GENEVA, Switzerland, June 4 (UPI) -- The Switzerland-based International Committee of the Red Cross has released a new guide in a move to identify those who directly participate in hostilities.
The ICRC announced the release of a guide titled "Interpretive Guidance on the Notion of Direct Participation in Hostilities under IHL (international humanitarian law)" as part of an effort to establish a clarification of people who participate in conflicts following a recent history where the definition has become blurry, the ICRC reported.
Under international humanitarian law civilians are entitled to protection from attacks. However, during recent conflicts around the world, a clearly marked soldier is less prominent whereas an increasing number of fighters are indistinguishable from the civilian population.
According to a news release from the ICRC, a person participates directly in hostilities when they "carry out acts, which aim to support one party to the conflict by directly causing harm to another party, either directly inflicting death, injury or destruction, or by directly harming the enemy's military operations or capacity."
