A neutralized zone may be established in regions where fighting is taking place. Such zones are intended to shelter from the effects of war the following persons without distinction: wounded and sick combatants or non-combatants, and civilian persons who take no part in the hostilities and perform no work of a military character (while they reside in the zone). Recognition and identification of neutral zones must be the object of an agreement between the parties. Neutralized zones have affinities with the following legal institutions: hospital zones and localities, hospital and safety zones and localities, and demilitarized zones. See also Hospital and safety zones; Demilitarized zones

 OUTLINE

Chapter 9, II. 13. Zones created to protect war victims against the effects of hostilities

 LEGAL SOURCE

common 3/3 (see ICRC updated Commentary)

GCIV, 15

Rule 35

 CASES

Sri Lanka, Conflict in the Vanni (Paras. 12-16)

Case Study, Armed Conflicts in the former Yugoslavia (14)

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Constitution of Safe Areas in 1992-1993

Netherlands, Responsibility of International Organizations (Paras. 2.4 and 2.6)

ECHR, Isayeva v. Russia (Paras. 16 and 186)

 BIBLIOGRAPHIC RESOURCES

Suggested readings:   BOUVIER Antoine, “Zones protégées, zones de sécurité et protection de la population civile”, in BOUSTANY Katia & DORMOY Daniel, Perspectives humanitaires entre conflits, droit(s) et action, Brussels, Bruylant, 2002, pp. 251-269.   LAVOYER Jean-Philippe, “International Humanitarian Law, Protected Zones and the Use of Force”, in BIERMANN Wolfgang & VADSET Martin (eds), UN Peacekeeping in Trouble: Lessons Learned from the former Yugoslavia, Aldershot, Ashgate, 1998, pp. 262-279.   OSWALD Bruce M., “The Creation and Control of Places of Protection During United Nations Peace Operations”, in IRRC, No. 844, December 2001, pp. 1013-1036.   SANDOZ Yves, “Localités et zones sous protection spéciale”, in Quatre études du droit international humanitaire, Geneva, Henry-Dunant Institute, 1985, pp. 35-47   TORELLI Maurice, “Les zones de sécurité”, in RGDIP, Vol. 99/4, 1995, pp. 787-848   Further readings:   LANDGREN Karen, “Safety Zones and International Protection: A Dark Grey Area”, in International Journal of Refugee Law, Vol. 7/3, 1995, pp. 436-458.   PATEL Bimal N., “Protection zones in international humanitarian law”, in The Indian Journal of International Law, Vol. 39/4, 1999, pp. 689-702.   “Zones sanitaires et zones de sécurité”, in IRRC, Nos 390 & 392, 1951, 80 pp.