Humanitarian laws are a set of international laws that regulate the conduct of armed conflict and protect people who are not or are no longer taking part in the hostilities. They are also known as international humanitarian law (IHL) or the law of war.

Humanitarian laws are based on the fundamental principles of humanity and necessity. They aim to limit the suffering caused by armed conflict and to protect the dignity of human beings.

Humanitarian laws are binding on all parties to an armed conflict, regardless of whether they are states or non-state armed groups. The United States is a party to all of the major humanitarian law treaties, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977.

Humanitarian laws have a number of important effects on U.S. people. They:

• Protect U.S. civilians from being targeted or attacked in armed conflicts.
• Protect U.S. military personnel who are captured or wounded.
• Ensure that U.S. military operations are conducted in a humane manner.
• Hold U.S. government officials and military personnel accountable for violations of humanitarian law.

Specific examples of humanitarian laws that affect U.S. people include:

• The prohibition on the use of weapons of indiscriminate effect, such as cluster munitions and landmines.
• The prohibition on the targeting of civilians and civilian objects.
• The requirement to provide medical care to wounded and sick combatants and civilians alike.
• The prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
• The right of prisoners of war to be treated with dignity and humanity.

Humanitarian laws have played a vital role in protecting U.S. people in armed conflicts throughout history. For example, during World War II, the Geneva Conventions helped to ensure that U.S. prisoners of war were treated humanely by the Axis powers. And during the Vietnam War, the Geneva Conventions provided some measure of protection for U.S. soldiers and civilians from the effects of the war.

However, humanitarian laws have also been violated by the United States in armed conflicts. For example, during the Iraq War, the U.S. military used cluster munitions and targeted civilians in airstrikes. And during the war on terror, the U.S. government has detained people without charge or trial and subjected them to torture and other forms of abuse.

Despite these violations, humanitarian laws remain an important safeguard for the protection of U.S. people in armed conflicts. They provide a framework for holding the U.S. government and military personnel accountable for their actions. And they help to ensure that the United States conducts its military operations in a humane manner.

Humanitarian laws and the U.S. legal system

Humanitarian laws are incorporated into U.S. law through a variety of sources, including:

• Treaties: The United States is a party to a number of international humanitarian law treaties, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977. These treaties are considered to be the supreme law of the land under the U.S. Constitution.
• Statutes: The U.S. Congress has enacted a number of statutes that implement humanitarian law obligations, such as the War Crimes Act of 1996 and the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
• Case law: U.S. courts have also interpreted and applied humanitarian laws in a number of cases. For example, in the 1987 case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, the Supreme Court held that the Geneva Conventions apply to detainees captured in the war on terror.

Enforcement of humanitarian laws

Humanitarian laws are enforced through a variety of mechanisms, including:

• Domestic courts: U.S. courts can prosecute individuals for violations of humanitarian law, even if the violations were committed outside of the United States. For example, in 2006, a U.S. court convicted a former U.S. soldier of war crimes for his role in the torture and death of an Iraqi civilian.
• International courts and tribunals: The International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international courts and tribunals can also prosecute individuals for violations of humanitarian law. The ICC is a court of last resort, and it only investigates and prosecutes the most serious crimes, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
• Non-judicial mechanisms: There are also a number of non-judicial mechanisms for enforcing humanitarian laws, such as the United Nations Security Council and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Security Council can impose sanctions on states that violate humanitarian law. And the ICRC works to promote compliance