LOAC Basic Principles

Question 1

Which are LOAC’s basic principles?

Answer 1

1. Military necessity
2. Proportionality
3. Humanity
4. Distinction

Question 2

What’s military necessity?

Answer 2

The principle whereby a belligerent has the right to apply any measures which are required to bring about the successful conclusion of a military operation and which are not forbidden by the laws of war.

Question 3

What’s distinction?

Answer 3

Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operations only against military objectives.

Question 4

What’s proportionality?

Answer 4

The test to determine if an attack is proportionate is whether such attack “may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects or a combination thereof which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.”

Question 5

What’s humanity?

Answer 5

“Weapons that cause unnecessary suffering or superfluous injury are prohibited.”
It applies as a general standerd in armed conflict.