ABSTRACT
Mitigating the risks of unnecessary suffering resulting from armed conflicts is a core international humanitarian law objective, and the very foundation of the Geneva tradition of protecting victims of war. To implement this objective, treaty and customary international law rules rule are devoted to protection of different categories of such individuals. This chapter addresses protections for two groups almost always adversely impacted by armed conflicts: civilians and the wounded and sick. It will explain who qualifies for the protections established for these two groups, to include protection for members of armed forces exclusively engaged in search for, collection, and care of the wounded and sick. And, as it is often the armed forces and other armed groups engaged in the conflict that are in the best position to mitigate these risks, most of these rules are directed to measures such forces must take or conduct they must refrain from.
