Philippine E-Journals

International Humanitarian Law and Non-International Armed Conflicts in the Southern Philippines

Raymundo B. Ferrer | Randolph G. Cabangbang

Discipline: Law

 

Abstract:

1 Expanded from the speech delivered by Lieutenant General Raymundo B. Ferrer during the Conference on Non-International Armed Conflict on 22 July 2011 at the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the guardian of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for some 150 years now, defines IHL as the law of war or the law of armed conflict. It is a set of international rules that aims at limiting the effects of war and armed conflict by requiring the humane treatment of civilians, prisoners, the sick, those wounded, and those who are not or have ceased to be combatants. While these rules do not prevent the use of force by the state, these laws and customs do restrict the means and methods that can be employed in times of war.