Additional protocols
Three additional protocols have been adopted to supplement the four 1949 Geneva Conventions. In 1977, two additional protocols were adopted to strengthen the protection of victims of international (Protocol I) and non-international (Protocol II) armed conflicts. In addition, since they both regulated the conduct of hostilities, they are considered as uniting the “Law of Geneva”, which deals with the protection of victims of armed conflicts, and the “Law of the Hague”, which governs the conduct of hostilities. In 2005, a third additional protocol was adopted to recognize the emblem of the red crystal, which has the same international status as the emblems of the red cross and the red crescent.
See Treaties, Geneva Conventions; Conduct of hostilities; Emblems (Red Cross, Red Crescent & Red Cristal), International armed conflict; Non-international armed conflict; Hague Conventions; Law of the Hague; Law of Geneva;
CASES & DOCUMENTS
ICJ, Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion (Para. 75)
Sweden, Report of the Swedish IHL Committee (3.2.3.)
Colombia, Constitutional Conformity of Protocol II
US, President Rejects Protocol I
El Salvador, Supreme Court of Judgment on the Unconstitutionality of the Amnesty Law
Spain, Universal Jurisdiction over Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions
Colombia, Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Extrajudicial Executions in Casanare
Additional Protocol I of 1977
Application:
Applicable in international armed conflicts (including national liberation wars)
Contents:
Development of the 1949 rules
Adaptation of International Humanitarian Law to the realities of guerrilla warfare
Protection of the civilian population against the effects of hostilities
Rules on the conduct of hostilities
OUTLINE
DOCUMENT
CASES
Additional Protocol II of 1977
Application:
Applicable to non-international armed conflicts
Contents:
Extension and more precise formulation of the fundamental guarantees protecting all those who do not or no longer actively participate in hostilities
Protection of the civilian population against the effects of hostilities
OUTLINE
Chapter 3, Decolonisation, guerrilla wars
Chapter 4, 3. Two Additional Protocols of 1977
Chapter 12. III. 3. Conflicts to which, in addition, Protocol II is applicable
DOCUMENT
CASES
Additional Protocol III
OUTLINE
DOCUMENT
CASES
BIBLIOGRAPHIC RESOURCES
Suggested readings:
ABI-SAAB Georges, “The 1977 Additional Protocols and General International Law: Preliminary Reflexions”, in Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflict Challenges Ahead, Essays in Honour of Frits Kalshoven, Dordrecht, M. Nijhoff, 1991, pp. 115-126
ALDRICH George H., “Prospects for United Sates Ratification of Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions”, in AJIL, Vol. 85/1, 1991, pp. 1-20.
BOTHE Michael, PARTSCH Karl J. & SOLF Waldemar A., with the collaboration of EATON Martin, New Rules for Victims of Armed Conflicts: Commentary on the two 1977 Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, The Hague, M. Nijhoff, 1982, 746 pp.
CASSESE Antonio, “The Geneva Protocols of 1977 on the Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflict and Customary International Law”, in UCLA Pacific Basin Law Journal, Vol. 3/1-2, 1984, pp. 55-118
DOSWALD-BECK Louise, “The Value of the 1977 Protocols for the Protection of Civilians”, in MEYER Michael A. (ed.), Armed Conflict and the New Law: Aspects of the 1977 GenevaProtocols and the 1981 Weapons Convention, London, British Institute of International and Comparative Law, 1989, pp. 137-172
DRAPER Gerald I.A.D., “The Implementation and Enforcement of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and of the Two Additional Protocols of 1977”, in Collected Courses, Vol. 164, 1979, pp. 5-54.
GREENWOOD Christopher, “Customary Law Status of the 1977 Additional Protocols”, in DELISSEN Astrid J.-M. & TANJA Gerard J. (eds), Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts, Challenges Ahead, Essays in Honour of Frits Kalshoven, Dordrecht, M. Nijhoff, 1991, pp. 93-114.
JUNOD Sylvie S., “Additional Protocol II: History and Scope”, in The American University Law Review, Vol. 33/1, Fall 1983, pp. 29-40.
KOSIRNIK René, “The 1977 Protocols: a Landmark in the Development of International Humanitarian Law”, in IRRC, No. 320, September-October 1997, pp. 483-505.
LEVIE Howard S., Protection of War Victims: Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, New York, Oceana Publications, 2 Vol., 1979-1981.
LEVIE Howard S. (ed.), The Law of Non-International Armed Conflict: Protocol II to the 1949 GenevaConventions, Dordrecht, M. Nijhoff, 1987, 635 pp.
PERNA Laura, The Formation of the Treaty Law of Non-International Armed Conflicts, Leiden, M. Nijhoff, 2006, 168 pp.
PULLES Gerrit Jan, “Crystallising an Emblem: on the Adoption of the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions”, in YIHL, Vol. 8 (2005), 2007, pp. 296-319.
QUEGUINER Jean-François, “Introductory Note to the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III), in International Legal Materials, Vol. 45, No. 3, May 2006, pp. 555-561.
QUEGUINER Jean-François, “Commentary on the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III)”, in IRRC, Vol. 89, No. 865, March 2007, pp. 175-207.
ROBERTS Guy B., “The New Rules for Waging War: The Case Against Ratification of Additional Protocol I”, in Virginia Journal of International Law, Vol. 26, 1985, pp. 109-170.
SANDOZ Yves, SWINARSKI Christophe & ZIMMERMANN Bruno (eds), Commentary on the Additional Protocols of 8 June 1977 to the GenevaConventions of 12 August 1949, Geneva, Dordrecht, ICRC, M. Nijhoff, 1987, 1625 pp. [See Commentaries online: http://www.icrc.org/ihl]. JUNOD Sylvie S., “Additional Protocol II: History and Scope”, in American University Law Review, Vol. 33/1, 1983, pp. 29-40.
SOFAER Abraham D., “Agora: The US Decision not to Ratify Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions on the Protection of War Victims, The Rationale for the United States Decision”, in AJIL, Vol. 82, 1988, pp. 784-787
Further readings:
CARNAHAN Burrus, “‘Linebacker II’ and Protocol I: The Convergence of Law and Professionalism”, in American University Law Review, Vol. 31/4, 1982, pp. 861-870.
LYSAGHT Charles, “The Scope of Protocol II and its Relation to Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Other Human Rights Instruments”, in American University Law Review, Vol. 33/1, 1983, pp. 9-27.
MEYROWITZ Henri, “Une révolution inaperçue : l’article 49(2) du Protocole additionnel I aux Conventions de Genève de 1949”, in Oesterreichische Zeitschrift für öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht, Vol. 32, 1981, pp. 29-57
MEYROWITZ Henri, “Le bombardement stratégique d’après le Protocol I aux Conventions de Genève”, in ZaöRV, Vol. 41, 1981, pp. 1-68.