Integration of international law in states’ armed forces

In situations of armed conflict and other emergencies where States’ armed forces are deployed, ensuring compliance with international law, in particular the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), is imperative in order to prevent unnecessary suffering of combatants and to protect civilians.

A successful integration of international law into the states’ armed forces will increase their ability to meet the legal requirements in complex conflict environments. Integration entails comprehensively ensuring compliance with relevant bodies of international law in all activities of the armed forces including strategic planning; doctrine development; force generation; force employment; sanctions; and the evaluation of operations.

Action plan

The Norwegian Government and the Norwegian Red Cross pledge to
– Establish a best practice-model of the integration of international law applicable to military operations in armed conflict in the Norwegian Armed Forces in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

– Develop a report on the integration of international law applicable to military operations in armed conflict in the Norwegian Armed Forces, to be shared with the National Red Cross- and Red Crescent Societies and other states.

– The Norwegian Red Cross pledge to engage with other Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in order to encourage and facilitate the integration of international law based on the report for the integration of international law applicable to military operations in armed conflict in states’ armed forces.