The rules of war and its applicability to future warfare

“When there is war, there must be limits. International Humanitarian Law has provided a framework of limitation and has demonstrated its applicability to new forms of warfare. IHL continues to evolve, but the basics are firmly rooted and remain relevant as ever before.

International Humanitarian Law is built on the principles of humanity. Without these rules, there is no guidance, no restrictions and no accountability. The core ideas of IHL may be old, but continue to remain relevant in a changing world.”

Jan Ninck Blok is Senior Legal Advisor for International Humanitarian Law at the Netherlands Red Cross. He has worked for both the ICRC and the United Nations. In a protection capacity, he has been deployed to situations of armed conflict.

Twitter: @JTNinckBlok