TITLE:
Minimizing Human Suffering and Protecting Persons Affected by Conflict: A Critical Appraisal of the Compliance System of International Humanitarian Law
AUTHORS:
Henok Ashagrey Kremte
KEYWORDS:
Compliance System, Contemporary Armed Conflicts, Human Suffering, Protected Per-Sons
JOURNAL NAME:
Beijing Law Review,
Vol.8 No.4,
November
29,
2017
ABSTRACT: Egregious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) are being committed every day both by states and non-state parties to a battle. This does not, however, mean that all contemporary armed conflicts are always and inexorably characterized by sweeping and widespread violations. Nevertheless, the disregard of IHL causes devastation and appalling suffering for the victims. What makes such violations even more reprehensible is that the sufferings could be avoided had the pertinent IHL rules were respected. Hence, initiatives should focus on enhancing the efficacy of IHL compliance mechanisms to ensure the lofty aim of IHL, minimizing human suffering and protecting victims. In this essay, a scrutiny on the adequacy of current IHL compliance system in light of contemporary armed conflict is made and a conclusion as to the existence of loopholes has been reached.