THE ROLE AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN THE SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Sevinj Alakbarova

doi:10.36074/logos-06.02.2026.019

THE ROLE AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN THE SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Sevinj Alakbarova

Conference proceedings: Sammlung wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten «ΛΌГOΣ» zu den Materialien der IX internationalen wissenschaftlich-praktischen Konferenz «Grundlagen der modernen wissenschaftlichen Forschung» (Zürich, Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft; 6. Februar, 2026)

Section: Law and International law

Publication date: 2026/02/06

Pages: 119-124

DOI: 10.36074/logos-06.02.2026.019

ISBN: 978-617-8440-87-9

Publisher: BOLESWA Publishers

Language: en

PDF for indexing Original PDF in OJS archive DOI

Abstract

International humanitarian law (IHL) is a branch of international law that regulates relations between the members of the international community—namely, states. All states are obligated to fulfill the requirements and provisions of international law. Formerly known as the "law of war," international humanitarian law is a crucial section of law applied and operative during armed conflicts and wars.

Considering the ongoing armed conflicts and clashes in various geographical regions today, which continue to result in significant loss of life, the attitude of states toward the requirements and provisions of IHL is undoubtedly of great importance for the establishment of global peace and security.

To this end, this article primarily discusses the concept, content, fundamental norms, and sources of international humanitarian law applied during armed conflicts. Simultaneously, the article provides an overview of the history of humanitarian law, the concept of armed conflict, the obligations of states during wartime, international criminal law and human rights, and analyzes issues regarding international and non-international armed conflicts and wars.

Regardless of the cause, all wars and armed conflicts unequivocally lead to severe material losses, human deaths, and immeasurable suffering. In the modern era, international humanitarian law seeks to mitigate the effects of war by limiting the means and methods of conducting military operations, which serves the overall protection and regulation of human rights.

Author affiliations

Sevinj Alakbarova: National Defense University of Azerbaijan, Baku, AZERBAIJAN; ORCID

References

Alakbarova, S. (2025). Legal responsibility of military personnel for environmental offenses in armed conflicts. VI International Scientific and Practical Conference «THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF MODERN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH», 32–39. https://doi.org/10.36074/logos-01.08.2025.004.
Hans-Peter Gasser,İnternational Humanitarıan Law.Henry Dunant Instıtute-1993,10 p.
Hüseynov, L.H. Beynəlxalq hüquq / L.H.Hüseynov. – Bakı: Hüquq Ədəbiyyatı, – 2000.
Jinks, D. Applying İnternational Humanitarian Law in Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies. / D.Jinks, J.N.Maogoto, S.Solomon – The Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press, – 2014. – 9 p.
Конвенция об открытии военных действий (Гаага, 18 октября 1907 года) Международное право // Ведение военных действий: Сборник Гаагских конвенций и иных международных документов. 3-е изд., испр., – Москва: МККК, – 2001. – 15-17 с.
Geib, R. İnternational Committee of the Red Cross, War and İnternational Humanitarian law. / R.Geib, A.Zimmermann – Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Раджабов, С.А. Имплантация норм международного гуманитарного права в Республике Таджикистан: проблемы теории и практики, доктора юридических наук: [Электронный ресурс] / – Москва, 2008. URL: https://www.dissercat.com/content/implementatsiya-norm-mezhdunarodnogo- gumanitarnogo-prava-v-respublike-tadzhikistan-problemy-.
Bassiouni, M.Ch. divides these sectors differently, as conventional law (Geneva) and customary law (Hague) / M.Ch.Bassiouni. – Publisher İntersentia, – 2010. – 7 p.
Bassiouni, M.Ch. divides these sectors differently, as conventional law (Geneva) and customary law (Hague) / M.Ch.Bassiouni. – Publisher Brill Nijhoff, – 2013. – 18 p.
Greenwood, Historical Development and Legal Basis in D. Fleck and M. Bothe (eds), The Handbook of İnternational Humanitarian Law, – 2008.
Respect for Human Rights in Armed Conflicts, Report of the Secretary-General, Agenda İtem 61, UN Doc. A/7720, – November 20, 1969.
Basic Facts about the United Nations / – New York: United Nations, – 1998.
War and international humanitarian law: [Electronic resource] / – October 29, 2010. URL: http://www.icrc.org/eng/war-and-law/overview-war-and-law.htm
Conventions (hereafter APİ) and rules of customary IHL as stated in J.-M. Henckaerts and L. Doswald-Beck. – Customary İnternational Humanitarian Law: Cambridge University Press, – vol. 1. – 2005.

[1] Alakbarova, S. (2025). Legal responsibility of military personnel for environmental offenses in armed conflicts. VI International Scientific and Practical Conference «THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF MODERN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH», 32–39. https://doi.org/10.36074/logos-01.08.2025.004.

[2] Hans-Peter Gasser,İnternational Humanitarıan Law.Henry Dunant Instıtute-1993,10 p.

[3] Hüseynov, L.H. Beynəlxalq hüquq / L.H.Hüseynov. – Bakı: Hüquq Ədəbiyyatı, – 2000.

[4] Jinks, D. Applying İnternational Humanitarian Law in Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies. / D.Jinks, J.N.Maogoto, S.Solomon – The Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press, – 2014. – 9 p.

[5] Конвенция об открытии военных действий (Гаага, 18 октября 1907 года) Международное право // Ведение военных действий: Сборник Гаагских конвенций и иных международных документов. 3-е изд., испр., – Москва: МККК, – 2001. – 15-17 с.

[6] Geib, R. İnternational Committee of the Red Cross, War and İnternational Humanitarian law. / R.Geib, A.Zimmermann – Cambridge University Press, 2010.

[7] Раджабов, С.А. Имплантация норм международного гуманитарного права в Республике Таджикистан: проблемы теории и практики, доктора юридических наук: [Электронный ресурс] / – Москва, 2008. URL: https://www.dissercat.com/content/implementatsiya-norm-mezhdunarodnogo- gumanitarnogo-prava-v-respublike-tadzhikistan-problemy-.

[8] Bassiouni, M.Ch. divides these sectors differently, as conventional law (Geneva) and customary law (Hague) / M.Ch.Bassiouni. – Publisher İntersentia, – 2010. – 7 p.

[9] Bassiouni, M.Ch. divides these sectors differently, as conventional law (Geneva) and customary law (Hague) / M.Ch.Bassiouni. – Publisher Brill Nijhoff, – 2013. – 18 p.

[10] Greenwood, Historical Development and Legal Basis in D. Fleck and M. Bothe (eds), The Handbook of İnternational Humanitarian Law, – 2008.

[11] Respect for Human Rights in Armed Conflicts, Report of the Secretary-General, Agenda İtem 61, UN Doc. A/7720, – November 20, 1969.

[12] Basic Facts about the United Nations / – New York: United Nations, – 1998.

[13] War and international humanitarian law: [Electronic resource] / – October 29, 2010. URL: http://www.icrc.org/eng/war-and-law/overview-war-and-law.htm

[14] Conventions (hereafter APİ) and rules of customary IHL as stated in J.-M. Henckaerts and L. Doswald-Beck. – Customary İnternational Humanitarian Law: Cambridge University Press, – vol. 1. – 2005.