The International Humanitarian Law Flashcards
What is the Humanitarian Law?
is an international set of rules that aim to limit the effects of war and armed conflict on aimed forces and civilians. This applies only when there is armed conflict, and it applies to all sides regardless of who started it first or who was in the right or wrong.
What is a humanitarian act?
an act performed by someone to protect the life or human dignity of someone who he/she may not know or be ordinarily inclined to help/protect.
What is human dignity?
an idea that supports the right to be valued, respected and to receive ethical treatment at all times
What is armed conflict?
a state of open and armed (use of weapons) usually prolonged conflict carried out between nations, countries, regions over an extended period of time
Define civil war?
a war between organized groups within the same state or country. The aim of one side may be to take control of the country/region to achieve independence for a region or to change government policies
What are crimes against humanity?
certain acts that are deliberately committed as part of a widespread systematic attack directed against any civilian or an identifiable part of a civilian population
What is genocide?
the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation/group
Define the term “prisoner of war”?
a person who is captured and held captive by the enemy during war especially a member of the armed forces
What is a refugee?
a person who has been forced out of their country to escape war, persecution or natural disaster
What is the Geneva convention?
the Geneva conventions are rules that tell countries at war how to treat wounded and captured enemy forces and enemy civilians. They were signed in Geneva, Switzerland by representatives of many countries.
What is a war crime?
an act carried out during the conduct of a war that violates accepted international rules of war
What is justice?
the use of power as appointed by law, honor and standards to support fair treatment and due reward.
What is the rule of law?
is a legal maxim that suggests that no one is above the law and all governmental decisions are to be made by applying known legal and moral principles.
What is the International Criminal Court?
this court has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes
Define amnesty
an official pardon to people who have committed offences
