When is IHL a useful tool?

An interactive tool to understand how international humanitarian law can be used for effective protection.

Understanding when international humanitarian law is most powerful.

This tool is intended to support everyone engaged in humanitarian advocacy to understand better when international humanitarian law (IHL) is most effective.

To prevent a violation, when does it make sense to refer to IHL, and when not? What should I do if an armed actor does not accept that IHL applies? How can I achieve the same protection outcomes without mentioning IHL?

This framework offers guidance to improve strategic thinking, strengthen assessments of contexts, and facilitate the planning of interventions.

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