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What challenges arise in enforcing International Humanitarian Law, especially in cases where governments are involved?

Henriette MacPharlain

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) exists to protect people in times of armed conflict, such as wars. When governments are involved in these conflicts, it can be challenging to enforce IHL because governments often have power and resources to resist or ignore the rules of war.

One of the main challenges is getting governments to agree to follow IHL. Not all countries have signed or ratified the Geneva Conventions, which are the main set of rules for protecting people during armed conflicts. Even if a government has agreed to follow IHL, sometimes they may not take it seriously or may not enforce it properly.

Another challenge is monitoring and ensuring that IHL is being respected during conflicts. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is responsible for monitoring and promoting respect for IHL, but they may not always be able to access conflict zones. In addition, other organizations and countries may not be willing or able to enforce IHL in situations where there are political or economic interests at stake.

Finally, even when IHL is being respected, there may be violations by non-state actors such as rebel groups or terrorist organizations. These groups may not have signed or agreed to follow IHL, and they may use tactics that intentionally put civilians in harm's way.

Overall, enforcing International Humanitarian Law can be challenging in cases where governments are involved. It requires collective global efforts to encourage countries to agree to follow IHL and to monitor and enforce its rules during armed conflicts.