Humanitarian action in current armed conflicts: opportunities and obstacles

Abstract

armed conflict as a means of solving political and economic problems shows that the preventive measures adopted by the international community in the framework of the United Nations have failed to achieve their purpose. The human tragedies brought about by violations of international humanitarian law a body of law that has been endorsed by most of the world's states1 -constitute a further failure. International humanitarian law is designed to set limits to the suffering caused by armed conflict by protecting the wounded, prisoners, and civilians. It is not yet adapted to all conflict situations, however, leaving most forms of civil strife outside its domain of application.2 Moreover, the measures allowing for a monitoring of the application of international humanitarian law and the punishment of violations have