ABSTRACT
Few would question the assertion that 9/11 has shifted the tectonic plates. Human rights and humanitarian norms constitute a critical component of world order. The war on terror has brought into sharper focus the capacity of non-state actors, and in particular that of armed groups, to engage in conflict situations. In addressing the impact of the war on terror on armed group accountability, this chapter examines the relevant legal framework, and in particular international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL). It discusses those developments associated with the war on terror that have contributed to the restriction of the relevant normative space and their implications. The chapter also covers, in light of the challenges identified, the prospects for promoting accountability among armed groups. In dealing with armed groups, the relevant bodies of law are IHRL and IHL.
