The Changing Significance of Nationality for the Protection of Civilians in the Hands of a Party to an International Armed Conflict

Date

2023-03-09

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Type

Article

Peer reviewed

Yes

Abstract

The Fourth Geneva Convention provides the main protection regime for civilians in the hands of a party to an international armed conflict. Yet its application is limited to non-nationals, and conditional upon states’ belligerent and legal relations. This article historicises and problematises the so-called nationality requirement for the treatment and protection of civilians. The significance of nationality for international humanitarian law has changed considerably since the late nineteenth century. The complex delineation of civilian protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention was, therefore, not inevitable. The article challenges the common perception of the treaty as a humanitarian achievement designed to safeguard innocent and vulnerable civilians. This detailed study of nationality provides insights into the changing perception of civilians as war victims and the role of international humanitarian law in protecting them.

Description

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.

Keywords

Citation

Landefeld, S. (2023) The Changing Significance of Nationality for the Protection of Civilians in the Hands of a Party to an International Armed Conflict. Journal of Conflict and Security Law,

Rights

Research Institute