The Handbook of International Humanitarian Law

The Handbook of International Humanitarian Law sets out a Black Letter text of international humanitarian law accompanied by case analysis and extensive explanatory commentary by a team of distinguished and internationally renowned experts.

This updated and revised fourth edition, first published in 2021, takes account of the latest legal developments, such as the 2017 Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty, as well as the ongoing debate on many old and new issues including the notion of direct participation in hostilities; air and missile warfare; military operations in outer space; military cyber operations; belligerent occupation; operational detention; and the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict. The continuing need to consider borderline issues of the law of armed conflict as well as the interplay of international humanitarian law, human rights law, and other branches of international law is highlighted. Certain topics, such as the law of occupation, protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts, humanitarian assistance, and human rights in armed conflict have been made more visible in separate chapters.

Dieter Fleck, Honorary President, The International Society for Military Law and the Law of War

Dr Dieter Fleck is Honorary President of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War, and former Director, International Agreements & Policy, of the German Federal Ministry of Defence.

1. Introduction, Dieter Fleck2. Historical Developments and Legal Basis, Mary Ellen O'Connell3. Scope of Application of International Humanitarian Law, Jann K. Kleffner4. General Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Nobuo Hayashi5. Combatants and Non-Combatants, Knut Ipsen6. Means of Combat, Marco Longobardo and Dieter Fleck7. Methods of Combat, Stefan Oeter8. Protection of Civilians, Knut Dörmann9. Occupation, Knut Dörmann and Sylvain Vité10. Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts, Michael Bothe11. Humanitarian Assistance, Knut Dörmann and Tristan Ferraro12. Protection of the Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked, Jann K. Kleffner with Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg13. Protection of Prisoners in Armed Conflict, Sandra Krähenmann14. Human Rights in Armed Conflct, Jann K. Kleffner15. Protection of Religious Personnel, Nilendra Kumar16. Protection of Cultural Property, Roger O'Keefe17. The Law of Armed Conflict at Sea, Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg18. The Law of Neutrality, Michael Bothe19. The Law of Non-International Armed Conflict, Dieter Fleck20. The Law of International Peace Operations, Ben F. Klappe21. Implementation and Enforcement of International Humanitarian Law, Silja VönekyAnnex: Distinctive Emblems