcoming participants from military services, government ministries, diplomatic missions, non-governmental organisations, and universities worldwide. The curriculum is organised into three progressively deeper tiers, all grounded in practical application. Foundation Courses offer a hands-on introduction to the law of armed conflict from an operational military viewpoint. Advanced Courses target experienced legal advisers, senior officers, and officials from governments or international organisations who already possess in-depth knowledge of IHL. Specialised Courses drill into particular operational domains, including peace support operations, detention and captured persons, targeting, rules of engagement, naval operations and the law, and training for directors of IHL programmes. Complementing these formal courses, shorter IHL Workshops are designed for field practitioners confronting the most complex legal dilemmas, prioritising peer exchange over structured lecturing. This layered approach ensures that a first-year cadet and a seasoned legal adviser can each find a level matched to their needs.