The Law of International Humanitarian Relief in Non-International Armed Conflicts

Matthias Vanhullebusch, Ph.D. (2011) in Law, School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), is Chenxing Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Asian Law Center at the KoGuan School of Law of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Table of Materials



Introduction

 Introduction

 I Challenges of Humanitarian Access and Delivery in Times of Non-International Armed Conflicts

 II Promises and Limits of the Normative Approach

 III Strengthening the Normativity of the Law of International Humanitarian Relief

  A The Erosion of the Law of International Humanitarian Relief

  B Reconceptualizing the Normativity of the Law of International Humanitarian Relief

  C A New Framework of Humanitarian Engagement within the Realm of International Humanitarian Relief: Towards a Relational Normativity

 IV Aims and Scope of the Book



PART 1

Initiating International Humanitarian Relief



1 The Right of Initiative of Impartial Humanitarian Bodies

 Introduction

 I Initiators

  A Impartial Humanitarian Bodies

  B Grounds for Initiative

  1 International Humanitarian Law and the Right of Initiative

  2 International Human Rights Law and the Right to Humanitarian Assistance

  C Limits to Initiative

   1 Direct Limitations: The Principle of Neutrality

   2 Indirect Limitations

    a Principle of Sovereignty

    b UN Sanctions Regimes

 II Beneficiaries and Benefits

 iii Addressees

 Conclusion



2 The Duty of States to Cooperate

 Introduction

 I Initiators

  A Third States and International/Regional Organisations

  B Grounds for Cooperation

  1 International Humanitarian Law

   a Obligation to Undertake International Humanitarian Relief Actions

   b Obligations to Ensure Respect for International Humanitarian Law

  2 Doctrine on the Responsibility to Protect

  3 International Human Rights Law

 C Limits to Cooperation

  1 Principle of Sovereignty

  2 Prior UN Security Council Authorisation

 II Beneficiaries and Benefits

 III Addressees

 Conclusion



PART 2

Authorising International Humanitarian Relief



3 The Strategic Consent of Fighting Parties

 Introduction

  I Ownership over the Right to Strategic Consent

 A Pillars of the Equal Right to Consent of Non-State Armed Groups

  1 Principle of Equality of the Fighting Parties

  2 (Limited) International Legal Personality of Non-State Armed Groups

  3 Equal Accountability of the Fighting Parties

  B Unwarranted Consequences of the Symmetrical Right to Consent

  1 On the Interpretation and Development of the Law of International Humanitarian Relief

  2 On the Battlefield

  C Solutions to the Legal Vacuum: Towards a Relational Normativity

 II A The Role of Neutrality upon the Humanitarian Engagement of International Humanitarian Relief Actors with the Fighting Parties

  B The Role of Neutrality upon the Security Council’s Authorisation of Cross-Border Relief

 III Agreements on Humanitarian Access

  A Types

  B Forms

  C Normativity

 Conclusion



4 Limits to the Exercise of the Strategic Consent of Fighting Parties

 Introduction

 I Arbitrary Denial

 II UN Security Council Suspension of Consent

 III Presumption of Consent

 ;Conclusion



PART 3

Delivering International Humanitarian Relief



5 The Obligations and Rights of Fighting Parties

 Introduction

 I Obligations

  A Security Obligations

   1 Agreements on Humanitarian Access

    a Special Protection

     i Distinctive Emblems of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols

     ii United Nations Emblem

    b Additional Protection

   2 General Protection: Civilian Immunity

   B Cooperation Obligations

    1 Agreements on Humanitarian Access

    2 UN Security Council Resolutions

     a Policy

     b Measures to Ensure Compliance with the Obligations under the Agreements

 II Right of Control or Operational Consent

  A Grounds to Exercise the Right of Control

   1 International Humanitarian Law

     a Imperative Military Necessity

     b Self-Sufficiency of Humanitarian Relief

   2 Outside International Humanitarian Law

    a External Security Threats

  B Independent Exercise of the Right of Control

  C Limits to the Exercise of the Right of Control

 III Consequences of Non-Compliance

  A Action Undertaken by the Contracting Parties to the Agreements on Humanitarian Access

   1 Voluntary Measures of the Fighting Parties

    a Resumption of Security and Cooperation Obligations

    b Investigation and Criminal Prosecution

   2 Voluntary Measures of International Humanitarian Relief Actors

    a Reparation Claims

    b Suspension and Withdrawal of Relief

 3 Dispute Resolution

  B Action Undertaken by Third Parties to the Conflict

   1 Mediation

   2 UN Sanctions Regimes

   3 Investigation and Criminal Prosecution

 Conclusion



6 The Obligations and Rights of International Humanitarian Relief Actors

 Introduction

 I Obligations

  A Respect for the Principles of Humanitarian Action

  1 Impartiality and Humanity

  2 Neutrality and Independence

  B Refrain from Direct Participation in Armed Hostilities

  C Notify Movements

 II Rights: Unimpeded Passage and Freedom of Movement

 III Consequences of Non-Compliance

  A Denial of Passage and Freedom of Movement

  B Loss of Protective Status

  C Arrest, Detention, Prosecution and Expulsion

 Conclusion



 Conclusion



 Bibliography

 Author Index

 Subject Index