An Exercise in the Development of International Law: The New ICRC Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law

German Law Journal

Volumn 6, Issue 9, 2005, Pages 1217-1242

  MacLaren, Malcolm ^a   Schwendimann, Felix ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 77949972530     PISSN: None     EISSN: 20718322     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S2071832200014267     Document Type: Article

References (62)

1. CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (Jean-Marie Henckaerts & Louise Doswald-Beck eds., Vols., I & II, 2005).
2. Recommendation II, Annex II: Meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts for the Protection of War Victims, Geneva, 23-27 January 1995: Recommendations, available at http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57JMVT (last visited 11 May 2005).
3. From law to action. Report on the follow-up to the International Conference for the Protection of War Victims, Resolutions of the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 3-7 December 1995, available at http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57JMVH (last visited 11 May 2005).
4. ICRC, Customary International Humanitarian Law: Questions & Answers (18 March 2005), available at http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/6BPK3X (last visited 11 May 2005).
5. Volker Heins, Giorgio Agamben and the Current State of Affairs in Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Policy, 6 GERMAN LAW JOURNAL (GLJ) 845-860 (1 May 2005), at http://www.germanlawjournal.com/pdf/Vol06No05/PDF_Vol_06_No_05_845-860_Articles_Heins.pdf (last visited 11 May 2005).
6. For a summary and analysis of this critique, see Detlev F. Vagts, International Relations Looks at Customary International Law: A Traditionalist's Defence, 15 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 1031-1040, 1040 (2004).
7. For the leading statement of their view, see Jack L. Goldsmith & Eric A. Posner, A Theory of Customary International Law, 66 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW REVIEW 1113-1177 (1999).
8. Instead, we refer interested readers to, inter alia, Michael Byers, Introduction: Power, Obligation, and Customary International Law, 11 DUKE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW 81-88 (2001);
9. Mark A. Chinen, Game Theory and Customary International Law: A Response to Professors Goldsmith and Posner, 23 MICHIGAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 143-189 (2001);
10. Jack L. Goldsmith & Eric A. Posner, THE LIMITS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW Chapter 1 (2005).
11. THE LAWS OF ARMED CONFLICTS: A COLLECTION OF CONVENTIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS (Dietrich Schindler & Jiri Toman eds., 4th ed. 2004).
12. Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, Aug. 12, 1949, 75 U.N.T.S. 31 [hereinafter Geneva Convention I];
13. Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, Aug. 12, 1949, 75 U.N.T.S. 85 [hereinafter Geneva Convention II];
14. Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Aug. 12, 1949, 75 U.N.T.S. 135 [hereinafter Geneva Convention III];
15. Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, Aug. 12 1949, 75 U.N.T.S. 287 [hereinafter Geneva Convention IV].
16. For more detail, see Theodor Meron, The Geneva Conventions as Customary Law, 81 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW (AJIL) 348-370 (1987).
17. Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion of 8 July 1996, ICJ Reports 1996, 224, para. 84.
18. Major IHL and related treaties that the United States have yet to ratify include: Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977, 1125 UNTS 3;
19. Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 8 June 1977, 1125 UNTS 609;
20. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, 18 September 1997, 36 ILM 1507;
21. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 17 July 1998, 2187 UNTS 90. See ICRC, States Party to the Main Treaties (29 March 2005) available at http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/party_main_treaties (last visited 17 May 2005).
22. Samuel Gardaz, Le CICR dévoile son étude sur le droit coutumier humanitaire, LE TEMPS (18 March 2005).
23. Abdul G. Koroma, Foreword, in I CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, supra note 1, at xxi.
24. William Boothby, Remarks, The Law of Armed Conflict: Problems and Prospects, Chatham House, London, 18-19 April 2005, Transcripts and Summaries of Presentations and Discussions, 28, available at http://www.riia.org/pdf/research/il/ILParmedconflict.pdf (last visited 15 June 2005). Current concerns include the regulation of explosive remnants of war and anti-vehicle mines.
25. François Bugnion, The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Development of International Humanitarian Law, 5 CHICAGO JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 191, 211-212 (2004).
26. Peter Malanczuk, AKEHURST'S MODERN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL LAW 345 (7th ed. 1997).
27. YEARBOOK 2005 - ARMAMENTS, DISARMAMENT AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, available at http://yearbook2005.sipri.org/ch2/ch2 (last visited 14 June 2005).
28. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), YEARBOOK 2004 - ARMAMENTS, DISARMAMENT AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, available at http://editors.sipri.se/pubs/yb04/ch03.html (last visited 14 June 2005).
29. Jean-Marie Henckaerts, ICRC Study on Customary Rules of International Humanitarian Law (5 March 2005), available at http://www.cicr.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/5MXLAD (last visited 8 June 2005).
30. Marco Sassòli, BEDEUTUNG EINER KODIFIKATION FÜR DAS ALLGEMEINE VÖLKERRECHT MIT BESONDERER BETRACHTUNG DER REGELN ZUM SCHUTZE DER ZIVILBEVÖLKERUNG VOR DEN AUSWIRKUNGEN VON FEINDSELIGKEITEN 52-53 (1990).
31. See Bethlehem, Remarks, supra note 20, at 13-14.
32. SAN REMO MANUAL ON INTERNATIONAL LAW APPLICABLE TO ARMED CONFLICTS AT SEA (Louise Doswald-Beck ed., 1995).
33. Hans-Peter Gasser, International Humanitarian Law: An Introduction, separate print from HUMANITY FOR ALL: THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT 22-23 and 70-71 (Hans Haug ed., 1993).
34. Secretary-General, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights - Fundamental standards of humanity, E/CN.4/2002/103, para. 41 (20 December 2001), available at http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord2002/engtext/vol1eng/fshchr.htm (last visited 15 June 2005).
35. Secretary-General, Bulletin on Observance by United Nations Forces of International Humanitarian Law (1999);
36. Daphna Shraga, UN Peacekeeping Operations: Applicability of International Humanitarian Law and Responsibility for Operations-Related Damage, 94 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 406, 408-409 (2000).
37. Jean-Marie Henckaerts, Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law: A Contribution to the Understanding and Respect for the Rule of Law in Armed Conflict, 87 INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF THE RED CROSS (IRRC) 175, Annex (March 2005). Rules 21, 23, 24, 44, 45, 62, 63, 82, in I CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, supra note 1.
38. Regarding the notion of "direct participation in hostilities" and its legal consequences, see the reports of the expert meetings organized by the ICRC and TMC Asser Institute in the Hague in 2003 and 2004, available athttp://www.cicr.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList575/459B0FF70176F4E5C1256DDE00572DAA (last visited 9 June 2005).
39. James G. Stewart, Towards a Single Definition of Armed Conflict in International Humanitarian Law: A Critique of Internationalized Armed Conflict, 85 IRRC 313, 313-314 (June 2003).
40. Before the ICJ, Philippe Sands relied on the Study in his statement on behalf of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the case concerning armed activities on the territory of the Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda, Public sitting of the ICJ, 25 April 2005, CR 2005/13, 32.
41. ICTY President Theodor Meron cited the Study several times in his decision in Hadzihasanovic. Prosecutor v. Enver Hadzihasanovic and Amir Kubura, Case IT-01-47-AR73.3, Decision on the Interlocutory Appeal of 11 March 2005, footnotes 54, 55, 56, 74, 95, 96 and 99.
42. Kenneth Anderson, Another ICRC Issue - The New Customary Humanitarian Law Study, in KENNETH ANDERSON'S LAW OF WAR AND JUST WAR THEORY BLOG (23 May 2005), available at http://kennethandersonlawofwar.blogspot.com/2005/05/another-icrc-issuenew- customary.html (last visited 12 June 2005).
43. Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 124 S.Ct. 2739 (2004) (most recent United States Supreme Court statement on the role of the ACTA);
44. William S. Dodge, Bridging Erie: Customary International Law in the U.S. Legal System after Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 12 TULSA JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL LAW 87-108 (2004).
45. Curtis A. Bradley & Jack L. Goldsmith, The Current Illegitimacy of International Human Rights Litigation, 66 FORDHAM LAW REVIEW 319-369 (1997).
46. Gerald L. Neuman, Sense and Nonsense about Customary International Law: A Response to Professors Bradley and Goldsmith, 66 FORDHAM LAW REVIEW 371-392 (1997);
47. Curtis A. Bradley & Jack L. Goldsmith, Federal Courts and the Incorporation of International Law, 111 HARVARD LAW REVIEW 2260-2275 (1998);
48. Harold Hongju Koh, Is International Law Really State Law?, 111 HARVARD LAW REVIEW 1824-1861 (1998).
49. US Justice Department officials. David B. Rivkin Jr. & Lee A. Casey, Friend or Foe? - The International Committee of the Red Cross Should stop championing terrorists or lose U.S Funding, WALL STREET JOURNAL (10 June 2005), available at http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110006570 (last visited 12 June 2005).
50. François Bugnion, LE COMITE INTERNATIONAL DE LA CROIX-ROUGE ET LA PROTECTION DES VICTIMES DE LA GUERRE Volume 2 (2nd ed., 2002);
51. Yves Sandoz, Réflexions sur la mise en oeuvre du droit international humanitaire et sur le rôle du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge en Ex-Yougoslavie, 3 SCHWEIZERISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR INTERNATIONALES UND EUROPÄISCHES RECHT 461-490 (1993).
52. Bugnion, supra note 23, at 208.
53. Tadic, supra note 43, at para. 109.
54. Jakob Kellenberger, Foreword, in I CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, supra note 1, at xi.
55. Daniel Thürer, Comment - The Democratization of Contemporary International Law-Making Processes and the Differentiation of Their Application, in DEVELOPMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN TREATY MAKING 53, 58-59 (Rüdiger Wolfrum & Volker Röben eds., 2005).
56. ICRC, Customary law study enhances legal protection of persons affected by armed conflict, Press Release No. 05 / 17 (17 March 2005), available at http://www.cicr.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/6AKDPF!OpenDocument (last visited 10 May 2005).
57. Claim by Ruth Wedgwood, Professor of International Law at Yale University. Cited in Josh Gerstein, Red Cross Has 'Lost Its Way, ' Study Says, NEW YORK SUN (14 June 2005), available at http://www.nysun.com/article/15361 (last visited 16 June 2005).
58. Republican Policy Committee (United States Senate), ARE AMERICAN INTERESTS BEING DISSERVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS? 7 (13 June 2005), available at http://rpc.senate.gov (last visited 16 June 2005).
59. Kenneth Anderson, Lee Casey and David Rivkin on the ICRC, in KENNETH ANDERSON'S LAW OF WAR AND JUST WAR THEORY BLOG (11 April 2005), available at http://kennethandersonlawofwar.blogspot.com/2005/04/lee-casey-and-david-rivkin-on-icrc.html (last visited 15 June 2005).
60. Hadia Nusrat, Humanitarian law and Islam, MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT 24-25 (2005), available at http://www.redcross.int/EN/mag/magazine2005_1/24-25.html (last visited 15 June 2005).
61. The ICRC has been promoting the Study by staggered launch events around the world, inter alia in conjunction with Chatham House (London), The Law of Armed Conflict: Problems and Prospects, 18-19 April 2005;
62. Antonio Cassesse, INTERNATIONAL LAW IN A DIVIDED WORLD 285 (1986).