88:), Chapter II: "Civilians and Civilian Population". Article 48 set forth the principle of distinction by establishing that "he Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants." Article 50 defines who is a civilian and what is a civilian population; article 51 describes the protection which should be given to civilian populations; and chapter III regulates the targeting of civilian objects. Article 8(2)(b)(i) of the
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against military objectives, even when it is known that some civilian deaths or injuries will occur. A crime occurs if there is an intentional attack directed against civilians (principle of distinction) (Article 8(2)(b)(i)) or an attack is launched on a military objective in the knowledge that the incidental civilian injuries would be clearly excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage (principle of proportionality) (Article 8(2)(b)(iv).
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Persons protected by the
Convention are those who, at a given moment and in any manner whatsoever, find themselves, in case of a conflict or occupation, in the hands of a Party to the conflict or Occupying Power of which they are not nationals . . . Nationals of a neutral State who find themselves in
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Intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct
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provides a widely accepted definition of military objective: "In so far as objects are concerned, military objectives are limited to those objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or
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Under international humanitarian law and the Rome
Statute, the death of civilians during an armed conflict, no matter how grave and regrettable, does not in itself constitute a war crime. International humanitarian law and the Rome Statute permit belligerents to carry out proportionate attacks
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also prohibits attack directed against civilians. Not all states have ratified
Protocol I or the Rome Statute, but it is an accepted principle of international humanitarian law that the direct targeting of civilians is a breach of the customary laws of war and is binding on all belligerents.
42:. Combatant in this instance means persons entitled to directly participate in hostilities and thus are not afforded immunity from being directly targeted in situations of armed conflict. Protected civilian in this instance means civilians who are enemy nationals or
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in that the harm caused to protected civilians or civilian property must be proportional and not "excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated" by an attack on a military objective.
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State, shall not be regarded as protected persons while the State of which they are nationals has normal diplomatic representation in the State in whose hands they are.
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239:"Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949.: Article 4 - Definition of protected persons"
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explains that "Civilians shall enjoy the protection afforded by this section, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities".
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115:. He published an open letter containing his findings; in a section titled "Allegations concerning War Crimes", he elucidates this use of
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neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage" (Source:
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181:
International Court of
Justice advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
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289:"Practice Relating to Rule 1. The Principle of Distinction between Civilians and Combatants"
378:
377:, www.crimesofwar.org/about/crimes-of-war/ Crimes of War Education Project, archived from
331:, www.crimesofwar.org/about/crimes-of-war/ Crimes of War Education Project, archived from
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Who is a
Civilian? Membership of Opposition Groups and Direct Participation in Hostilities
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Article 8(2)(b)(iv) draws on the principles in
Article 51(5)(b) of the 1977 Additional
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Advisory
Opinion on Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
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358:, www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/default.aspx International Criminal court
156:(c) and whether (a) was "clearly excessive" in relation to (b).
144:" excessive. The application of Article 8(2)(b)(iv) requires,
311:, See section "Allegations concerning War Crimes" Pages 4,5.
140:, but restricts the criminal prohibition to cases that are "
360:. See section "Allegations concerning War Crimes" Pages 4,5
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citizens outside of the territory of a belligerent power.
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the territory of a belligerent State, and nationals of a
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208:. I.C.J. Reports. July 8, 1996. pp. 226, 257.
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90:Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
152:(a) the anticipated civilian damage or injury;
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308:
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241:. International Humanitarian Law Databases.
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154:(b) the anticipated military advantage;
130:overall military advantage anticipated;
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86:Additional to the Geneva Conventions
67:are important factors in assessing
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385:
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14:
428:
392:, About.com Guide, archived from
127:Article 8(2)(b)(iv) criminalizes:
107:who investigated allegations of
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417:International humanitarian law
328:Illegal Targeting of Civilians
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27:in an armed conflict, whereby
21:international humanitarian law
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352:OTP letter to senders re Iraq
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389:Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)
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105:International Criminal Court
7:
371:Hampson, Françoise (2011),
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10:
435:
223:; Sands, Philippe (eds.).
80:Distinction is covered by
31:must distinguish between
325:Greenberg, Joel (2011),
296:, Customary IHL Database
278:, page 5, footnote 11).
186:Civilian casualty ratio
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176:Indiscriminate attack
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113:2003 invasion of Iraq
19:is a principle under
349:(9 February 2006),
347:Moreno-Ocampo, Luis
227:. Hart. p. 20.
150:, an assessment of:
374:Military Necessity
309:Moreno-Ocampo 2006
276:Moreno-Ocampo 2006
270:Geneva Conventions
162:Luis Moreno-Ocampo
138:Geneva Conventions
97:Luis Moreno-Ocampo
69:military necessity
55:Geneva Conventions
25:legal use of force
219:Crawford, Emily.
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49:Article 51.3 of
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64:proportionality
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23:governing the
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29:belligerents
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264:Additional
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59:Distinction
17:Distinction
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319:References
266:Protocol I
147:inter alia
134:Protocol I
109:war crimes
82:Protocol I
51:Protocol I
33:combatants
192:Footnotes
40:civilians
37:protected
411:Category
170:See also
159:—
99:was the
268:to the
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103:at the
53:to the
44:neutral
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61:and
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