'Big C' Conflict on the web.

• Author: Doyle, Marilyn
• Position: Column: Online Law

Conflict is an integral part of life. Whether between family members, neighbors, people in the workplace or children at school, conflict is familiar to all of us. We could call this "small c" conflict, the conflict we experience in daily life. Many wise teachers have said that until we can learn to effectively deal with interpersonal conflict, world peace will elude us. On the global stage we see "big C" Conflict: armed conflict between nations, between civil war combatants, or between states and so-called non-state belligerents. The body of law that aims to deal with issues arising from "big C" Conflict is called International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

IHL has been defined by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as: "a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. International humanitarian law is also known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict." (Source: Legal Fact Sheet: What is international humanitarian law? www.icrcorg/eng/resources/documents/ legal-fact-sheet/humanitarian-law-factsheet.htm)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC; www.icrc.org/eng/index.jsp) has been described as the single most important online site for research in IHL. The site, which is available in six languages, has one whole section devoted to "War and Law". As well, they have an extensive resource centre of publications and films, photos, maps and databases with both "browse by category" and search functions. Their 44-page booklet, "International humanitarian law: answers to your questions" (www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/publication/p0703.htm) provides an introduction to international humanitarian law that is accessible to all readers interested in both the origins and the modern-day application of the law.

For teachers of young people between the ages of 13 and 18, the ICRC has developed an education program with a variety of activities that introduce the basic rules of international humanitarian law. "Exploring Humanitarian Law" (http://www.ehl.icrc.org/index.php) aims to teach the values underpinning IHL, such as respect for life and human dignity, and to explore the ethical and humanitarian issues that arise during armed conflict.

For more advanced students, teachers, practitioners and researchers, the American Society of International Law has...