Non-state actors from the perspective of the International Committee of the Red Cross

Raphaël van Steenberghe first seeks to offer insights on the ICRC as an actor itself. He particularly reflects upon the controversial status of the ICRC itself, for it is a particular kind of non-state actor intervening in conflict situations, and on the potential influence of non-state actors such as international organizations, (other) non-governmental organizations or private business companies on the fulfilment by the ICRC of its tasks in the field. He then turns to the ICRC’s own position on the status of non-state actors in the context of armed conflicts, and especially the applicability of IHL to those actors. He particularly examines the ICRC perspective on armed groups.