2024 ICRC report on IHL and the challenges of contemporary armed conflicts

This is the sixth report on international humanitarian law (IHL) and the challenges of contemporary armed conflicts prepared by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 

The Challenges Report provides an overview of some of the major challenges for IHL posed by contemporary armed conflicts, with the aim to: generate broader reflection on those challenges; and outline current or prospective ICRC action, positions, and areas of interest. The 2024 report complements previous Challenges Reports, which the ICRC submitted to the quadrennial International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Main topics of the 2024 Challenges Report:

• The prohibition of nuclear weapons: Protecting humanity from unspeakable suffering

• Clarifying the legal framework: ‘Grey zones’, ‘competition’, ‘hybrid warfare’ or ‘proxy warfare’

• Towards more effective protection for people in the hands of parties to armed conflict

• Balancing in good faith the principles of humanity and military necessity in the conduct of hostilities

• Applying IHL to new technologies of warfare

• Protecting and facilitating impartial humanitarian work in evolving conflicts

• Building a culture of compliance with IHL