Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
International Humanitarian Law
Course Code
JF_008
Branch of Science
Law; State's Rights
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Juridical Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ilze Bērziņa
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
Enable students to acquire knowledge of the laws related to armed conflicts (war), their characteristics, development and sources. By analysing real armed conflicts, students have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges of international humanitarian law and the problems related to its application.
Preliminary Knowledge
Public International Law.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.On completion of the study course, students will have acquired knowledge of: • the sources of international humanitarian law, its formation, development and principles; • the application of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts; • the role of various international organisations and their impact on armed conflicts in the world and their relation to international humanitarian law. Students will expand their field of vision and understanding of international laws and develop legal thinking.
Skills
1.Skills to analyse, synthesize and evaluate the role and importance of international humanitarian rights and to develop scientific research skills. Communication skills: ability to communicate with other undergraduate students on issues related to international humanitarian rights; to demonstrate social skills and emotional intelligence. Build reasoning skills and the ability to listen to various opinions. Other general skills: take responsibility for their decisions and actions, make critically wise decisions and find solutions in unpredictable and changing circumstances; adapt to new situations and be open to change, take leadership and initiative and be responsible for consequences, respect ethical norms, demonstrate broad general knowledge and competences. Improve the ability to listen to different points of view.
Competences
1.Capacity to perform specific tasks related to humanitarian rights, ability to use knowledge and skills for professional and personal development. Application of legal provisions not only ‘mechanically’ but in accordance with the interests and priorities of the society, thereby synthesizing the ability to work with the regulatory framework and understanding of law in general. To provide not only formal solutions to the challenges related to the sector of humanitarian rights, but find solutions that would serve the expectations and priorities of the society (local community) and improve public administration in general.
Assessment
Individual work
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
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During course it is mandatory that students write an argumentative essay (the content of the essay should contain: a problem, causation of the problem, solution of the problem). The essay must be submitted electronically until the lecturer's indicated date.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Examination |
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Writing a Research Paper
Although this list suggests that there is a simple, linear process to writing such a paper, the actual process of writing a research paper is often a messy and recursive one, so please use this outline as a flexible guide.
Discovering, Narrowing, and Focusing a Researchable Topic according your interest:
- Try to find a topic that truly interests you
- Try writing your way to a topic
- Talk with your course instructor and classmates about your topic
- Pose your topic as a question to be answered or a problem to be solved
Finding, Selecting, and Reading Sources
You will need to look at the following types of sources:
- library catalog, periodical indexes, bibliographies, suggestions from your instructor
- primary vs. secondary sources
- journals, books, other documents
Grouping, Sequencing, and Documenting Information
The following systems will help keep you organized:
- a system for noting sources on bibliography cards
- a system for organizing material according to its relative importance
- a system for taking notes
Writing an Outline and a Prospectus for Yourself
Consider the following questions:
- What is the topic?
- Why is it significant?
- What background material is relevant?
- What is my thesis or purpose statement?
- What organizational plan will best support my purpose?
Writing the Introduction
In the introduction you will need to do the following things:
- present relevant background or contextual material
- define terms or concepts when necessary
- explain the focus of the paper and your specific purpose
- reveal your plan of organization
Writing the Body
- Use your outline and prospectus as flexible guides
- Build your essay around points you want to make (i.e., don't let your sources organize your paper)
- Integrate your sources into your discussion
- Summarize, analyze, explain, and evaluate published work rather than merely reporting it
- Move up and down the "ladder of abstraction" from generalization to varying levels of de
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Examination |
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At the end of the study course the test is a written examination. A written assignment – the essay, of high quality and submitted in a timely manner.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Subject of the international humanitarian law.
Description
Annotation: • Definition of the term “Humanitarian Law”
• Historical development
• Legal sources
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Subject of the international humanitarian law.
Description
Annotation: • Definition of the term “Humanitarian Law”
• Historical development
• Legal sources
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Types of warfare, commencement and arena. Methods and means of warfare.
Description
Annotation: • Armed conflicts
• Termination of hostilities
• Relevance of other fields of International Law
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Types of warfare, commencement and arena. Methods and means of warfare.
Description
Annotation: • Armed conflicts
• Termination of hostilities
• Relevance of other fields of International Law
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Methods and means of warfare. People and objects involved in an armed conflict, their status and protection.
Description
Annotation: Methods and means of combat
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Methods and means of warfare. People and objects involved in an armed conflict, their status and protection.
Description
Annotation: Methods and means of combat
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Methods and means of warfare. People and objects involved in an armed conflict, their status and protection.
Description
Annotation: Methods and means of combat
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Methods and means of warfare. People and objects involved in an armed conflict, their status and protection.
Description
Annotation: Methods and means of combat
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Air and naval warfare, neutrality and occupation.
Description
Annotation: • Military objectives and protected objects in armed conflict at sea
• Special provisions concerning methods of naval warfare
• Hospital ships
• Air warfare
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Air and naval warfare, neutrality and occupation.
Description
Annotation: • Military objectives and protected objects in armed conflict at sea
• Special provisions concerning methods of naval warfare
• Hospital ships
• Air warfare
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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International institutions.
Description
Annotation: • Combatants
• Non-combatants
• Protection of prisoners of war
• Protection of the civilian population
• Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked
• Religious personnel
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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International institutions.
Description
Annotation: • Combatants
• Non-combatants
• Protection of prisoners of war
• Protection of the civilian population
• Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked
• Religious personnel
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Application of international humanitarian law today.
Description
Annotation: • International peace operations
• Enforcement of IHL
• The law of neutrality
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Application of international humanitarian law today.
Description
Annotation: • International peace operations
• Enforcement of IHL
• The law of neutrality
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Application of international humanitarian law today.
Description
Annotation: • International peace operations
• Enforcement of IHL
• The law of neutrality
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Application of international humanitarian law today.
Description
Annotation: • International peace operations
• Enforcement of IHL
• The law of neutrality
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Subject of the international humanitarian law.
Description
Annotation: • Definition of the term “Humanitarian Law”
• Historical development
• Legal sources
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Types of warfare, commencement and arena. Methods and means of warfare.
Description
Annotation: • Armed conflicts
• Termination of hostilities
• Relevance of other fields of International Law
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Methods and means of warfare. People and objects involved in an armed conflict, their status and protection.
Description
Annotation: Methods and means of combat
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Air and naval warfare, neutrality and occupation.
Description
Annotation: • Military objectives and protected objects in armed conflict at sea
• Special provisions concerning methods of naval warfare
• Hospital ships
• Air warfare
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
10 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
1864. gada Ženēvas konvencija „Par ievainoto un slimo stāvokļa uzlabošanu karojošajās armijās”
2.
1899. gada Hāgas Konvencija
3.
1906.gada Ženēvas Konvencija — “Par ievainoto un slimo kā arī jūras kara flotes kuģu katastrofās cietušo stāvokļa uzlabošanu”
4.
1907. gada Hāgas Konvencija par kara uz sauszemes likumiem un paražām
5.
1925. gada Ženēvas Protokols par ķīmiskajiem ieročiem
6.
1945. gada Apvienoto Nāciju Organizāciju statūti
7.
1949. gada I Ženēvas Konvencija “Par ievainoto un slimo stāvokļa uzlabošanu karojošajās armijās”
8.
1949. gada II Ženēvas Konvencija “Par ievainoto un slimo kā arī jūras kara flotes kuģu katastrofās cietušo stāvokļa uzlabošanu”
9.
1949. gada III Ženēvas Konvencija “Par izturēšanos pret karagūstekņiem”
10.
1949. gada IV Ženēvas Konvencija “Par civiliedzīvotāju aizsardzību kara laikā”
11.
1975. gada Konvencija par bioloģiskajiem ieročiem
12.
1974. gada ANO rezolūcija “Par agresiju”.
13.
1977. gada Ženēvas Konvenciju 1. Papildprotokols “Par cietušo aizsardzību starptautiskajos bruņotajos konfliktos”
14.
1977. gada Ženēvas konvenciju 2. Papildprotokols “Par cietušo aizsardzību nestarptautiskajos bruņotajos konfliktos”
15.
1998. gada Romas starptautiskās krimināltiesas statūti
16.
2005.gada Ženēvas konvenciju 3. Papildprotokols “Par papildu atšķirības emblēmu apstiprināšanu”
17.
Verri P. Dictionary of the International Law of Armed Conflict, International committee of the Red Cross, 1992, Geneva, 145 pages.
18.
Edited by: Fleck D. The handbook of international humanitarian law, second edition, Oxford, 2007, 770 pages.
Additional Reading
1.
The law of armed conflict: international humanitarian law in war / Gary D. Solis. Second edition. Oxford [UK]; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2016.
2.
International humanitarian law and international human rights law: pas de deux / edited by Orna Ben-Naftali. Oxford [England];New York : Oxford University Press, 2011
3.
International humanitarian law: theory practice, context / Daniel Thürer. Hague: Hague Academy of International Law, 2011
Other Information Sources
1.
United Nations
2.
American Society of International Law
3.
International Committee of the Red Cross
4.
Yerabook of international Humanitarian Law