It is one of the mandates of the International Humanitarian Law (hereinafter known as IHL) to protect the civilians from the hostility of war. In this respect, a number of different international instruments are in place like the Geneva Conventions to keep away the civilian people, civilian objects, hors de combat and other people having no connection with the warring parties, from the devastating consequences of armed conflict. In spite of these numerous provisions and their almost universal acceptance by world communities, people both civilian and hors de combat are facing unnecessary sufferings during armed conflict. This reality either in international or non-international armed conflict urges critical review of the legal provisions of IHL to ascertain the weakness of the laws. While doing the critical review of the relevant legal provisions, this article is kept limited to general fragilities of overall legal provisions, specific fragilities of the legal provisions relating to the laws of occupation, means and methods of warfare and enforcement. While doing the critical review, opinions of scholars in their scholarly books, journal articles, newspaper report are consulted. To a little extent web data on relevant issues by reputed international organizations is also taken into consideration.

The Study Group on the Conduct of Hostilities in the 21st Century (hereinafter the SG) was established in 2011 and conducted its first meeting in Sofia in 2012. It conducted a workshop in Leiden in November 2013. During this workshop, three general topics were explored. These were the relationship of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law in the conduct of military operations, technological challenges posed by new weapons systems and the function of the basic principles of IHL in the conduct of hostilities. An interim report on these topics was published and presented at the April 2014 Washington D.C. joint meeting of the ILA and the American Society of International Law. These topics were discussed further at a subsequent workshop held in Berlin at the Freie Universitat in November of the same year. Attention was also devoted to the relationship of IHL with general international law and the place of IHL within the legal ‘pluriverse’ surrounding mode...

"From the time immemorial in the history of mankind there have been some basic tenants governing warfare in every religion and culture but it would be pertinent to say that the contemporary sets of rules and norms have evolved since the mid of 19th century and have consolidated in the form of International Humanitarian Law. ICRC post the Battle of Solferino and the United Nations and some regional politico-security organisations like NATO post World War II have been involved actively in Humanitarian Relief and Intervention and have different perspectives for core principles and pillars of Humanitarian Law during the conduct of any warlike Distinction, Military Necessity, Proportionality, Neutrality, and R2P etc. In this context long drawn conflicts like Israel-Palestine and Sri Lanka-Ethnic Tamils of our times warrant a careful study by the exponent and proponents of International Law of various rules and regulations of IHL, Laws of War and Occupation to provide legal as well as humanitarian relief to both the combatants and civilians."

International humanitarian law is a compilation of laws aimed at limiting the consequences of armed conflict for humanitarian purposes. It safeguards those that are not or are no longer involved in fighting and limits the arms and tactics of warfare. It also protects people's lives, welfare, and dignity, prohibits torture and inhuman treatment, prescribes fundamental protections for those facing criminal charges, prohibits prejudices, establishes guidelines for women's and children's safety, and regulates facets of the right to food and health. This study shall focus to bring about the role and importance of international Humanitarian Law in protecting and establishing the rights of civilians during the strife and hostilities.